Indian Antiquary Vol 32

SR No.: 032524
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 550
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 445

NOVEMBER, 1903.]
NOTES ON THE INDO-BOYTHIANS.
421
conversion of this barbarisa. The spread of Buddhism towards the north-west had been for a long time stopped: now all at once the barrier was removed, and it could spread over a vast dominion under the patronage of a powerful sovereign ; with the prospect also of ultimately reaching the Tukbäras, the Chinas, and many other still unknown peoples. Since the memorable reiga of AsokaPiyadasi, Buddhism had not enjoyed triumph so full of promise. The episode of King-lou (or King-bien) shews its first result in Ohios; sixty years later, Buddhist priests were summoned to the court of the Han by imperial order,
The dates thus taken from different Chinese documents corroborate each other. If the first [22] Kusbaņa king came to the throne about the middle of the first century B.O., we should expect to find the second of his sucCORBOTS about the beginning of the Christian ers. Half a century leaves • normal space for the glorious reign of Kieou-tsieou-k'io, for Yen-kao-tchin's conquests, and for Kanishka's first years. From the Chinese point of view the qudstion of the Yue-tchi results also in the same chronological conclusions. Until the middle of the firet century B. O, the empire intervenes in the affairs of the peoples who border upon India; the kings of Ki-pin, more than half Indian as they are, solicit and receive investiture from the Han, though they might afterwards cut the throats of Chinese envoys. But in Youan-ti's reign (48 - 33 B. C.) China gives up the idea of avenging an outrageous affront it has just received. In vain does Ki-pin, menaced by pressing danger, confess its fault and offer reparation to Youan-ti's successor ; Tch'eng-ti (82 – 7 B. O.) imitates bis predecessor's prudent reserve, and doubtless abandons unfortunate Ki-pin to the invasion of the Yue-tchi, whom Kleon-tsioou-k'o leads to conquest. From that time the First Han Dynasty is in its last struggles and comes to an end in the convulsions of civil war; there is a rapid succession of feeble emperors, who love their power, and usurpers contend for it. First the Trans-Pamirian states revolt, tbon the Cis-Pamirian provinces, and are separated from the empire. [28] In Vain does the minister Wang-mang, a pretender to the throne, try to ingratiate himself with the western countries by rich presents (4 A. D.). The year 8 of the Christian ers marks the official cessation of relations between China and Si-Yu (the West). According to the testimony of the imperial bistoriographer, Par-kou, the power of China in those regions was, at the end of the First Han Dynasty, in the year 23 of the same era, reduced to nothing. If we believe the Chinese pilgrim Hiouen-trang, the inheritor of the Chinese supremacy was undoubtedly the king of the Kusbaņas, Kanishka. "The neighbouring
kingdoms were agitated by his renown, and the terror of his arms extended itself amoug foreign “peoples. He organized his army and extended his dominions to the east of the Tsong-ling (Bolor)
mountains. The tributary princes, established to the west of the river (Yellow), dreaded his power, and sent him hostages" (Mémoires, trans. Julien, I. 42, 200).
The Yue-tchi conqueror had taken away from the Han, not only their vassals, but also their title of sovereignty; and the hostagos, who formerly prostrated themselves before the son of Heaven (t'ien-tnew) at Tobang-ngan, now prostrated themselves before the Son of Heaven (dēva putra) at Pashkalivati or at Peshawar.
(24) IL, as is generally done, we tak. Kanishka's coronation as the starting-point for the Saka en (78 A, D.), [26] we meet with an insurmountable difficulty. Pan-tebao's victorious campaigns, pursued for thirty years (78-102 A. D.) without interruption, at this very time restored Si-Yu to the empire, and carried Chinese arms beyond the regions explored by T'chang-kien, as far as the confines of the Græco-Roman world. By 78, the king of Khoten had made his submission; several kings of that country followed his example, and gave their eldest sons as bostages for their fidelity. Kasbgar, immediately after, returned to obedience. The two passes by which the way to the south debouches into India were in the hands of the Chinese. The submission in the year 94, after a long resistance, of Kharashar and of Kou-tché segured to China also the route to the north. The Yue-tohi had not renounced their previous supremacy without a struggle. In the year 90 the king of the
• See the special note," the t'ieu-tsen (dovapatra) of the Yue-tohi," on page 488 below.
De Mailla, Histoire générale de la Chine (trade from the T'oung-tien Kan-mon), 865 99.