大唐西域記 2.7

2.7

若乃陰陽曆運，日月次舍，稱謂雖殊，時候無異，隨其星建，以標月名。時極短者，謂剎那也。百二十剎那為一呾剎那，六十呾剎那為一臘縛，三十臘縛為一牟呼栗多，五牟呼栗多為一時，六時合成一日一夜（晝三夜三）。居俗日夜分為八時（晝四夜四，於一一時各有四分）。月盈至滿謂之白分，月虧至晦謂之黑分，黑分或十四日、十五日，月有小大故也。黑前白後，合為一月。六月合為一行。日遊在內，北行也；日遊在外，南行也。總此二行，合為一歲。又分一歲以為六時：正月十六日至三月十五日，漸熱也；三月十六日至五月十五日，盛熱也；五月十六日至七月十五日，雨時也；七月十六日至九月十五日，茂時也；九月十六日至十一月十五日，漸寒也；十一月十六日至正月十五日，盛寒也。如來聖教歲為三時：正月十六日至五月十五日，熱時也；五月十六日至九月十五日，雨時也；九月十六日至正月十五日，寒時也。或為四時，春、夏、秋、冬也。春三月謂制呾羅月、吠舍佉月、逝瑟吒月，當此從正月十六日至四月十五日。夏三月謂頞沙荼月、室羅伐拏月、婆羅鉢陀月，當此從四月十六日至七月十五日。秋三月謂頞濕縛庾闍月、迦剌底迦月、末伽始羅月，當此從七月十六日至十月十五日。冬三月謂報沙月、磨袪月、頗勒窶拏月，當此從十月十六日至正月十五日。故印度僧徒依佛聖教坐兩安居，或前三月，或後三月。前三月當此從五月十六日至八月十五日，後三月當此從六月十六日至九月十五日。前代譯經律者，或云坐夏，或云坐臘，斯皆邊裔殊俗，不達中國正音，或方言未融，而傳譯有謬。又推如來入胎、初生、出家、成佛、涅槃日月，皆有參差，語在後記。

Although the revolution of the Yin and Yang principles and the successive mansions of the sun and moon be called by names different from ours, yet the seasons are the same; the names of the months are derived from the position (of the moon in respect) of the asterisms. The shortest portion of time is called a t'sa-na (kshana); 120 kshanas make a ta-t'sa-na (takshana); 60 of these make a la-fo (lava); 30 of these make a mau-hu-li-to (muhurta); five of these make "a period of time" (kâla); six of these make a day and night (ahôrâtra); but commonly the day and night are divided into eight kâlas. The period from the new moon till full moon is called the white division (Sukla-paksha) of the month; the period from the full moon till the disappearance (of the light) is called the dark portion (Krishna-paksha). The dark portion comprises fourteen or fifteen days, because the month is sometimes long and sometimes short. The preceding dark portion and the following light portion together form a month; six months form a "march" (hing, S. ayana). The sun when it moves within (the equator) is said to be on its northward march; when it moves without (the equator) it is on its southern march. These two periods form a year (vatsara).

The year, again, is divided into six seasons. From the 16th day of the 1st month till the 15th day of the 3d month is the season of gradual heat; from the 16th day of the 3d month till the 15th day of the 5th month is called the season of full heat; from the 16th day of the 5th month till the 15th day of the 7th month is called the rainy season; from the 16th day of the 7th month till the 15th day of the 9th month is called the season of growth (vegetation); from the 16th day of the 9th month to the 15th day of the 11th month is called the season of gradual cold; from the 16th day of the 11th month to the 15th day of the 1st month is called the season of great (full) cold. According to the holy doctrine of Tathagata, the year is divided into three seasons. From the 16th day of the 1st month till the 15th day of the 5th month is called the hot season; from the 16th day of the 5th month till the 15th day of the 9th month is called the wet season; from the 16th day of the 9th month to the 15th day of the 1st month is called the cold season. Again, there are four seasons, called spring, summer, autumn, winter. The three spring months are called Chi-ta-lo (Chaitra) month, Fei-she-kie (Vaisaka) month, She-se-ch'a (Jyeshtha); these correspond with the time from the 16th day of the 1st month to the 15th of the 4th month. The three summer months are called 'An-sha-cha (Ashadha) month, Chi-lo-fa-na (Sravana) month, Po-ta-lo-pa-to (Bhadrapada) month;

these correspond to the time between the 16th day of the 4th month to the 15th day of the 7th month. The three autumn months are called, 'An-shi-fo-ku-che (Asvayuja) month, Kia-li-ta-ka (Karttika) month, Wi-kia-chi-lo (Margasirsha) month; these correspond to the time between the 16th day of the 7th month to the 15th day of the 10th month. The three months of winter are called Fo-sha (Pushya) month, Ma-ku (Magha) month, and Po-li-kiu-na (Phalguna) month; these correspond with the time between the 16th day of the 10th month to the 15th day of the 1st month in China. In old times in India the priestly fraternity, relying on the holy teaching of Buddha, had a double resting-time (during the rains), viz., either the former three months or the latter three months; these periods were either from the 16th day of the 5th month to the 15th day of the 8th month, or from the 16th day of the 6th month to the 15th day of the 9th month.

Translators of the Sûtras (king) and the Vinaya (liu) belonging to former generations employed the terms Tso-hia and Tso-la-hia to signify the rest during the rainy season; but this was because the ignorant (common) people of the frontier countries did not understand the right sounds of the language of the middle country (India), or that they translated before they comprehended the local phrases: this was the cause of error. And for the same reason occur the mistakes about the time of Tathâgata's conception, birth, departure from his home, enlightenment, and Nirvâṇa, which we shall notice in the subsequent records.