涅槃玄義發源機要 4.11

4.11

Second, from "The turning of fortune met with" downward, recounts the conditions of adversity, in two parts: first, fleeing adversities with four relocations, twice receiving miraculous protection. Ding means to encounter. In the twelfth year of Daye, a great bird resembling a peng flew into the palace hall and reached the imperial curtain, departing only at dawn. In the ninth month, [the Emperor] journeyed to Jiangdu, leaving Daiwang You to guard the Western Capital and Yuewang Tong to guard the Eastern Capital. After arriving in Jiangdu, he devoted himself solely to wine and women. In the fifth month, a star fell in Wu Commandery and turned into stone. He requisitioned several hu of fireflies; going out on nighttime excursions in the mountains, their glow covered the crags and valleys. The Fire Star guarded the Feather Forest constellation, emerging like the Dipper, and sounds like collapsing walls were heard from Wangliang and Gaodao. A crooked arrow emerged from the Northern Dipper. A peck of rice cost eighty to ninety thousand cash; tin ring-coins were used, as thin as threads. In the tenth month, Li Mi raised troops on the borders of Liang and Chu; Dou Jiande, Lu Mingyue, and others claimed titles everywhere; bandits openly roamed and plundered prefectures and counties. Furthermore, bandit leaders from various circuits—Meng Haigong, Xu Yuanlang, Zhu Can, Liu Wuyong, Xue Ju, Xiao Xian, Li Zitong, Shen Fahing, and others—each led crowds in plunder, the larger groups numbering hundreds of thousands and the smaller numbering twenty to thirty thousand. There was no place under heaven without bandits; hence it is said, "Robbers and bandits raged unchecked at the time." Tiantai was entirely held by Shen Fahing. The Zaji says: "In the fourteenth year of Daye, Shen Fahing took it upon himself to establish Haizhou, changing Linhai County into Haizhou." "Hiding my shadow at Wachow": ni means to hide. Wachow is the name of a mountain in Shan; it is the mountain where Zhi Dun dwelled. Chicheng having become tumultuous, he again hid his form and shadow to escape bandits at Mount Wachow. "Shaded by forests, matting on arrow-bamboo": spending nights in the mountains and dwelling in the wilds, he had no buildings; he only used dense forests as a canopy and arrow-bamboo as mats, like the ancients sitting on spread briars. Arrow-bamboo grows especially in Kuaiji. The Erya says: "Among the fine things of the southeast are the bamboo and arrow-canes of Kuaiji." "Garments exhausted," etc.: dan (pronounced dan) means exhausted. Having fled bandits deep into the mountains, his clothes and provisions were also exhausted, which disrupted the proper sequence of his writing. From "Thereupon" downward, explains that due to the lack of conditions for writing, he sought another place to shelter and hide. "Humble aspirations" is an expression of modesty. "Entrusting my life to Sui'an": entrusting his physical life to Sui'an. Sui'an is the name of a county, currently belonging to Muzhou. "Magistrate Deng" was the magistrate of Sui'an. "Dragging my illness to respond" means answering the invitation to give lectures. Ying is in the falling tone. "Matters could not be handled simultaneously": since he had to devote himself to lecturing and expounding, he temporarily halted his writing and editing, and accordingly entrusted the draft manuscript to another house. "Protected this manuscript in secret": this means that unseen sagely powers protected it, so that although the house burned, the commentary remained; hence it says "it managed to escape being blown away in ash." Yang-yang (pronounced yang) means blown and scattered by the wind. "Entrusted again to Zhacheng": after completing the lecturing on the sutra, he again stayed at Zhacheng, intending to revise and polish the manuscript. Zha (pronounced ce) means woven wood forming a palisade. It is unclear where this was; today in Xianju County there is a Zha'anbao, which is probably the place. "Jade and stone were entirely exhausted": jade and stone symbolize the noble and base, the wise and foolish. When sea bandits plundered, both noble and base were wiped out, hence it says "entirely exhausted." The Shangshu says: "When fire blazes on the Kun ridge, jade and stone are both consumed." Xiao Liang was a general of that time. "Again obtained peace and survival": his person was at peace, and the commentary was preserved. "What scorches could not burn it" refers to what was said earlier, that unseen powers protected this manuscript so that it escaped being blown away in ash. "What is base could not obtain it": when bandits plundered Zhacheng, both jade and stone were entirely wiped out, yet this commentary alone was preserved. "Twice receiving miraculous protection": first, fire could not burn it; second, bandits could not take it; hence it says "twice." Li means to exert oneself; it means sincerity of mind. Writing it as 厲 is incorrect. "Eating and resting": xi means sleeping and lying down. Wuning means unrest.