由旬（yojana）の再検証 森 章司・本澤綱夫
모리 쇼지(森 章司)와 모토자와 츠
나오(本澤 綱夫)의 공동 연구로 1유순의 거리를 면밀하게 고찰하고 현
지 답사로 그 거리를 계량했다. 이들은 11km대의 거리가 1유순일 것이
라는 결론을 도출해 낸 동시에, 절대 단위로서 1유순의 거리가 13km일
개연성이 있다는 견해를 제시했다. 이처럼 다소 납득하기 어려운 견해는 자료 분석의 방식에서 기인한 것으로 생각된다.
법현(法顯)이 적용한 Yojana에 대한 재검토. 차유만.정승석.pdf
《四分律行事鈔簡正記》卷6：「所言由旬者。西天本音云踰繕那。今云由旬訛略也。此無正翻。乃是輪王巡狩一停之舍。由似此間舘驛不殊。不局量數。大約而言。三十里一驛也。」(CBETA, X43, no. 737, p. 129, a23-b2 // Z 1:68, p. 182, c3-6 // R68, p. 364, a3-6)
由旬
由旬（ゆじゅん）、サンスクリット名ヨージャナ（योजन [yojana]）は、古代インドにおける長さの単位。
古代インドでは度量衡が統一されておらず、厳密に「1ヨージャナは何メートル」とは定義出来ないが、一般的には約11.3kmから14.5km前後とされる。また、仏教の由旬はヒンドゥー教のヨージャナの半分とも言われ、倶舎論の記述などでは普通1由旬を約7kmと解釈する。
古来より様々な定義がなされており、例えば天文学書『アールヤバティーヤ』（en:Aryabhatiya）では「人間の背丈の8000倍」となっている。他にも「帝王の行軍の1日分」「牛の鳴き声が聞こえる最も遠い距離の8倍」など様々な表現がなされている。
また、「32000ハスタ」とする定義もある。ハスタ（hasta）とは本来「手」の意味だが、古代インドの長さの単位でもあり、この場合は「肘から中指の先までの長さ」（キュビット）と定義される。以下倍量単位が続き、4ハスタが1ダンダ（daNDa）、2000ダンダが1クローシャ（kroza）、2クローシャが1ガヴューティ（gavyuuti）、そして2ガヴューティが1ヨージャナとなる。仮に1ハスタを45cmとすると、1ヨージャナは14.4kmとなる。
一方、仏教では1倶盧舎（クローシャ）が1000ダンダ（4000ハスタ）、そして4倶盧舎が1由旬とされているので、1由旬は7.2kmとなる。
由旬を使ってその大きさが示されているものとしては、須弥山の高さ8万由旬などがある。
A Yojana (Sanskrit: योजन) is a Vedic measure of distance that was used in ancient India. A Yojana is about 12–15 km. (i.e. 4 Kosh = 1 Yojana and 1 kosh is 2 - 3.5 km)
In modern Hindi the word yojanaa (Hindi: योजना) means "plan" or blueprint, and is etymologically connected with the Cartesian notion of distance in the word yojana. However, note that the words "yojana'" and "yojanaa" are different, and pronounced differently. The last sound of the second word is pronounced "aaa" as in arm [ārm].[1]
Contents
[hide]Yojana as per "Vishnu Purana"[edit]
Yojana is defined in Chapter 6 of Book 1 of the ancient vedic text “Vishnu Purana” as follows:[2]
Clearly defined[edit]
| Measurement | Equals to... (in Hindu measurement) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10 ParamAnus | 1 Parasúkshma | ParamAnu refers to atom. |
| 10 Parasúkshmas | 1 Trasarenu | |
| 10 Trasarenus | 1 Mahírajas (particle of dust) | |
| 10 Mahírajas | 1 Bálágra (hair’s point) | |
| 10 Bálágra | 1 Likhsha | |
| 10 Likhsha | 1 Yuka | |
| 10 Yukas | 1 Yavodara (heart of barley) | |
| 10 Yavodaras | 1 Yava (barley grain of middle size) | |
| 10 Yava | 1 Angula | 1.89 cm or approx 3/4 inch – here angula doesn't mean 1 inch rather 3/4 inch |
| 6 fingers | 1 Pada (the breadth of it) | |
| 2 Padas | 1 Vitasti (span) | |
| 2 Vitasti | 1 Hasta (cubit) | |
| 4 Hastas | [1] Dhanu | |
| 1 Danda | 2 Nárikás equals 6 feet (1.8 m) | [1] Paurusa (a man’s height) |
| 2000 Dhanus | 1 Gavyuti (distance to which a cow’s call or lowing can be heard) | 12,000 feet (3.7 km) |
| 4 Gavyutis | 1 Yojana | |
| 1 Yojana | 9.09 miles or 14.63 kilometers |
Variations on length[edit]
The length of the yojana varies depending on the different standards adopted by different Indian astronomers. In the Surya Siddhanta of the 5th century, for example, a yojana was equivalent to 8.0 km (5 mi),[3] and the same was true for Aryabhata's Aryabhatteeya (499).[4] However, 14th century scholar Paramesvara defined the yojana to be about 1.5 times larger, equivalent to about 13 km (8 mi).[3] A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada gives the equivalent length of a yojana as about 13 km (8 mi)[5] throughout his translations of the Bhagavata Purana. Some other traditional Indian scholars give measurements between 3 km and 6 km (4–5 miles) or thereabouts.[citation needed] In The Ancient Geography of India, Alexander Cunningham says that a yojana is traditionally held to be between 8 and 9 miles and calculates by comparison with Chinese units of length that it could have been between 6.7 mi (10.8 km) and 8.2 mi (13.2 km).[6]
See also[edit]
- Hindu cosmology
- History of measurement systems in India
- Hindu units of time
- Palya
- Rajju
- Sayana
- List of numbers in Hindu scriptures
References[edit]
- ^ "Dictionary of Historical and Related Terms". Barun Roy.Com. 13 March 2015.
