廣弘明集 1.15

1.15

余尋終古三五帝皇有事西奔罕聞東逝。故軒轅遊華胥之國。王劭云。即天竺也。又陟崑崙之墟。即香山也。老子迹沈扶風。史述於流沙。而道家諸記。皆西升崑丘而上天矣。以事詳之。並從於佛國也。故伯益述山海申毒之國。偎人而愛人。郭璞博古者曰。申毒即天毒也。浮圖所興。今聞之說曰。地殷土中物壤琛麗。民博仁智俗高理學。立德厚生何負諸夏。古稱愛人之國。世挺賢聖之人。豈虛搆哉。

I observe that through antiquity, the Three Sovereigns and Five Thearchs had occasions of fleeing westward, yet we rarely hear of their going east. Thus Xuan Yuan roamed to the realm of Huaxu—which Wang Shao says was none other than India. He also climbed the heights of the Kunlun Mountains—which are the Gandhamādana Mountains. Laozi concealed his traces in Fufeng, and the histories record his going into the shifting sands, while the various Daoist records all relate that he ascended Mount Kunlun westward and rose up to heaven. Examining this by facts, all followed [the way] to the Buddhist kingdom. Thus Boyi described the country of Shendu in the Shan hai jing as “dwelling close together and loving one another.” The antiquarian Guo Pu said: “Shendu is Tiandu (India), where the Buddha arose.” Now hearing the accounts thereof, it is said: “The land is abundant and situated in the middle of the earth; the soil and its products are precious and magnificent. The people are broadly benevolent and wise; their customs esteem philosophical learning. Their establishing of virtue and enriching of livelihood—how do they fall short of the Chinese lands? It was praised in antiquity as a country that loves people, and through the ages has brought forth sages and worthies.” How could this be a fabricated tale?