肇論疏 1.3

1.3

就此一論，文有二章：前，序文；後，論本。今言肇論序者，後秦姚興時，長安釋僧肇法師，作〈宗本〉、〈不遷〉等論，從人立名，故云肇論。敘述肇法師所作論意，故名為序。《爾雅》云：東西牆謂之序。郭象註云：所以序別內外也。今達法師敘述論意，以為論之由漸，如東西牆為舍宅之序，故名為序。而言小招提達法師作者，閏州江寧縣舊是丹陽郡，始自吳朝，爰及宋、齊、梁、陳，六代以來佛教興盛，伽藍精舍接棟連甍，名字相參往往而有，即如莊嚴寺，則有大莊嚴、妙莊嚴，招提寺則有大招提、小招提也。大招提是梁時造，小招提是晉時造。慧達法師是陳時人，小招提寺僧也。當陳時名達之者，非止一人，故標其寺以為別也。有本直云小招提撰，撰者撰集，非是製作，應言作，不應言撰也。直言小招提不言名者，江左敬法師，不呼其名，故但標其寺耳。然此法師未善文體，所作論序多有庸音，直以敘述論宗不無倫次，貴其雅意，如後釋之，所望通人幸無譏誚也。

In this treatise, the text has two chapters: first, the text of the preface; second, the root treatises. Now, in saying "Preface to the Treatises of Sengzhao": during the time of Yao Xing of the Later Qin, the Dharma Master Shi Sengzhao of Chang'an composed treatises such as the Zongben yi and the Wu buqian lun. The title is established after the person; hence it is called Zhaolun. It narrates the intent of the treatises composed by Master Sengzhao; hence it is named a preface (xu). The Erya says: "The east and west walls are called xu." Guo Xiang's commentary states: "It is that by which the inner and outer are arranged and distinguished." Now, Master Huida narrates the treatise's intent to serve as the gradual entryway into the treatises, just as the east and west walls serve as the xu of a residential compound; thus it is named a preface. As for saying "composed by Master [Hui]da of Xiaozhaoti Monastery": Jiangning County in Runzhou was formerly Danyang Commandery. Beginning from the Wu dynasty down to the Song, Qi, Liang, and Chen, Buddhism flourished throughout the Six Dynasties. Saṅghārāmas and monasteries joined beams and linked roof tiles; overlapping names frequently occurred. For example, regarding Zhuangyan Monastery, there were Dazhuangyan and Miaozhuangyan; for Zhaoti Monastery, there were Dazhaoti and Xiaozhaoti. Dazhaoti was built in the Liang dynasty; Xiaozhaoti was built in the Jin dynasty. Master Huida was a man of the Chen dynasty and a monk of Xiaozhaoti Monastery. In the Chen dynasty, there was more than one person named Da; hence his monastery is designated to distinguish him. Some editions simply say "compiled by Xiaozhaoti." "Compiling" (zhuan) means gathering together; it is not original composition. One ought to say "composed" (zuo), not "compiled" (zhuan). Simply saying "Xiaozhaoti" without giving his personal name is because south of the Yangtze River, they respected the Dharma Master and did not utter his name, therefore only designating his monastery. However, this Dharma Master was not proficient in literary forms, and the preface to the treatise he composed contains many vulgar phrasings. It is merely because his narration of the treatises' fundamental doctrine is not without proper order that his noble intent is valued, as will be explained below. It is hoped that discerning scholars will kindly refrain from scoffing and censure.