大唐西域記 1.104

1.104

迦畢試國，周四千餘里，北背雪山，三陲黑嶺。國大都城周十餘里。宜穀、麥、多果、木，出善馬、欝金香。異方奇貨，多聚此國。氣序風寒，人性暴獷，言辭鄙𮒸，婚姻雜亂。文字大同覩貨邏國。習俗、語言、風教頗異。服用毛㲲，衣兼皮褐。貨用金錢、銀錢及小銅錢，規矩模樣異於諸國。王，剎利種也，有智略，性勇烈，威懾隣境，統十餘國。愛育百姓，敬崇三寶，歲造丈八尺銀佛像，兼設無遮大會，周給貧窶，惠施鰥寡。伽藍百餘所，僧徒六千餘人，並多習學大乘法教。窣堵波、僧伽藍崇高弘敞，廣博嚴淨。天祠數十所，異道千餘人，或露形，或塗灰，連絡髑髏，以為冠鬘。

This country is 4000 li or so in circuit. On the north it abuts on the Snowy Mountains, and on three sides it borders on the "black ridge" (the Hindu Kush). The capital of the country is 10 li or so in circuit. It produces cereals of all sorts, and many kinds of fruit-trees. The shen horses are bred here, and there is also the scent (scented root) called Yu-kin. Here also are found objects of merchandise from all parts. The climate is cold and windy. The people are cruel and fierce; their language is coarse and rude; their marriage rites a mere intermingling of the sexes. Their literature is like that of the Tukhâra country, but the customs, common language, and rules of behaviour are somewhat different. For clothing they use hair garments (wool); their garments are trimmed with fur. In commerce they use gold and silver coins, and also little copper coins, which in appearance and stamp differ from those of other countries. The king is a Kshattriya by caste. He is of a shrewd character (nature), and being brave and determined, he has brought into subjection the neighbouring countries, some ten of which he rules. He cherishes his people with affection, and reverences much the three precious objects of worship. Every year he makes a silver figure of Buddha eighteen feet high, and at the same time he convokes an assembly called the Moksha Mahdparishad when he gives alms to the poor and wretched, and relieves the bereaved (widows and bereaved).

There are about 100 convents in this country and some 6000 priests. They mostly study the rules of the Great Vehicle. The stûpas and sanghârâmas are of an imposing height, and are built on high level spots, from which they may be seen on every side, shining in their grandeur (purity). There are some ten temples of the Devas, and 1000 or so of heretics (different ways of religion); there are naked ascetics, and others who cover themselves with ashes, and some who make chaplets of bones, which they wear as crowns on their heads. To the east of the capital 3 or 4 li, at the foot of a mountain in the north, is a great sanghārāma with 300 or so priests in it. These belong to the Little Vehicle and adopt its teaching.