大唐西域記 1.99

1.99

梵衍那國，東西二千餘里，南北三百餘里，在雪山之中也。人依山谷，逐勢邑居。國大都城據崖跨谷，長六七里，北背高巖，有宿麥，少花果，宜畜牧，多羊馬。氣序寒烈，風俗剛獷，多衣皮褐，亦其所宜。文字、風教，貨幣之用，同都貨邏國。語言少異，儀貌大同。淳信之心，特甚隣國。上自三寶，下至百神，莫不輸誠，竭心宗敬。商估往來者，天神現徵祥，示祟變，求福德。伽藍數十所，僧徒數千人，宗學小乘說出世部。

This kingdom is about 2000 li from east to west, and 300 li from north to south. It is situated in the midst of the Snowy Mountains. The people inhabit towns either in the mountains or the valleys, according to circumstances. The capital leans on a steep hill, bordering on a valley 6 or 7 li in length. On the north it is backed by high precipices. It (the country) produces spring-wheat and few flowers or fruits. It is suitable for cattle, and affords pasture for many sheep and horses. The climate is wintry, and the manners of the people hard and uncultivated. The clothes are chiefly made of skin and wool, which are the most suitable for the country. The literature, customary rules, and money used in commerce are the same as those of the Tukhara country. Their language is a little different, but in point of personal appearance they closely resemble each other. These people are remarkable, among all their neighbours, for a love of religion (a heart of pure faith); from the highest form of worship to the three jewels, down to the worship of the hundred (i.e., different) spirits, there is not the least absence (decrease) of earnestness and the utmost devotion of heart. The merchants, in arranging their prices as they come and go, fall in with the signs afforded by the spirits. If good, they act accordingly ; if evil, they seek to propitiate the powers. There are ten convents and about 1000 priests.

They belong to the Little Vehicle, and the school of the Lokottaravadins (Shwo-ch'uh-shi-pu). To the north-east of the royal city there is a mountain, on the declivity of which is placed a stone figure of Buddha, erect, in height 140 or 150 feet. Its golden hues sparkle on every side, and its precious ornaments dazzle the eyes by their brightness. To the east of this spot there is a convent, which was built by a former king of the country. To the east of the convent there is a standing figure of Sakya Buddha, made of metallic stone (teou-shih), in height 100 feet. It has been cast in different parts and joined together, and thus placed in a completed form as it stands. To the east of the city 12 or 13 li there is a convent, in which there is a figure of Buddha lying in a sleeping position, as when he attained Nirvana. The figure is in length about 1000 feet or so. The king of this (country), every time he assembles the great congregation of the Wu-che (Môksha), having sacrificed all his possessions, from his wife and children down to his country's treasures, gives in addition his own body; then his ministers and the lower order of officers prevail on the priests to barter back these possessions; and in these matters most of their time is taken up.