維摩經略疏垂裕記 3.63

3.63

Second, the main section of the teaching, in two parts: First, prefatory discussion of the doctrinal import, in two parts: First, dividing the chapters and narrating the purpose, in two parts: First, dividing the chapters. "Designating the central theme": designate means to summon. Theme means lord. In this single sūtra, the Buddha Land is summoned to serve as the lord. "Reiterating the central theme", etc.: Jingxi states that reiterate is like duplicate. The Buddha at first himself explained the causes and fruits of the Buddha Land to serve as the theme, and now explains it again; therefore it is said to be reiterated. Furthermore, confronting Jingming's reproaches and Mañjuśrī's dialogues, all accord with the Buddha's intention; therefore, the Tathāgata explaining it again can also be called reiteration. Second, from "The reason why…" downward, narrating the purpose. It sequentially narrates the purpose of the three sections, all beginning with "the reason why". "Fulfilling the previous universal gathering", etc.: because the direct [reward] must possess circumstantial [rewards]. "Shangshu tallies": Shangshu was instituted in the Qin. At first, in the Qin dynasty, the Shaofu dispatched four clerks inside the palace to oversee issuing documents, hence the title Shangshu. Shang means to oversee. The Wei, Jin, and Qi all called it the Department of Shangshu (Shangshu tai); the Liang, Chen, Later Wei, Northern Qi, and Sui called it the Ministry of Shangshu (Shangshu sheng). The Shangshu says: "Long, I command you to serve as Receiver of Words." The Classic of Poetry says: "Zhong Shanfu issues and receives the king's commands, being the throat and tongue of the king." These are both the duties of a Shangshu. Tallies: The Tang instituted the Gentlemen of the Tallies and Seals, belonging to the Chancellery (Menxia sheng). The Offices of the Earth's Master of Regalia and the Offices of Spring's Director of Auspicious Tokens in the Rites of Zhou correspond to this office. These tallies and tokens were all kept inside the palace; when there was an imperial command, the gentleman was requested to oversee issuing and receiving them. In general, tally tokens keep the left half in reserve and distribute the right half, uniting them upon return. The first is the bronze fish tally, used to mobilize armies and change prefects. The second is the courier tally, provided for postal relays to convey imperial decrees. The third is the personal fish tally, clarifying rank and responding to summons. The fourth is the wooden tally, used to prioritize garrisoning and take care in issuing and receiving. The fifth is the pennon-token: mountainous states use animal tokens, earthen states use human tokens, and water states use dragon tokens, all made of gold; those engraved with names are retained by the court, while those without engravings are passed along and worn. Pennons are used to monopolize rewards, and tokens to monopolize executions. "Receiving the decree" means receiving the Son of Heaven's decree, which is an analogy for Jingming receiving the decree and administering reproaches. "Opening territory" means expanding borders and lands, which is an analogy for Jingming crushing the invaders of heterodoxy and the Hinayana, expanding the domain of the Great Vehicle; the supreme ruler is the Son of Heaven.