Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

大唐西域記 2.4: 4. Astronomy, the Calendar, &c.

Si-yu-ki: Buddhist Records of the Western World 2.4

Language
English

4. Astronomy, the Calendar, &c.

2.4.1

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).

2.4.2

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;

2.4.3

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.

2.4.4

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.

Linked texts (1)