On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v1.c8.s7.15

v1.c8.s7.15

For the words here rendered by 'But as for those to whom religious teaching has been offered in vain' the original is 至乃門虛僻. Julien wrongly connecting these words with what precedes translates "A son arrivée, il passe sous des portes triomphales". It will be readily admitted that yi-mên cannot be translated "triumphal gates" and that hsü-p'i cannot possibly be rendered by "il passe sous". The term yi-mên, lit. "door of meaning" is used in the senses of article of creed, essential doctrine, course of instruction. In ordinary Chinese literature the term is not unknown and it is an honourable epithet or distinction. A *yi-mên* is an *unselfish or public-spiritual clan*, as a family which keeps together for a long time, five or six generations, living and messing on the same premises. But here *yi-mên* has a Buddhistic use and means "cause of religious instruction". Then *hsiü-p'i* is "vainly open", and the clause means "as for those to whom religious teaching has been offered to no purpose". It introduces the words which follow, telling the dreadful fate of the man who does not learn, and yet pretends to be wise.