大乘義章 8.11

8.11

言四生者，謂胎、卵、濕、化。言胎生者，如今人等，稟託精氣而受報者，名為胎生。言卵生者，如諸鳥等，依於卵殼而受形者，名為卵生。言濕生者，如今夏日濕生虫等，不假父母、依濕受形，名為濕生。言化生者，如諸天等，無所依託、無而忽起，名曰化生。若無依託，云何得生？如《地論》釋，依業故生。生相如是。

Regarding the "four modes of birth," they are womb-birth, egg-birth, moisture-birth, and apparitional birth. Regarding "womb-birth": like humans today and so forth, those who receive retribution by relying on and depending upon subtle essence are called womb-born. Regarding "egg-birth": like various birds and so forth, those who receive a physical form by relying on an eggshell are called egg-born. Regarding "moisture-birth": like the moisture-born insects in the summer today and so forth, those who do not depend on parents but receive a physical form relying on moisture are called moisture-born. Regarding "apparitional birth": like devas and so forth, those who rely on nothing and suddenly arise out of nothingness are called apparition-born. If they do not rely on anything, how are they able to be born? As explained in the Daśabhūmika-[sūtra-]śāstra: they are born relying on karma. Such are the characteristics of birth.