Hsuan-Tsang 630

Xuanzang: Da Tang Xiyu Ji

(Great Tang Records on the Western Regions) (630)

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Left a painting of Hsuan Tsang

The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions is a narrative compiled (by Bianji) in 646 of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang's nineteen-year journey from Chang'an in central China to the Western Regions bordering China. The book is divided into twelve volumes, which describe the geography, land and maritime transportation, climate, local products, people, language, history, politics, economic life, religion, culture, and customs in 110 countries, regions and city-states from Xinjiang to Persia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Sri Lanka etc.

Taken from: SI-YU-KI- BUDDHIST RECORDS OF THE WESTERN WORLD by Hiuen Tsiang.

People of the Maldive Islands By Clarence Maloney 1980

p251

Passing seawards to the south of this country some thousands of li (1), we arrive at the island of Narakira. The people of this island are small of stature, about three feet high ; their bodies are those of men, but they have the beaks of birds; they grow no grain, but live only on cocoa-nuts…… Crossing the sea westward from this island several thousands of li, on the eastern cliff of a solitary island is a stone figure of Buddha more than 100 feet high….. Crossing the sea many thousand li to the west of this country, we come to a large island renowned for its precious stones (or Maharatnadvipa); it is not inhabited, except by spirits. Seen from a distance on a calm night, a light seems to shine from mountains and valleys. Merchants going there are much surprised to find nothing can be procured.

Note: according to Clarence Maloney this must refer to the Maldives since they lie south as well as west of Sri Lanka, and because of the name ndrikera (coconut ), and even now some islands are referred to as ' coconut island '. By the absence of grain, Hsiian-Tsang perhaps meant rice. This passage also suggests navigation westward from the Maldives to Madagascar or Zanzibar.

P277

Kingdom of Po-la-sse (Persia)

This kingdom is extended over several thousand places. The capital is called Sou-la-sa-t’ang-na (Sourasthana)(2), with a circumference of about fourty li. As the valleys are really big, the climate can varie quite a bit; it is generally hot. The people bring water with canals to irrigate the fields. The country produces gold, silver, brass, Po-tchi (Sphatika – Rock Kristal), and many rare and precious things. ……………….. The country borders in the North-west on the kingdom of Fu-lin (Syria) which by its soil and its habits, resembles Persia; but they are a bit differently build and a bit different in tongue. They possess many rare and precious objects; they are also rich and opulent.

(1) Li: a Chinese mile, now standardised at 500m. (Has historically fluctuated between 323m and 645m).

(2) Sourasthana: according to J. T. Reinaud it means The Country of Sour; The Sour or Assour of the Bible. Merassid al Itthila (Safi al din al Baghdadi -1338) gives for Sourestan; according to some authors Iraq.