Indian Antiquary Vol 01

SR No.: 032493
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

Page 41

JANUARY 5, 1872.]
27
REVIEWS.
Beal," that the 350 or 400 million people who in- or Santi Topes near Bhilsa, where also, over the habit China are Buddhists, but yet Buddhist modes northern gateway of the great Topes, we find sculpof thought and phraseology prevail largely amongst tured the same history of Bodhisatva as Vessanthem, and it is hardly consistent in us, whilst we tara, giving away his whole possessions, his childeal with religions questions, to overlook the litera- dren and his wife, so that there might be no ture which contains the sacred deposit of the faith remnant of selfishness left in his nature, and thus of so many millions of that population as do strictly I might be fitted to undertake the salvation of belong to the Buddhist faith. Moreover, it must men. But it is hardly necessary, recollecting the be evident that so long as we are ignorant of the labours of M. Julien, and the school of French details of their religion, they will not be induced to Sinologues, amongst whom he is conspicuous, to listen to our denunciation of it; nor can we expect bring farther instances of the manner in which we that our indifference to their prejudices will tend to may derive funds of information from China reremuve them or induce them to overlook ours." An- specting the civilization of India. The connection other important service which a careful study of is also noted between the history of Buddhism in the Chinese version of the Buddhist Scriptures may the East, and the progress of Christianity in the render to the causo of literature generally, but es- West. In the middle ages there was a favourite pecially towards critical acquaintance with the legend known throughout Europe, and generally original Sanskrit text of the Tripitaka; as Max accepted as genuine, under the name of Barlaam Müller suggests. “The analytical structure of the and Josaphat. This history is at present widely Chinese language imparts to Chinese translations circulated in the modern edition of the Lives of the the character of a gloss; and although we need not Saints, by Symeon, the translator. But on examinafollow implicitly the interpretations of the Sanscrit tion we find that the life of Josaphat, who has originals adopted by Chinese translators, still their somehow crept into the Roman Martyrology, was antiquity would naturally impart to them consider. but a copy of the well known history of Shakya able value and interest."
Buddha, and was appropriated doubtlesely by the Another important consideration is the advantage carly Christian hagiographers as being in itself a we may derive from having in China copies of very touching and natural account of the struggle many of the sacred books which are unknown else- of a sensitive conscience with the temptations of a where. Such are the numerous works of the Nor- wicked and ensnaring world. We quite agree with thern School, as it is called, and which, so far as is Mr. Beal too, when he says/" The widest and most at present known, are not to be inet with in their interesting result to be derived from such studies original Sanskrit form, either in India or Nepal as these, is the means they afford us of arriving at Such are, for example, the Avatamsaka Satra, written a correct judgment in the science of comparativo by Nagarjina, and which, under the name of the religion"-80 far as that is possible. "The scope Fa yan king, is one of the commonest and most of the present work is to present the reader with & widely circulated Sátras in Ching--the Kosha and brief Catena of Buddhist Scriptures arranged, so far Vibasha Shastras, the Surangama Sutra, and many as possible, in & chronological order, with a view others.
to exhibit the origin and gradual expansion of the " Incidentally," says the author, “ we shall derive systein, aud to point out in what particularsit demands from these studies much information relating to our candid consideration, and in what particulars the more obscure parts of Indian history. and the
it fails to deserve either attention or inquiry. The struggles of the conflicting Indian sects." In the former phase will be found to consist of its peculiar history of the mission of Song Yun, for example, purity as a religious system properly so called, we have an account of the effect which a picture whilst the latter will embrace those numerous of the sufferings of Bodhisatva, when he was born divergencies of the system from its original characA Vessantara, produced on the rough Indo-Scythic ter, into a scholastic and vain philosophy, which tribes who invaded North India at the beginning
orin India at the beginning ended in its ultimate confusion with other sects in
stian Era. He tells us they could not India, or in its present lifeless condition in China refrain from tears when they saw the picture of the land Japan. The works here translated are mostly sufferings of the Prince. This little incident may standard ones, and if not, strictly speaking, in the very reasonably account for the conversion of the Canon, are yet of great authority, and are found whole tribe of invaders who, under the rule of Ka- in the libraries of most of the monasteries in the nishka and his successors, became the most devoted South of China." patrons of the Buddhist faith, and "the magnifi- Mr. Beal's work more than achieves his prefacent founders" of Topes and Temples, the ruins of tory anticipations. He has given an elaborate and which at present survive. And from this reference splendid contribution to our knowledge of early of Song Yun to the Vessantara Jataka, represented Eastern Mythology. His notes and comments exin the white Elephant Temple, Varousha, the writer, hibit a wide acquaintance with European orientans, is led to connect the Sang-teh or Santi temples in and his tone of thought a width and liberalism althe neighbourhood of that city with the Sanchitogether unusual. Mr. Beal's handsome and deeply