DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.614#0271
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CHAPTER XVIII.
The Buddhist Ruins at Sarnath—Their Antiquity.—Summary of the
Narratives of Fa Hian and Hiouen Thsang, respecting the buildings
formerly existing at Sarnath and in its neighbourhood.—Points of
agreement in the Narratives.—Modern Explorers of the Ruins.—Ex-
tent and Nature of the Remains.—The Great Tower—Description of
it by Major-General Cunningham, and Account of his Excavations.
—Age of Buddhist Topes or Towers.—Remains of a Buddhist Mon-
astery—Mr. Thomas's Account of them.—.Discovery of large num-
bers of Statues and Bass-reliefs.—Excavated Chamber.—Foundation
of an Ancient Tower—Major-General Cunningham's Description of
it.—The Chaukandi Tower.—The I's'ipattana Hall, or Abode of Bud-
dhist Devotees.—Remains of Vihara or Temple-monastery.—Small
Building, containing Sixty Sculptures. — The Seal Chaityas,—The
Buddhist Formula.—S'akya Muni, the historical Buddha—His visit
to Benares.—Spread of Buddhism from Benares.—Decline of Bud-
dhism in India.—Destruction of Buddhist Structures at Sarnath, by
fire.—Fall of Buddhism.
These ruins have, for years, excited much interest
in the public mind, both on account of their antiquity
and of their connexion with the Buddhist religion. The
latest of them date, perhaps, from about the sixth or
seventh century of the present era ; while the earliest
may belong to a period several hundred years prior
to that. Indeed, it is a historical fact, which admits
of no question, that there were buildings in existence
on this spot in the first ages of Buddhism; and,
although we can hardly suppose that remains of any
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Buddhist Ruins at Sarnath—Their Antiquity.—Summary of the
Narratives of Fa Hian and Hiouen Thsang, respecting the buildings
formerly existing at Sarnath and in its neighbourhood.—Points of
agreement in the Narratives.—Modern Explorers of the Ruins.—Ex-
tent and Nature of the Remains.—The Great Tower—Description of
it by Major-General Cunningham, and Account of his Excavations.
—Age of Buddhist Topes or Towers.—Remains of a Buddhist Mon-
astery—Mr. Thomas's Account of them.—.Discovery of large num-
bers of Statues and Bass-reliefs.—Excavated Chamber.—Foundation
of an Ancient Tower—Major-General Cunningham's Description of
it.—The Chaukandi Tower.—The I's'ipattana Hall, or Abode of Bud-
dhist Devotees.—Remains of Vihara or Temple-monastery.—Small
Building, containing Sixty Sculptures. — The Seal Chaityas,—The
Buddhist Formula.—S'akya Muni, the historical Buddha—His visit
to Benares.—Spread of Buddhism from Benares.—Decline of Bud-
dhism in India.—Destruction of Buddhist Structures at Sarnath, by
fire.—Fall of Buddhism.
These ruins have, for years, excited much interest
in the public mind, both on account of their antiquity
and of their connexion with the Buddhist religion. The
latest of them date, perhaps, from about the sixth or
seventh century of the present era ; while the earliest
may belong to a period several hundred years prior
to that. Indeed, it is a historical fact, which admits
of no question, that there were buildings in existence
on this spot in the first ages of Buddhism; and,
although we can hardly suppose that remains of any