翻譯名義集 3.44

3.44

[Uttarakuru] Or Uttad-yue; here translated as 'Superior Place', and also 'Superior Birth'. Among the four continents, the dwelling places and goods of sentient beings are all the most superior there. It is also called 'Lofty and Sublime', because it surpasses the other three quarters. In shape it resembles a square seat, with its four sides equal in measure; [its people are] thirty-two cubits tall, and their lifespan is a full one thousand years. Thus the Abhidharmakośa says: "In all places there is untimely death, except in Uttarakuru. Because their lifespan is fixed, because their pleasure is extreme, and because their attachments are rigid, noble ones are not born there, making it one of the eight difficulties; yet regarding meeting a Buddha and hearing the Dharma, the southern continent is foremost." Thus the Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa says: "The southern continent surpasses even the heavens in three matters, not to speak of the northern continent! First, the ability to cut off lust; second, the power of mindfulness; third, the ability to be vigorous. For this reason, the Buddhas appear only in the southern continent." The Record of the Western Regions says: "Uttarakurudvīpa was formerly called Yudan-yue or Jiulou, which are corrupt. A gold-wheel-turning king's transformation covers the four worlds; a silver-wheel-turning king's governance excludes Uttarakuru; a copper-wheel-turning king excludes both Uttarakuru and Godānīya; an iron-wheel-turning king governs only Jambudvīpa. Now, when a wheel-turning king is about to assume the great throne, in accordance with the karmic resonance of his merits, a great wheel-treasure floats through the void in response, manifesting differences of gold, silver, copper, or iron."