DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.614#0314
272 BENARES, PAST AND PRESENT.
previous chapter, are, at least, three miles distant from
the present city.
~Now, while the hope of finding any buildings of the
early Buddhist period in Benares might be pronounced
too sanguine, yet, on the other hand, he would betray a
singular ignorance of the massiveness and durability of
Buddhist architecture, who should venture to assert that
it was otherwise than exceedingly likely that portions of
buildings of the later Buddhist period were still existing,
waiting to be discovered. Even as late as the seventh
century, A.D., when Hinduism had regained much of its
old prestige and influence, there were, as we have al-
ready seen, in the city and kingdom of Benares, accord-
ing to the testimony of Hiouen Thsang, upwards of thirty
Buddhist monasteries,—to most or all of which temples
were, probably, attached,—and, with them, about three
thousand priests and disciples were associated. It can-
not be, for an instant, supposed that these monasteries,
which were, unquestionably, built of strong material,
have all been swept away with the lapse of ages, and
have " left not a wreck behind." Several of these were,
doubtless, situated at Sarnath and in its immediate
neighbourhood. Indeed, the existence of the Sarnath
ruins, which are, mostly, of the later Buddhist period,
is a strong argument for believing that portions, more
or less considerable, of some, perhaps of most, of the
remaining edifices, are still discoverable. We must not
imagine, that, in any instance, they are existing in their
original integrity ; but, on the contrary, that, where
they exist at all, they have been appropriated by Hindus
and Mohammedans, and, principally, by the latter, for
previous chapter, are, at least, three miles distant from
the present city.
~Now, while the hope of finding any buildings of the
early Buddhist period in Benares might be pronounced
too sanguine, yet, on the other hand, he would betray a
singular ignorance of the massiveness and durability of
Buddhist architecture, who should venture to assert that
it was otherwise than exceedingly likely that portions of
buildings of the later Buddhist period were still existing,
waiting to be discovered. Even as late as the seventh
century, A.D., when Hinduism had regained much of its
old prestige and influence, there were, as we have al-
ready seen, in the city and kingdom of Benares, accord-
ing to the testimony of Hiouen Thsang, upwards of thirty
Buddhist monasteries,—to most or all of which temples
were, probably, attached,—and, with them, about three
thousand priests and disciples were associated. It can-
not be, for an instant, supposed that these monasteries,
which were, unquestionably, built of strong material,
have all been swept away with the lapse of ages, and
have " left not a wreck behind." Several of these were,
doubtless, situated at Sarnath and in its immediate
neighbourhood. Indeed, the existence of the Sarnath
ruins, which are, mostly, of the later Buddhist period,
is a strong argument for believing that portions, more
or less considerable, of some, perhaps of most, of the
remaining edifices, are still discoverable. We must not
imagine, that, in any instance, they are existing in their
original integrity ; but, on the contrary, that, where
they exist at all, they have been appropriated by Hindus
and Mohammedans, and, principally, by the latter, for