Indian Antiquary Vol 26

SR No.: 032518
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 360
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[SEPTEMBER, 1897.
The story is carried on by a Burmese record quoted by Phayre, History of Burma, p. 137, who says that in 1658 the pseudo-emperor Yunbli, in his distress upon being driven out of Yunnan by the Manchus, desired refuge in Burma and offered one hundred viss of golda to the King.
One can hardly expect in such a work as the Life and Legend of Gaudama to find any trustworthy evidence as to the use of money in the days of the Buddha; and, in any case, one would most likely come across the ideas of comparatively modern Burmese writers in statements as to money made therein. I therefore only note here that in five instances of payment I have found in Bishop Bigandet's version, is taken from a Barmese translation of 1773 A. D., every mention of payment or value is in " pieces of silver." Similarly, in the few instances in which Hinen Tsiang (629 A. D.) mentions money, he seems, in relating stories, to refer to the currency used according to his own ideas : e.g., Vikramaditya's and Manörhita's benefac. tions are stated in lakhs of gold coin;" professedly prohibitive fee for visiting a shrine is fixed at "a great gold piece ; "4"gold pieces" in greatly exaggerated amounts are several times mentioned. It is worth remarking, however, that he only once mentions silver as a currency or standard of value, and then only in describing Persia by hearsay. From this last statement, 15 "in commerce they use large silver pieces," one may gather that by “pieces" he generally meant ingots or lamps.
Money and values are pretty frequently met with in the Jatakas, or Zàts as they are called in Burmose, and it is interesting and historically useful to trace the forms and expressions employed for money in the stories, as the forerunners of the ancient and modern terms. From Rhys Davids' Buddhist Birth Stories, Vol. 1., I extract the fact that the following Játok us contain references to pecuniary translations or values, Seri-vanija, Chullaka-atthi Nandi-visala, Nanda, Khadirangára. In the Nidánakatha, as given by Rhys Davids, there are also several mentions of money, 18 always in the same terms as in the Jatákas, but, as this last appears to be a comparatively later Sinhalese compilation, I need not farther notice it here.
Now for the benefit of English readers Rhys Davids translates small sums by "half. penuies" and "pennies," and larger sums by "pieces" and sometimes simply by numbers, as "worth a hundred thousand," and also uses the expressions, "money" and "cash."
However, in the original Pali text the expression in the Séri-vanija Jataka translated halfpenny" is addhamásako, 19 and in the Chullakasélthi Játaka the expression translated "penny" is kahapanan ; 20 while the expression in the Séri-vånija Játaka translated, 31 “the Bodisat gave them all the cash he had in hand (five hundred pieces) and all his stock-in-trade worth five hundred more," is in the text:- Bodhisatto tasmin khams hatthagat&ni pancha kahá. panasatáni panchastagghanakan cha bhandai sabbai datvu. In the Chullaka sellhi Jataka, again, the word in the text for "farthing" in the translation is kákanika,23 As for the expression for "money," in the Nanda Jitaks it is simply dhanaill, which is also translated "treasure" in the same text, and elsewhere "property."23
13 Say £25,000.
13 Or. Ser. Ed., Vol. 1. pp. 36, 197: Vol. II, pp. 78, 183, 344. 16 Boal, Buddhist Records of the Western World, Vol. I. PP. 103 f., 232, 232, in wbich laat instance Beal's translation would seem to be loose; Vol. II. pp. 3, 168, 167, and (7) 263. 16 Vol. II, p. 278.
16 Pages 165 1., 169 ff., 867 8., 822 1., 827, 381 f. 11 In the commentary only: ride Fausbüll, Jataka, Vol. I. p. 226 ff.
18 Pagos 3, 87, 71, 91, 133, The Burmese Exministers, when quoting authorities for the making of willa by Bud. dbisty, gave an ancient reference to the use of lump currency in the following quotation from the " Khumbhagh. raka Vatthu Appamadavaga, 2nd Chapter of the Dhammapaditthakatha, commentary by Mahathêra Buddhaginha on the Dhammapad, one of the books of the Khuddakanikaya" :-"Go to such and such a place, where we have bidden 40 ksçta (crores) of treasure, which you may dig up and maintain yourself with." 1 Fausböll, Vol. I. p. 111 f.
Op. cit. p. 180 f. 1 Op. cit. p. 112. Kahapanath is also on the same page translated "penny." 31 Op. cit. p. 120.
» Op. cit. p. 285 f., and p. 198, Nandivadla Jataka.