勅修百丈清規 4.64

4.64

He inspects field boundaries, repairs manor buildings, supervises agricultural affairs, and pacifies the manor tenants. Minor incidents are resolved on the spot as they arise; matters concerning the broader situation are reported to the monastery for decision. In recent times, the decline of monastic groves has spawned a hundred abuses, which are especially severe in the manors. To mention three briefly: a general harm in all regions is that monks initially compete for the manor office, but how could all receive it? Resentment against the abbot arises, causing discord between superiors and inferiors; this is the first abuse. Once filling the office, being far from the monastery, they do as they please, stirring up disputes and lawsuits; money and provisions meant for the assembly are completely depleted, and unpaid debts accumulate to burden successors, thereby breaking down discipline so that tenants show contempt and withhold rents; this is the second abuse. Even if an experienced and capable person fills it, in social interactions with counties and prefectures, managing clerks, sub-county and township officials, and wealthy neighbors, he must accompany them all. Once that begins, the slightest shortcoming gives rise to rifts; even if expenditures are not openly claimed, funds are cleverly written off with no benefit to public or private interest, so that expenses at the manor may amount to half those of the monastery; this is the third abuse. Take great families of vast wealth: one does not hear of them dispatching sons and brothers to reside across every manor. Cultivation has tenants, supervision has bailiffs, and at rent collection time there are monks and postulants overseeing collection. Beyond this, even if there are tax deliveries, dike repairs, or grain requisitions, they merely temporarily delegate retired officers and administrators to complete them within a deadline and return immediately upon completion. This not only saves expense and benefits the monastery, but also nips disasters in the bud, benefiting both public and private sides. Nowadays, the decay in various quarters is like that of abandoned households. If the abbot and retired officers can care for the monastery, wishing to curtail expenses, remedy abuses, and eliminate redundancies, please begin with this. Those who originally faced grave difficulties and were due to serve as manor masters may be compensated through other arrangements.