維摩經略疏垂裕記 1.8

1.8

'Disciple' (menren) is an appellation for a student. Having received the Way from Jingxi, when he composed the preface for Jingxi, he called himself 'disciple'. Regarding 'Hanlin': according to the Han system, Secretarial Court Gentlemen were in charge of composing writings, rising early to take turns on duty within the Jianli Gate terrace; they were supplied with blue coarse silk and white damask quilts or brocade quilts, curtains, and felt mats, and throughout Mid-Autumn the Court of Imperial Provisions provided meals. This was roughly similar to the present Hanlin system, and the responsibilities were not light. The Essentials of the Hanlin Bureau states: 'The Tang dynasty adapted the precedents of Liang and Chen. There were six Secretariat Drafters solely in charge of imperial edicts. Although termed the Imperial Palace, it was still not intimate. Therefore, Wen Daya, Wei Zheng, Li Baiyao, Cen Wenben, Chu Suiliang, Xu Jingzong, and Shangguan Yi were summoned from time to time to draft edicts, without having an official title. From the Qianfeng era onward, they were first called Northern Gate Academicians; Liu Yizhi, Liu Yizhi, Zhou Simao, Yuan Wanqing, and Fan Lübing served as such, and in Empress Wu's court, Su Weidao and Wei Chengqing. Later they were changed to Hanlin Academicians in Attendance, served successively by Zhang Yue, Lu Jian, Zhang Jiuling, and Xu Anzhen. They were changed again to Hanlin Attendants. In the twenty-sixth year of Kaiyuan, Liu Qiankuang and Zhang Ji served as Academicians, and the Hanlin Academy was first separately established. Generally, the Academicians had no fixed quota and were all filled by other officials; from Sub-editors below up to the Ministers of the various ministries above, all could serve. Once entered, they broke ties with ordinary bureaucratic ranks, were not restricted by administrative offices, and were not tied to regular court assemblies; serving for three years completed a term. The Rectifier of Omissions was in charge of attending upon the emperor and offering remonstrances.' The Book of Songs says: 'When the royal duties have a lack, only Zhong Shanfu remedies it.' The present dynasty changed its name to Remonstrator. Saying 'Acting Right Rectifier of Omissions': when the rank is high and the post is low, it is called 'xing' (discharging); when the rank is low and the post is high, it is called 'shou' (acting); when rank and post are of equal grade, neither 'xing' nor 'shou' is stated. Here, because it is an abbreviated title, there is no mention of rank. Liang Su, courtesy name Jingzhi; his 'Preface to the Rhapsody on Passing My Old Garden' states: 'When I was eight years old, it was the Xinchou year of the Shangyuan era. Bandits entered Luoyang, and the region between the three rivers was in great misery. I then fled east and sojourned in Wu and Yue, wandering through distress and hardship for nearly twenty years. When the Emperor ascended the throne, I answered the imperial summons in that year and went to the capital. The following summer, I was appointed Sub-editor of the Crown Prince's Palace.' The Historical Record states: 'In the sixth year of the Zhenyuan era of Tang Dezong, the Gengwu year, Liang Su was Rectifier of Omissions.' Cui Gong's 'Preface to the Collected Works of Gentleman Liang' states: 'The gentleman followed Buddhism early in life; he was innately knowledgeable in its doctrinal principles. In focusing his mind on writing, his aspiration lay therein. In his talks and laughter, he constantly honed and refined it; his mind was on the One Vehicle, hence his accounts of Buddhism were the most refined and erudite. He was the champion of Buddhism and the reflection of the Buddhas. The court esteemed virtue, hence it made the gentleman Lecturer to the Crown Prince. The state esteemed veritable records, hence it placed the gentleman in the Historiography Institute. Drafting edicts and decrees to disseminate the royal governance, it made the gentleman a Hanlin Academician. With the three posts concurrently illustrious, the gentleman's standing at court cannot be said to have been unaccomplished. When he was past forty, the scholars venerated him; compared to the likes of Yan Hui and Huang Shutu, his life cannot be said to have been short.' Li Ao's 'Preface to the Rhapsody on Recognizing an Appreciative Friend' states: 'In the ninth year of Zhenyuan, Ao first took the prefectural examinations and engaged in affairs. In the ninth month, holding a scroll of writings, I called on Gentleman Liang of Anding, the Right Rectifier of Omissions. At that time, Gentleman Liang's renown filled the world; scholars seeking advancement brought writings to Gentleman Liang's gate virtually without an empty day. Gentleman Liang was exceptionally discerning of people; as soon as we met, he understood me, remarking that I possessed the legacy of ancient prose, expecting my fame to be immortal without end, and promising to polish and promote me. At first, thinking it was mere polite encouragement to my face, I did not count myself particularly fortunate. In the eleventh month, Gentleman Liang fell ill and passed away. As I gradually socialized among friends and ministers, they often said: