肇論疏 3.3

3.3

This fourth treatise clarifies the fruit and expounds the teaching of nirvāṇa. The text of the treatise has two parts: first the memorial, second the treatise. Now, the first is the memorial. It states that the Way of nirvāṇa is subtle and transcends words and forms; if words and forms are indeed cut off, how could it have a name? That it has a name is a provisional designation for nirvāṇa. Since it is called a provisional designation, in reality it is nameless. Now, in order to clarify the real, he says 'Nirvāṇa is Nameless'. Master Sengzhao originally composed this treatise for the King of Qin; when the treatise was completed he presented it to the King of Qin, hence there is this memorial. A memorial (biao) means to manifest (biaozhang); because it manifests one's own mind, it is called a memorial. From ancient times there have been four Qins: Qin Shi Huang was the first, named the Extinct Qin. Fu Jian was the second Qin, named the Former Qin. Under Yao Chang was the third Qin, named the Later Qin. Under Juqu Mengxun was the fourth Qin, named the Bogus Qin. The King of Qin mentioned here is Yao Xing, the son of Yao Chang of the Later Qin. Xing's courtesy name is omitted. Some manuscripts have 'Sovereign of Qin'; 'sovereign' also means king. The Baihu tong says: 'A king (wang) means to go to (wang).' That toward which all under Heaven turn and go is therefore called a king.