Page:Madras Journal of Literature and Science, series 1, volume 6 (1837).djvu/16

8 Sri-padi, or Adam's Peak. Siam exhibits the traces of the right foot on the top of the golden mountain Swa-na-bapato. Other traces of the sacred steps, are sparingly scattered over Pegu, Ava, and Arraoan: but it is among the Laos, that all the vestiges of the founders of this religion seem to be concentered—and whither devotees repair to worship at the traces of the sacred steps of Praku-ku-sôn, Pra-kôn-na-kôn, Prapu t’ha-kat-sop and Pra-sa-mût-ta-ko-dom.

The description of Cambodia by a Chinese traveller, translated by Remusat, mentions the prevalence of three great religious sects there, viz. the Chon-kon, or Buddhists, the Pan-ka, or literary sect, and the Taon-passe. These would appear to correspond with the San-kon or three religions of China, viz. those of Confucius, Buddha, and that of the philosophers or heretics, as the disciples of Laon-keun are styled.

The city of Saigon in Cambodia, we are told by Lieut. White, of the American Navy, in his account of Cambodia, is crowded with temples dedicated to Buddha similar to the Chinese pagodas.

China. Sir Wm. Jones, in his seventh discourse, on the Chinese, states his opinion that the religion of Buddha or Fo was introduced into China from India in the first century of our era. Major Wilford with more minuteness fixes the date of its introduction in the year 65 A. C. This he does on the authority of Pliny, which amounts merely to the report of one of the four Cingalese ambassadors to the emperor Claudius, who began his reign in 44 A.D., that the Seres (Chinese?) lived beyond the Haimada or snowy mountains, and that they were often seen and visited by the Cingalese through commercial intercourse, and that whenever caravans from Ceylon went there, the Seres came in a friendly manner part of the way to meet them. Major Wilford thinks that there can be no doubt that the Cingalese went first by sea to the country of Magadha or the Gangetic provinces: where their legislator Buddha was born, and his religion flourished in the utmost splendour; and thence, with the caravans of that country, to China, through the great route mentioned by Ptolemy from Palibothra. M. De Giugnes and others prove the subsequent intercourse prevailing between India and China.

As doubts have arisen, notwithstanding the authorities just adduced, regarding the introduction of Buddhism into China from India, we will hear what the Chinese themselves say on the subject. They constantly aver that Froh or Buddha came from the west. In the west they place his paradise. The emperor Ching-Tih, who died A. D. 1520, meditated sending an ambassador with expensive presents to