[Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms by Fa-Hsien]@TWC D-Link bookRecord of Buddhistic Kingdoms INTRODUCTION 5/13
In the second section, page 15, we find "A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms;"-- with a note, saying that it was the work of the "Sramana, Fa-Hsien;" and again, on page 13, we have "Narrative of Fa-Hsien in two Books," and "Narrative of Fa-Hsien's Travels in one Book." But all these three entries may possibly belong to different copies of the same work, the first and the other two being in separate subdivisions of the Catalogue. In the two Chinese copies of the narrative in my possession the title is "Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms." In the Japanese or Corean recension subjoined to this translation, the title is twofold; first, "Narrative of the Distinguished Monk, Fa-Hsien;" and then, more at large, "Incidents of Travels in India, by the Sramana of the Eastern Tsin, Fa-Hsien, recorded by himself." There is still earlier attestation of the existence of our little work than the Suy Catalogue.
The Catalogue Raisonne of the imperial library of the present dynasty (chap.
71) mentions two quotations from it by Le Tao-yuen, a geographical writer of the dynasty of the Northern Wei (A.D.
386-584), one of them containing 89 characters, and the other 276; both of them given as from the "Narrative of Fa-Hsien." In all catalogues subsequent to that of Suy our work appears.
The evidence for its authenticity and genuineness is all that could be required.
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