On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c23.s23.3

v2.c23.s23.3

As this passage appears in all the texts it forms the close of the pilgrim's account, but it is perhaps better to regard it as an addition made by the courtly editor, perhaps Pien-chi, at the time the Ms. was presented to the Emperor. It apparently puzzled subsequent editors and the texts present considerable varieties. Thus the words which Julien renders—"il n'est pas possible d'en parler exactement d'après ses souvenirs" are *Fei-k'o-yi-shuo* (非可臆說) This is the reading of the B text, but instead of the third character here A and C have *yi* (抑), and D has *yang* (揚). It is the A text which has been followed in the rendering "one may not be dogmatic". So also the words for "It is a fact that from here to where the sun sets all have experienced his beneficence" are not in the B text, but are in all the other texts. Further the words for "The whole world having been united under one sway" are in A, C, and D, but not in B, and in D they are repeated. In the expression—"I have not been a mere individual" the original for individual is *tan-ch'ê* (單車) literally, "a single carriage". This term is applied to an official sent to a foreign state on government service without escort or retinue. Since all the world was united as one empire under Chinese sway, according to the audacious exaggeration of the writer, the pilgrim was not a mere solitary envoy obliged to keep to the post-road and the official resting-places. The benevolent rule and moral influence of his sovereign had produced effects to the furthest region of the pilgrim's travels, and gave him dignity and importance as a subject of the incomparable ruler.