[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [勅修百丈清規](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025) › [The Baizhang Zen Monastic Regulations](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk) › 3.49 # 勅修百丈清規 3.49 The Baizhang Zen Monastic Regulations 3.49 - **Language:** English ### [3.49](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.3.49) intoned without omission. Thereupon, the abbot descends, and the guest reception official’s attendant announces: The temple master invites the officials representing the neighboring temples, the dual order officials, the west hall ranking official, the retired officials, the retired subfunctionaries, official assistants, and Zen experts to a serving of sweet hot water at the reception hall imme- diately after this session. The head administrative official escorts the government officials to the guest house where sweet hot water and fruit are served. 6. The Ascent to the Dharma Hall for Patron Donors of the Temple Buildings The evening before the day \[of this event\], the head administrative official should notify the abbot. The next morning, the abbot’s assistant requests the guest reception attendant to post the signboard informing the practitioners of the abbot’s forthcoming ascent to the hall. The head administrative official orders the patriarchal shrine hall to be enshrined and various offerings to be prepared. After the morning rice gruel, the abbot conducts a special ascent to the Dharma hall. There he explains the meaning of his ascent and preaches the Dharma. After descending from the high seat, he leads the assembly to the patriarchal shrine hall, burns incense, serves tea and sweet hot water to the altar, and offers food. The director of practitioners’ affairs calls for sutra chanting and concludes the event with the proper invocation of merit transference. 7. The Special Meal Reception for the Official Delegate The head administrative official reports to the abbot \[prior to the event\] to consult with him on the amount to be remunerated to the official delegate and the reader of the official documents. The abbot prepares monetary gifts, properly following the norms. On the appointed day, curtains are placed in the reception hall and seats are designated according to rank. The dual order officials and the retired officials should be invited to participate. After setting up the special seats, the guest reception assistant himself escorts the main guest, while the guest reception attendant invites the remaining participants. The propriety of this serving is the same as that of an ordinary special serving. 8. Extending the Terms of the Dual Order Officials After conducting the special reception for the official delegate, the dual order officials visit the abbot and express their intention to resign from their offices. The abbot, however, must not immediately accept their resignations. He instructs his assistant and the guest reception attendant to prepare sweet hot water and a crepe-wrapped board equipped with an incense burner and candle stand. Accompanied by his assistant, the abbot visits the head administrative official’s quarters, and so on, and tries to persuade him and the other officials to stay on in their offices. The guest reception attendant notifies each quarter and escorts the abbot to each of them. The abbot takes his seat and the guest reception attendant and assistant respectively sit on either side of him. The practitioner assistant must burn incense and serve sweet hot water with utmost cordiality so as to persuade \[the officials who have tendered their resignations\] to stay on. Even if some officials have already stayed beyond their regular terms, this should be tolerated. The officials, however, may once again express their intent to resign to the abbot at another appropriate time. 9. Remunerations for Those Who Assisted the Abbot’s Departure and Arrival In general, the government officials, lay patrons, and the abbots of neighboring temples who assisted the new abbot at his inauguration into office at the temple must be rewarded with due remuneration. The abbot should visit the district and prefectural government offices. If he has to travel a great distance from his mountain temple, he should dispatch his attendant to inform the head administrative official, the primary seat official, and the director of practitioners’ affairs of his whereabouts. In the event that he must be away from the temple for some length of time, the head administrative official enquires about the time of his return and requests the director of the practice hall to post the signboard informing the practitioners about “meeting the abbot.” The abbot’s return is announced by tolling the large bell. The abbot may send a message beforehand to excuse this formality and upon his arrival proceed directly to offer incense at the Buddha hall and at the shrine of local divinities. The primary seat official, leading the practitioners, then visits the abbot’s office to welcome him back. After a bow, the practitioners withdraw but the abbot requests the dual order officials to remain and serves them sweet hot water before they leave. The abbot’s assistant and attendant on duty in the office burn incense and perform prostrations. Next, the ceremonial leader together with the novice attendants perform prostrations. Thereupon the abbot is obliged to make rounds through the various quarters in order to thank the temple community. If the temple is within a town or city, and if there is no specific morning or evening time \[for the abbot’s\] departure and arrival, there is no need for such procedures. The abbot may return to the hall incognito, in which case the dual order officials and the retired officials are obliged to visit him and enquire about his well-being. Master Wuzhun, at the time of his residence in Jingshan (Xingshengwanshousi), had a busy schedule of religious activities and arrived and departed - [Previous: 3.40](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.3.40) - [Next: 3.57](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.3.57) - [Up: 3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.3) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-mt.3.49) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (1) - [勅修百丈清規](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025.3.49) — Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.3.49](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.3.49) · Pramāṇa