華嚴經金師子章註 1.8

1.8

The golden lion is that which serves as the analogy for the Dharma; if we investigate its origin, it indeed existed. In the Tang, Dharma Master Xianshou demonstrated the core tenets of the great sutra to the Holy Emperor Zetian. That is to say, the Avataṃsaka's principle is profound and its phenomena are vast; its text is extensive and its meaning is abstruse. None other than a sage who has entered the principle could penetrate its profundity. Therefore, he established a tangible analogy to illuminate the boundless Dharma. Gold represents the essence of the dharmadhātu; the lion represents the function of the dharmadhātu. Now, proceeding from the Dharma to the analogy, ten gates of distinction are briefly set forth, so that principle and phenomena are fused and the one and the many are unobstructed.