1854.] Bibliographical Notice. 18 1 



with other sects. So much confidence had he inspired, that the dis- 

 ciples of a highly esteemed teacher, Sinharacmi, deserted their master 

 and joined Hiouen Thsang. The latter had composed a work in 

 which the doctrines of the Mahajana Sutra were declared to be the 

 only true ones, and in which was exposed the fallacy of those of the 

 Hinajana Sutra. The word Sutra, as is well known, signifies with 

 the Buddhists, the first part of their sacred writings in which are 

 contained the sayings and lectures of the founder of their religion, 

 his conversations with his listeners and all his instructions. The 

 simple and earlier Sutras are called Hinajana or the little convey- 

 ance, the more detailed and later Sutras, the Mahajana or the large 

 conveyance. This work of the foreign Buddhist was communicated 

 by a Brahman to Kumara of Kamarupa or Lower Assam, who was 

 so pleased with it that he invited Hiouen Thsang to visit him. He 

 accepted the invitation of the king, but Qiladitya the more power- 

 ful ruler of Magadha coming to hear of it, Kumara was threatened 

 with his displeasure if he did not send back the celebrated stranger. 

 Kumara at once resolved in company with Hiouen Thsang to pay 

 his homage to the king of Magadha. Qiladitya received the foreign 

 teacher with great honors, and being convinced of the excellence of 

 his work, resolved to convocate at Kanyakubja or Kanoj a great as- 

 sembly of priests learned in the sacred writings from the several 

 kingdoms of India, in order to discuss the true doctrine with the 

 Chinese teacher. A great number of the most celebrated Buddhist 

 priests and two thousand Brahmans accordingly assembled and 

 Hiouen Thsang was made president of the assembly. For five days 

 no adherent of the Hinajana Sutra ventured to dispute the correct- 

 ness of Hiouen Thsang' s dogmas, but the disciples of this school were 

 highly indignant with him, calumniated him and conspired against 

 his life. On this Qiladitya issued an order to kill every heterodox 

 teacher who dared to menace the life of Hiouen Thsang, and to cut off* 

 the tongue of such as slandered him. Those attached to the false doc- 

 trine were thus silenced and as during eighteen days none dared to 

 oppose the foreigner, the assembly was dissolved. After obtaining 

 this success his preaching and excessive praise of the Mahajana Sutra 

 persuaded many young men of opposite views to abandon the path 

 of error and to turn into the right way. He received the honorific 



