On the stone dais in front, a
mat-shed is erected for the great sacrifices at which the official
magnates exercise their sacerdotal functions. As a tourist beheld the
sacred grounds and the aged trees, she said: 'This is the most
venerable-looking place I have seen in China.' On the gateway in front, the
sage is called 'The Prince of Doctrine in times Past and Present.'" (Rev.
H.C. Du Bose, Chin. Rec., xix. p. 272). - H.C.]
NOTE 5. - The Geographic Text only, at least of the principal Texts, has
distinctly the three cities, Vugui, Vughin, Ciangan. Pauthier
identifies the first and third with HU-CHAU FU and Sung-kiang fu. In
favour of Vuju's being Hu-chau is the fact mentioned by Wilson that the
latter city is locally called WUCHU.[3] If this be the place, the
Traveller does not seem to be following a direct and consecutive route
from Su-chau to Hang-chau. Nor is Hu-chau within a day's journey of
Su-chau. Mr. Kingsmill observes that the only town at that distance is
Wukiang-hien, once of some little importance but now much reduced.
WUKIANG, however, is suggestive of VUGHIN; and, in that supposition,
Hu-chau must be considered the object of a digression from which the
Traveller returns and takes up his route to Hang-chau via Wukiang.
Kiahing would then best answer to Ciangan, or Caingan, as it is
written in the following chapter of the G.T.
[1] See Quatremere's Rashid., p. lxxxvii., and Hammer's Wassaf, p. 42.
[2] I owe these valuable illustrations, as so much else, to the unwearied
kindness of Mr. A. Wylie. There were originally four maps: (1) The
City, (2) The Empire, (3) The Heavens, (4) no longer known. They
were drawn originally by one Hwan Kin-shan, and presented by him to a
high official in Sze-ch'wan. Wang Che-yuen, subsequently holding office
in the same province, got possession of the maps, and had them incised
at Su-chau in A.D. 1247. The inscription bearing these particulars is
partially gone, and the date of the original drawings remains
uncertain. (See List of Illustrations.)
[3] The Ever Victorious Army, p. 395
CHAPTER LXXVI.
DESCRIPTION OF THE GREAT CITY OF KINSAY, WHICH IS THE CAPITAL OF THE WHOLE
COUNTRY OF MANZI.
When you have left the city of Changan and have travelled for three days
through a splendid country, passing a number of towns and villages, you
arrive at the most noble city of Kinsay, a name which is as much as to say
in our tongue "The City of Heaven," as I told you before.[NOTE 1]
And since we have got thither I will enter into particulars about its
magnificence; and these are well worth the telling, for the city is beyond
dispute the finest and the noblest in the world.
