On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c23.s12: Yin-Po-Kien (or -Kan)
On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c23.s12
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Yin-Po-Kien (or -Kan)
v2.c23.s12.1
From Badakshan, we are informed by the Records, the pilgrim proceeded south-east through a district of hills and vales for over 200 *li* to the *Yin-po-kien* country. This is described as old Tokhara territory, as being above 1000 *li* in circuit its capital being above ten *li*. It was a series of mountains with narrow valleys of cultivated land; in climate, products, and the character of the people it resembled Badakshan, but the language was not quite the same; its king was a bad, cruel man.
v2.c23.s12.2
Julien restores the *Yin-po-kien(-kan)* of this passage as Invakan, and the restoration has been accepted. In the C text of the Life we have *K'a*(佉)-po-kan, but the old reading is *Yin* as in the Records. Yule, after mentioning the identifications proposed by St. Martin and Cunningham, writes—"Direction and distance, however, antecedent and consequent, point not to Wakhán, but to Yamgán or Hamakán, the old name of the valley of the Kokcha from Jerm upwards."² The word here transcribed by the pilgrim may have been one like Impakin or Impakan.
v2.c23.s12.3
² op. c. p. 110.