On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c18.62

v2.c18.62

In the Chinese versions of Buddhist works the terms Kāsi and Vārāṇasi are generally given in transcriptions, but the former term is sometimes translated by *Ti-miao* (荻苗). This means "reed-sprouts", and its use by I-ching is explained when we find him transcribing the name of the country by *Ka-shi-lo* that is, *kaseru*, a word which denotes a kind of reed or grass.¹ But *Ti-miao* may also have been used to translate Kāśi as supposed to be connected with Kāśa.