- ^ Vishnu Purana, Translated to English: 45:6 In the other three Puráńas, in which this legend has been found, the different kinds of inhabited places are specified and p. 46 introduced by a series of land measures. Thus the Márkańd́eya states, that 10 Paramáńus = 1 Parasúkshma; 10 Parasúkshmas = 1 Trasareńu; 10 Trasareńus = 1 particle of dust, or Mahírajas; 10 Mahírajasas = 1 Bálágra, 'hair's point;' 10 Bálágras = 1 Likhyá; 10 Likhyás= 1 Yúka; to Yúkas = 1 heart of barley (Yavodara); 10 Yavodaras = 1 grain of barley of middle size; 10 barley grains = 1 finger, or [an] inch; 6 fingers = a Pada, or foot (the breadth of it); 2 Padas = 1 Vitasti, or span; 2 spans = 1 Hasta, or cubit; 4 Hastas = a Dhanu, a Danda, or staff, or 2 Nárikás; 2000 Dhanus = a Gavyúti; 4 Gavyútis = a Yojana. The measurement of the Brahmáńd́a is less detailed. A span from the thumb to the first finger is a Pradeśa; to the middle finger, a Nála; to the third finger, a Gokerna; and to the little finger, a Vitasti, which is equal to twelve Angulas, or fingers; understanding thereby, according to the Váyu, a joint of the finger; according to other authorities, it is the breadth of the thumb at the tip. (A. R. 5. 104.) The Váyu, giving similar measurements upon the authority of Manu, although such a statement does not occur in the Manu Sanhitá, adds, that 21 fingers = 1 Ratni; 24 fingers = 1 Hasta, or cubit; 2 Ratnis = 1 Kishku; 4 Hastas = 1 Dhanu; 2000 Dhanus = l Gavyúti; and 8000 Dhanus = 1 Yojana. Durgas, or strong holds, are of four kinds; three of which are natural, from, their situation in mountains, amidst water, or in other inaccessible spots; the fourth is the artificial defences of a village (Gráma), a hamlet (Khet́aka), or a city (Pura or Nagara), which are severally half the size of the next in the series. The best kind of city is one which is about a mile long by half a mile broad, built in the form of a parallelogram, facing the northeast, and surrounded by a high wall and ditch. A hamlet should be a Yojana distant from a city: a village half a Yojana from a hamlet. The roads leading to the cardinal points from a city should be twenty Dhanus (above too feet) broad: a village road should be the same: a boundary road ten Dhanus: a royal or principal road or street should be ten Dhanus (above fifty feet) broad: a cross or branch road should be four Dhanus. Lanes and paths amongst the houses are two Dhanus in breadth: footpaths four cubits: the entrance of a house three cubits: the private entrances and paths about the mansion of still narrower dimensions. Such were the measurements adopted by the first builders of cities, according to the Puráńas specified.
- ^ a b Richard Thompson (1997), "Planetary Diameters in the Surya-Siddhanta", Journal of Scientific Exploration, 11 (2): 193–200 [196]
- ^ O'Connor, John J.; Robertson, Edmund F., "Aryabhata I", MacTutor History of Mathematics archive, University of St Andrews.
