Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-08-23
AHEAD OF COLUMBUS.
BUDDHIsTS VISITED THIS coNTi-
NENT IN FIFTH CENTURY.
Professor Fryer, of the University OF
California, Is Responsible for This
The Evidence Is Documentary-An-
cient Record Still Preserved in China.

Prof. Fryer of the University of Cal
ifornia brings to light new evidence
tending to prove that Buddhist priests
discovered America 1000 years before
the sailing of Columbus. "The evidence
is both documentary and substantial"
says Harper's Monthly.
OF the evidence of early Chinese doc
uments, Prof. Fryer says:
1.-The narrative states that there was
Buddhist priest named Hui Shen,
originally a native of Cabul, who, in
the year 499 A. D., during the reign Of
the Emperor Yung Yuan, came from
the country Of Fusang to Kingchow.
the capital of the dynasty of Isl, stu
ated on the River Yang-tse. The coun-
try being in a state of revolution, 1t
was not till the year 502 that he had
an opportunity of going to the court of
the Emperor WI I'll, of the new Liang
dynasty. He gave presents to the EN-
peror of curious articles brought from
Fusang, among which was material
looking like silk. but the threads of
which could support a great weight
without breaking. This was evidently
the fiber of the Mexican agave. He
also presented a mirror of a foot in
diameter. possessing wonderful proper
ties, and resembling those in use In
Mexico and other localities in America
at that time. The Emperor treated him
as an envoy from Fusang, and deputed
; one of the four principal feudal lords,
named Yu kie, to interrogate him re-
specting the country, and to take down
his story in writing. This was accord
ingly done, and we have what Is un-
doubtedly the original text, with only
perhaps here and there a typographical
error which can be easily explained.
Among other things, Hui Shen said
that the people of Fusang were former
ly in ignorance of the doctrines of
Buddha, but during the reign of the
Chinese Emperor Ia Ming, of the Sung
dynasty, or A. d. 45S, there were five
bikshus, or Buddhist monks from
Cabul, who travelled there and promul-
gated the knowledge of the doctrines,
books and images Of Buddhism. Their
labors were successful, so that they or
dained monks from among the natives
and thus the customs and manners of
the people We're soon reformed. He
gave particulars of the journey through
the Aleutian Islands and Alaska, with
the length of the route and descrip
ton of the inha bitants He described
the country of Fusang as 10000 II, OF
$500 miles, to the east of Kamschatka
and also due east from China. 1t grows
great numbers of fusang trees, which
when they first appear above ground
are like bamboo shoots, and the people
eat them. Threads are spun from the
. skin Of the plant, which are woven into
cloth from which clothing is made, OF
else it is made into embroidery. They
also use the f1brous material of ths
, fusang for making paper. These ans
, many other features seem to point un
mistakably to the Mexican agaye. Rec
pears are mentioned, which agree il
: description with the fruit of the prickl,
pear, while grapes are represented a
plentiful. There is plenty of copper
, but no iron; and no money value is pu
on gold or silver. Their markets ar
: free and there are no fixed prices.
Z .'The manners and customs Of tn
people, their forms of government
/ their marriage and funeral ceremonies
I their food and clothing, the method 0
: constructing their houses, the absenc
; of soldiers and military weapons, cite
: and fortresses, are all particular
e noted, and agree with what is found il
: no country bordering on the Pacific
: except on the continent of America i
general, and in Mexico in particular
8 To suppose that Hui Shen could hav
!. Invented all these statements, and tina
8 his story can be satisfactorily explain
y ed upon any other theory than that b
9 had actually made the journey whic
he SO truthfully and soberly describe
o is, to say the least of it, absurd"
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