On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c19.190

v2.c19.190

Our pilgrim goes on to tell us that for ten li and more south of the Bodhi Tree the sacred traces were too close together to be all enumerated. Every year, he adds, when the bhikshus break up the Rain-Retreat, clergy and laity come from all quarters in myriads and for seven days and nights bearing fragrant flowers and making music they wander through the wood and perform acts of worship. He relates that the Brethren in India in accordance with the Buddha's instructions entered on Retreat on the first day of the month Śrāvaṇa, corresponding to the Chinese 16th day of the 5th month, and went out of Retreat on the last day of the month Āśvayuja, corresponding to the Chinese 15th day of the 8th month. In India the months' name go according to stars, and the course of time makes no change nor do schools vary. But [in China] perhaps from erroneous interpretation a wrong time has come to be taken for Retreat, viz. a month too early; from the 16th day of the 4th month to the 15th day of the 7th month.