- ^ Srimad Bhagavatam 10.57.18 (translation) one yojana measures about eight miles"
- ^ Alexander Cunningham, Measures of Distance. Yojana, Li, Krosa. in The Ancient Geography of India: I. I. The Buddhist Period, Including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang, Trübner and Company, 1871, pp. 571-574
Further reading[edit]
- East-India Register and Directory. W.H. Allen.
- The Artha Shaastra of Kautilya, Penguin Books
- Valmiki Ramayana
- Dictionary of Historical and Related Terms
yojana
In India, at least as early as 4th century bce – 20th century, a unit of itinerant distance.
The Arthaśāstra¹ (4th century bce) says that 1 yojana = 4 gorutas; 1 goruta = 1000 dhanus; 1 dhanu = 96 angulas. Taking the angula as ¾ inch makes the yojana about 4.54 statute miles. During the colonial period the British administration set the yojana at 5 miles; however, this seems to be smaller than its usual value. The ancient commentator on the Arthaśāstra says the goruta is 2000 dhanus, which would make the yojana about 9 miles.
T. W. Rhys Davids complied a list of occurrences of the term and compared each with distances on modern maps. He concluded²:
The conclusion to which I come is that we have no data as yet for determining the sense in which the word yojana is used in the Three Piṭakas; that in fifth-century Páli literature it means between seven and eight miles³, and that the traditions preserved by Ceylon authors of that date as to distances in North India in the time of Gautama agree pretty well, except in the cases of Kapilavastu and Sankassa, with the sites fixed by General Cunningham.
3. As when Professor Childers, in his Dictionary, s.v., looks upon the yojana “as about equivalent to twelve miles,” he is following Moggallána, though he especially instances No. 16, so also when the Burmese make it = 13½ miles (teste Rogers, Bud. Par. p. 42), this probably rests on some similar calculation.
Doursther (1840) says 1 yojana = 4 krosa or cos = 400 tenah = 1600 bamboos = 3200 vansas = 8000 dandas = 20,000 guz, about 20.048 km (12.73 miles). His source is not given. Klimpert, under the headword Jodschan, says it= 4 cos and is 7315 meters in Bengal, which is a restatement of the reasoning from the Arthaśāstra.
Stein (1900, see example 1 below) says the usual value of the kruh in early 20th centuryKashmir is 1½ miles, making the yojana (= 4 kruh) about 6 miles.
The unit occurs in Buddhist sutras. In Chinese translations of the sutras, yojana is rendered as you xun. Even longer values seem appropriate in some of the sutras.
1. R. Shamasasatry, trans.
Kautila's Arthaśāstra. 8th ed.
Mysore: Mysore Printing and Publishing House, 1967.
See footnote 4, page 121.
2. T. W. Rhys Davids.
On the Ancient Coins and Measures of Ceylon.
London: Trübner and Company, 1877.
Page 17.
Examples
1
Book 1
264. When she learned from afar [at a place] where more than one Yojana yet remained of her way [to Narapura], that her brother had accomplished his work, she left that hail of stones among the villages.
265. For five Yojanas from that place the village-land became a waste buried under mighty boulders, and known to this very day as the Ramaṇyātavi ('the forest of Ramaṇyā').
[Footnote to verses] 263-265. ...In the stony waste above Litar I recognize the place where, according to our verse, the Ramaṇyā is supposed to have dropped her stones. The distance between it and Tsakadar is about eight miles, which corresponds exactly to the ｅxpression of the text...
The 'five Yojanas' which the next verse mentions as the length of the ground laid waste by the Ramanyatavi, seems a less accurate measurement. From above Hura por to the locality near Litar above indicated the map shows only a distance of about twenty-two miles, which is considerably less than the five Yojanas, or twenty Krosas of verse 265. The modern Kruh (Kōś) of Kasmi is about one and a half miles, and to judge from the evidence of vii. 393, and of Bilhana's measurement, Vikram. xviii. 70, the ancient Krośa in Kasmir could not have been less.
...
Book 7.
393. Full of energy, he accomplished the [way of] five Yojanas in half a moment by spurring on his steed which was as fast as thought.
[Footnote to verse] 393. The direct distance by road from S'ringar to Vijebror is about thirty miles. This corresponds exactly to five Yojanas or twenty Krośas, if the Krośa is taken at the usual valuation of the modern Kaśmiri Kruh (Kōś) as equal to one and a half miles; comp. note i. 265
M. A. Stein, trans.
Kalhana's Rajatarangini. A Chronicle of the Kings of Kasmir. Vol. 1.
Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1961.
Reprint of the 1900 edition.
These footnotes of Sir Aurel Stein's have often been described as if Stein had made precise measurements of distances with somewhat precise endpoints, in the manner of modern studies of, for example, the stade. As can be seen, that is not the case.