On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v1.c7.s2: Kung-Yü
On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v1.c7.s2
- Language
- English
Kung-Yü
v1.c7.s2.1
Continuing to travel south-west our pilgrim went on from "White water" city for more than 200 *li* and arrived at the city Kung-yü or Kung-ya (恭御), which was five or six *li* in circuit. In this district the downs and marshes had a rich loamy soil and were densely covered with forests.
v1.c7.s2.2
Of this city no one seems to know anything and even the name is not quite certain as instead of Kung-yü we find in one authority Kung-ching (恭荊).² It is probable, however, that this latter form is only a freak of a copyist and that the former is the correct reading. As we find Ch'üan-ch'êng (泉城) or "City of the spring (or springs)" given as the name of this city we are probably justified in regarding Kung-yü as standing for the Turkic word Kūyu which denotes a well or spring, the native name of the city being Kūyu-shahr. It is remarkable that the Fang-chih here does not mention the "White water city" and makes Kung-yü to be above 200 *li* to the south-west of Taras or half the distance given by the pilgrim.
v1.c7.s2.3
² Ma T. l. ch. 336.