中天竺舍衛國祇洹寺圖經 1.26

1.26

次東一院，名知時之院。其門西開，諸院維那看相觀時在于斯院。其內曾有漏剋。院中復有黃金須彌山。海水山中奇事不可述盡。上有金城，白銀、七寶以為樓橧，高三丈餘。大梵天王第三子所造。四角四樓，四面合十二門，四中門上亦皆有樓。其四樓內各有寶人，時至即出，却敵打一鼓。於斯城上露處，已有一十二人各執白拂唱。午時至，南門即開，馬從中出。時過即縮，門便還閉。隨十二時，獸之出沒，其例亦爾。夜中別有多人行更，一一分明。佛臨涅槃，山動出聲，所作時節，並皆不著，寶人涕泣，或有手折。滅度之後，經十二年，大梵天王收歸天。彌勒下生，還來本處。

Next, one compound to the east is named the Compound of Knowing the Time. Its gate opens to the west; the karmadānas of the various compounds observe the signs and watch the time in this compound. Inside it there once was a clepsydra. In the compound there is also a golden Mount Sumeru. The marvelous things of the sea waters and mountains cannot be recounted in full. Above is a golden city, with white silver and seven jewels making high multi-storied pavilions over three zhang tall. It was made by the third son of Mahābrahmā. At the four corners are four pavilions, and the four sides combine for twelve gates; above the four central gates are also pavilions. Inside the four pavilions are each jeweled persons who emerge when the time comes to strike a drum on the parapet. Above on the open platforms of this city, there are already twelve persons, each holding a white fly-whisk and calling out. When the noon hour arrives, the southern gate opens, and a horse emerges from within. When the hour passes, it withdraws, and the gate closes again. The emergence and disappearance of beasts according to the twelve hours follow the same rule. During the night, there are separate groups of men patrolling the watches, each distinct and clear. When the Buddha was on the verge of nirvāṇa, the mountain shook and emitted sound; the time-keeping functions completely ceased to work, the jeweled persons wept, and some had their hands broken. Twelve years after the extinction, Mahābrahmā took it back to heaven. When Maitreya descends to be born, it will return to its original place.