Meant, but they have entered into
no particulars except in a reference by the former to Shien-sien, a
title of perfection affected by that sect, as the origin of Polo's term
Sensin. In the substance of this I think they are right. But I believe
that in the text this Chinese sect are, rightly or wrongly, identified
with the ancient Tibetan sect of Bon-po, and that part of the characters
assigned belong to each.
First with regard to the Taosse. These were evidently the Patarini of
the Buddhists in China at this time, and Polo was probably aware of the
persecution which the latter had stirred up Kublai to direct against them
in 1281 - persecution at least it is called, though it was but a mild
proceeding in comparison with the thing contemporaneously practised in
Christian Lombardy, for in heathen Cathay, books, and not human creatures,
were the subjects doomed to burn, and even that doom was not carried out.
["The Tao-sze," says M. Polo, "were looked upon as heretics by the other
sects; that is, of course; by the Lamas and Ho-shangs; in fact in his time
a passionate struggle was going on between Buddhists and Tao-sze, or
rather a persecution of the latter by the former; the Buddhists attributed
to the doctrine of the Tao-sze a pernicious tendency, and accused them of
deceit; and in support of these assertions they pointed to some of their
sacred books. Taking advantage of their influence at Court, they persuaded
Kublai to decree the burning of these books, and it was carried out in
Peking." (Palladius, 30.) - H. C.]
The term which Polo writes as Sensin appears to have been that popularly
applied to the Taosse sect at the Mongol Court. Thus we are told by
Rashiduddin in his History of Cathay: "In the reign of Din-Wang, the 20th
king of this (the 11th) Dynasty, TAI SHANG LAI KUN, was born. This person
is stated to have been accounted a prophet by the people of Khita; his
father's name was Han; like Shak-muni he is said to have been conceived by
light, and it is related that his mother bore him in her womb no less a
period than 80 years. The people who embraced his doctrine were called
[Arabic] (Shan-shan or Shinshin)." This is a correct epitome of the
Chinese story of Laokiun or Lao-tse, born in the reign of Ting Wang
of the Cheu Dynasty. The whole title used by Rashiduddin, Tai Shang Lao
Kiun, "The Great Supreme Venerable Ruler," is that formerly applied by
the Chinese to this philosopher.
Further, in a Mongol [and Chinese] inscription of the year 1314 from the
department of Si-ngan fu, which has been interpreted and published by Mr.
Wylie, the Taosse priests are termed Senshing.
