1 88 Bibliographical Notice. [No. 2. 



perhaps its most peculiar creations, so much so that its religious history 

 canuot be rightly understood without a knowledge of the legends. 



" After this representation of the chief contents and merits of the 

 work, I feel certain that all my colleagues will agree with me that it 

 will greatly promote researches in Buddhism, as well as in the geo- 

 graphy of India and of its adjacent countries in the west and north- 

 west, two branches of oriental archaeology to which it contributes 

 the most important information. "With regard to India, it supplies 

 in many cases indigenous sources. St. J, has thus added another 

 to his already numerous and important productions in the depart- 

 ment of Chinese literature, one which will be of immense advantage 

 to the students of Indian antiquities, and for which he will always 

 be entitled to their gratitude. It has been the means of showing 

 what fruitful results are derivable from continued enquiries in the 

 rich field of Chinese Buddhistic literature. All orientalists there- 

 fore must devoutly hope that St. J. will be in a conditon to bring 

 out a second volume, which according to the pref. p. lxxix. is destined 

 to contain the following additions. First a translation of all extant 

 accounts of Chinese pilgrims in India, of which two, namely, that of 

 Fa-hian, the other of Song-jung (the latter in C. F. Neumann's Pil- 

 grimages of Buddhist priests from China to India) have already been 

 translated, though not quite with the accuracy to be wished. We 

 shall thus command the means of extending our acquaintance with 

 India through Chinese sources. St. J. proposes also to give a com- 

 plete analysis of all the most important facts of the Si-jii-ki, which is 

 to be preceded by a complete translation of Hiouen Thsang's descrip- 

 tion of Magadha. It would enhance the value of this analysis very 

 much, if the legends were only given in abstract and the historical 

 facts in full. Not less useful will be the compilation of Chinese 

 accounts from the writings and biographies of celebrated persons 

 mentioned in the translated work. These bibliographical and bio- 

 graphical notices are to be followed by a chapter on chronology, 

 which will be taken from the great work Fo-tou-tong-ki compiled in 

 the 11th century. To these will be added biographies of the six and 

 twenty Patriarchs. These were not, it is true, regarded by the 

 Chinese as the supreme heads of Buddhism in India, and their bio- 

 graphies teem with legends possessing no chronological value, but 

 the latter still contribute many useful materials to the history of 



