Page:History of India Vol 9.djvu/170

 136 A CHINESE ACCOUNT BY HIUAN TSAJSTG province has its own official for preserving them in writing. The annals and state papers are collectively called ni-lo-pi-cW a (Sanskrit nilapita, " blue deposit "). In these records good and evil events are mentioned, together with calamities and fortunate occurrences. To educate and encourage the young, they first teach them to study the book of " Twelve Chapters " (San- skrit siddhavastu). After arriving at the age of seven years, the young are instructed in the great treatises of the " Five Sciences ' : (Sanskrit vidyd). The first is called Grammar, the elucidation of sounds (Sanskrit sabdavidya) . This treatise explains the meaning of words and their derivation. The second science is called kiau-ming (Sanskrit sil- pasthdnavidyd') ; it treats of the arts and of mechanics, and it explains the principles of the Yin and Yang (Negative and Positive Principles) and of the calendar. The third is called the " Medicinal Treatise " (Sanskrit chiUitsavidya) ; it illustrates the use of charms, medici- nal stones, needles, and moxa. The fourth science i called " Logic " (Sanskrit hetuvidya, " science of rea- soning "), which determines the right and the wrong and discriminates between the true and the false. The fifth science is called the science of " Inward Knowl- edge r (Sanskrit adhydtmavidha) ; it relates to the Five Vehicles, and the doctrine of cause and effect (karma). The Brahmans study the four Veda treatises. The first is called Shau (" longevity," *. e. the Ayur-Veda); it relates to the preservation of life and the regulation