勅修百丈清規 8.61

8.61

During the Tianli and Zhishun eras, Emperor Wenzong founded the Dalongxiang Jiqing Monastery in Jinling. When the monastery was completed, monks from the ten directions were summoned to reside there, and an imperial decree was issued to practice the Baizhang pure rules. In the seventh month of the autumn of the yihai year, the third year of Yuantong, the reigning Emperor renewed the mandate of the previous reign, stating: 'In recent years, the pure rules of the monastic groves have often seen inconsistent additions and deletions.' Thereupon, an imperial order was specially issued to Dehui, Abbot of the Dazhi Shousheng Chan Monastery on Mount Baizhang, to recompile them. As for the book, it was further decreed that Daxin, Abbot of the Dalongxiang Jiqing Monastery, should select śramaṇas of learning to collate and correct it together, aiming at harmonization so that it would be followed as a perpetual model. Dehui and the others received the mandate with utmost diligence. As the book was near completion, they entrusted me, Xuan, to write the preface. I, Xuan, once heard the masters say: 'Between heaven and earth, there is no single matter without rites and music. To be at peace in the position one occupies is rites; to take joy in the normalcy of daily life is music.' One day, Master Cheng Mingdao passed by Ding Monastery and happened to see the dining hall etiquette; sighing deeply, he remarked: 'The rites and music of the Three Dynasties are entirely preserved here!' Is this not due to the power of the pure rules' fundamental discipline? Could it be achieved without long habituation in practicing them? By following their necessary norms, the wondrous natural functioning operates within them; those who do not understand think this is an obstacle of matter and principle, but those who understand know that the dharma gate of peace and joy truly resides here. However, if this book were haphazard, disorderly, and lacking coherence, the intent of orderly harmony would fade over time. Therefore, the work of collation and correction has been of immense benefit to this book, and the purpose of the two courts in bestowing favor upon students will endure endlessly. When the Song Pure Rules circulated, Lord Yang Yi, Duke Wen, wrote a preface detailing its origins and particulars, with every item fully set forth; these are not repeated here. Preface by Ouyang Xuan of Luling, Direct Academician of the Hanlin Academy, Grand Master of the Fourth Class, Drafter of Patents, Associate Compiler of the National History, and Chancellor of the National University, in the first third of the third month of the spring of the bingzi year, the second year of Zhiyuan.