大唐西域記 1.17

1.17

時無輪王應運，贍部洲地有四主焉。南象主則暑濕宜象，西寶主乃臨海盈寶，北馬主寒勁宜馬，東人主和暢多人。故象主之國躁烈篤學，特閑異術，服則橫巾右袒，首則中髻四垂，族類邑居，室宇重閣。寶主之鄉，無禮義，重財賄，短製左衽，斷髮長髭，有城郭之居，務殖貨之利。馬主之俗，天資獷暴，情忍殺戮，毳帳穹廬，鳥居逐牧。人主之地，風俗機惠，仁義照明，冠帶右衽，車服有序，安土重遷，務資有類。三主之俗，東方為上，其居室則東闢其戶，旦日則東向以拜。人主之地，南面為尊。方俗殊風，斯其大概。至於君臣上下之禮，憲章文軌之儀，人主之地，無以加也。清心釋累之訓，出離生死之教，象主之國，其理優矣。斯皆著之經誥，問諸土俗，博關今古，詳考見聞。然則佛興西方，法流東國，通譯音訛，方言語謬，音訛則義失，語謬則理乖。故曰：「必也正名乎」，貴無乖謬矣。

On the south "the lord of elephants;" the land here is warm and humid, suitable for elephants. On the west "the lord of treasures;" the land borders on the sea, and abounds in gems. On the north "the lord of horses;" the country is cold and hard, suitable for horses. On the east "the lord of men;" the climate is soft and agreeable (exhilarating), and therefore there are many men. In the country of "the lord of elephants" the people are quick and enthusiastic, and entirely given to learning. They cultivate especially magical arts. They wear a robe thrown across them, with their right shoulder bare; their hair is done up in a ball on the top, and left undressed on the four sides. Their various tribes occupy different towns; their houses are built stage over stage. In the country of "the lord of treasures" the people have no politeness or justice. They accumulate wealth. Their dress is short, with a left skirt. They cut their hair and cultivate their moustache. They dwell in walled towns and are eager in profiting by trade. The people of the country of "the lord of horses" are naturally (t'ien tsz) wild and fierce. They are cruel in disposition; they slaughter (animals) and live under large felt tents; they divide like birds (going here and there) attending their flocks.

The land of "the lord of men" is distinguished for the wisdom and virtue and justice of the people. They wear a head-covering and a girdle; the end of their dress (girdle) hangs to the right. They have carriages and robes according to rank; they cling to the soil and hardly ever change their abode; they are very earnest in work, and divided into classes. With respect to the people belonging to these three rulers, the eastern region is considered the best; the doors of their dwellings open towards the east, and when the sun rises in the morning they turn towards it and salute it. In this country the south side is considered the most honourable. Such are the leading characteristics in respect of manners and customs relating to these regions. But with regard to the rules of politeness observed between the prince and his subjects, between superiors and inferiors, and with respect to laws and literature, the land of "the lord of men" is greatly in advance. The country of "the lord of elephants" is distinguished for rules which relate to purifying the heart and release from the ties of life and death; this is its leading excellency. With these things the sacred books and the royal decrees are occupied. Hearing the reports of the native races and diligently searching out things old and new, and examining those things which came before his eyes and ears, it is thus he (i.e., Hiuen Tsiang) obtained information.

In the middle of Jambudvipa there is a lake called Anavatapta, to the south of the Fragrant Mountains and to the north of the great Snowy Mountains; it is 800 li and more in circuit; its sides are composed of gold, silver, lapis-lazuli, and crystal; golden sands lie at the bottom, and its waters are clear as a mirror. The great earth Bodhisattva, by the power of his vow, transforms himself into a Naga-raja and dwells therein; from his dwelling the cool waters proceed forth and enrich Jambudvipa (Shen-pu-chau). From the eastern side of the lake, through the mouth of a silver ox, flows the Ganges (King-kia) river; encircling the lake once, it enters the south-eastern sea. From the south of the lake, through a golden elephant's mouth, proceeds the Sindhu (Sin-to) river; encircling the lake once, it flows into the south-western sea. From the western side of the lake, from the mouth of a horse of lapis-lazuli, proceeds the river Vakshu (Po-tsu), and encircling the lake once, it falls into the north-western sea. From the north side of the lake, through the mouth of a crystal lion, proceeds the river Sita (Si-to), and encircling the lake once, it falls into the north-eastern sea. They also say that the streams of this river Sita, entering the earth, flow out beneath the Tsih rock mountain, and give rise to the river of the middle country (China). At the time when there is no paramount wheel-monarch, then the land of Jambudvipa has four rulers.

Now Buddha having been born in the western region and his religion having spread eastwards, the sounds of the words translated have been often mistaken, the phrases of the different regions have been misunderstood on account of the wrong sounds, and thus the sense has been lost. The words being wrong, the idea has been perverted. Therefore, as it is said, "it is indispensable to have the right names, in order that there be no mistakes." Now, men differ according to the firmness or of their nature, and so the words and the sounds (of their languages) are unlike. This may be the result either of climate or usage. The produce of the soil differs in the same way, according to the mountains and valleys. With respect to the difference in manners and customs, and also as to the character of the people in the country of "the lord of men," the annals sufficiently explain this. In the country of "the lord of horses" and of "the lord of treasures" the (local) records and the proclamations explain the customs faithfully, so that a brief account can be given of them. In the country of "the lord of elephants" the previous history of the people is little known. The country is said to be in general wet and warm, and it is also said that the people are virtuous and benevolent. With respect to the history of the country, so far as it has been preserved, we cannot cite it in detail;