妙法蓮華經玄贊 6.16

6.16

The Eulogy states: This allegorizes doubt. "Fox" (*hu*) has the pronunciation of the fanqie *hu* + *du*. The *Yupian* says: "A bewitching beast, ridden by ghosts." The fox has three virtues: its color is moderate and harmonious, it is small in front and large behind, and at death it invariably faces toward its home hill. Jackals (*ye-gan*) are blue-yellow in color like dogs; they travel in packs and howl at night with sounds like wolves; they can climb trees and nest on perilous crags and tall trees. The fox is somewhat larger in form, while the jackal is small; although their two forms are similar, there is a difference in size. Hence the *Dhyāna Sūtra* states, "One sees a wild fox, and again sees a jackal." Wolves can be understood by extension. These represent doubts concerning the Three Jewels, the three times, and the three realms; hence three beasts are spoken of. "Munch" (*ju*) is pronounced with the fanqie *ci* + *lü*, or *chu* + *lü*. "Chew" (*jiao*) is pronounced with the fanqie *zai* + *jue*. The *Yupian* states: "*Ju* means to hold in the mouth, to taste, to suck." Some write the character as *ju* (齟). "*Jiao*" means to bite, to masticate, to eat. Holding in the mouth is called *ju*; biting is called *jiao*. Treading with the feet is called "trampling" (*jianta*). Severing tendons and bones is called *chi*. Damaging skin and flesh is called *nie*. "*Chi*" is pronounced with the fanqie *zai* + *zhu*, tasting by touching the teeth is called *ji*. It is unknown where the character *chi* (䶩) originates; it is feared to be an error for *chi*, and should be written as *nie* (𪘨) with *nie* (齧), where gnawing and pulling is called *chi*. Some pronounce this *chi* as *jie*, but that is not verified. "*Nie*" has the pronunciation of the fanqie *wu* + *jie*. "*Shi*" means to bite. Biting repeatedly is *nie*; touching the teeth is *ji*; thereby the bones and flesh ultimately end up scattered in disorder. Doubt expressed through the mouth is like munching and chewing; the mind doubting the true principles is like trampling; doubting the soft dharmas of suffering and origination is like *chi*, tasting by touching the teeth; doubting the hard dharmas of cessation and the path is like *nie*, biting and damaging skin and flesh; because of this, the corpses of birth and death are scattered in disorder and turmoil.