大唐西域記 1.15

1.15

歷選皇猷，遐觀帝錄，庖犧出震之初，軒轅垂衣之始，所以司牧黎元，所以疆畫分野。暨乎唐堯之受天運，光格四表，虞舜之納地圖，德流九土。自茲已降，空傳書事之冊，逖聽前修，徒聞記言之史。豈若時逢有道，運屬無為者歟。我大唐御極則天，乘時握紀，一六合而光宅，四三皇而照臨。玄化滂流，祥風遐扇，同乾坤之覆載，齊風雨之鼓潤。與夫東夷入貢，西戎即敘，創業垂統，撥亂反正，固以跨越前王，囊括先代。同文共軌，至治神功，非載記無以贊大猷，非昭宣何以光盛業。玄奘輒隨遊至，舉其風土，雖未考方辯俗，信已越五踰三。含生之疇，咸被凱澤；能言之類，莫不稱功。越自天府，暨諸天竺，幽荒異俗，絕域殊邦，咸承正朔，俱霑聲教。贊武功之績，諷成口實；美文德之盛，欝為稱首。詳觀載籍，所未甞聞；緬惟圖牒，誠無與二。不有所敘，何記化洽？今據聞見，於是載述。

IF we examine in succession the rules of the emperors, or look into the records of the monarchs, when P’an began to adjust matters and Hien-yuen began to let fall his robes, we see how they administered the affairs, and first divided the limits of the empire. When T'ang(-ti) Yao received the call of heaven (to rule), his glory reached to the four quarters; when Yu(-ti) Shun had received his map of the earth, his virtue flowed throughout the nine provinces. From that time there have come down clear records, annals of events; though distant, we may hear the previous doings (of eminent men), or gather their words from the records of their disciples. How much rather when we live under a renowned government, and depend on those without partial aims. Now then our great T'ang emperor (or dynasty), conformed in the highest degree to the heavenly pattern, now holds the reins of government, and unites in one the six parts of the world, and is gloriously established. Like a fourth august monarch, he illustriously administers the empire. His mysterious controlling power flows afar; his auspicious influence (fame or instruction) widely extends: like the heaven and the earth, he covers and sustains (his subjects), or like the resounding wind or the fertilising rain. The eastern barbarians bring him tribute; the western frontiers are brought to submission. He has secured and hands down the succession, appeasing tumult, restoring order. He certainly surpasses the previous kings;

he embraces in himself the virtues of former generations. Using the same currency (or literature), all acknowledge his supreme rule. If his sacred merit be not recorded in history, then it is vain to exalt the great (or his greatness); if it be not to illumine the world, why then shine so brilliantly his mighty deeds? Hiuen Tsiang, wherever he bent his steps, has described the character of each country. Although he has not examined the country or distinguished the customs (in every case), he has shown himself trustworthy. With respect to the emperor who transcends the five and surpasses the three, we read how all creatures enjoy his benefits, and all who can declare it utter his praises. From the royal city throughout the (five) Indies, men who inhabit the savage wilds, those whose customs are diverse from ours, through the most remote lands, all have received the royal calendar, all have accepted the imperial instructions; alike they praise his warlike merit and sing of his exalted virtues and his true grace of utterance. This is the first thing to be declared. In searching through previous annals no such thing has been seen or heard of. In all the records of biography no such an account has been found. It was necessary first to declare the benefits arising from the imperial rule: now we proceed to narrate facts, which have been gathered either by report or sight, as follows:—