歷代三寶紀 11.196

11.196

右八部合一百七卷。帝以國土調適住持無諸災障。上資三寶。中賴四天。下藉龍王眾神祐助。如是種種世間蒼生始獲安樂。雖具有文散在經論。急要究尋難得備覩。故天監中頻年降勅。令莊嚴寺沙門釋寶唱等總撰集錄以備要須。或建福攘災。或禮懺除障。或饗神鬼。或祭龍王。諸所祈求帝必親覽。指事祠禱訖多感靈。所以五十年間兆民荷賴緣斯力也。

The above eight works total one hundred and seven fascicles. The Emperor [Wu of Liang] considered that the realm was harmonious and sustained without calamities and obstructions because it was aided from above by the triratna, relied in the middle upon the Four Heavenly Kings, and depended below upon the help and blessing of the dragon kings and myriad spirits. Thus in various ways the common people of the world first obtained peace and joy. Although the texts fully existed, they were scattered among the sūtras and treatises, so that when urgent need arose it was difficult to examine and behold them completely. Therefore, during the Tianjian era, in successive years decrees were issued ordering the śramaṇa Shi Baochang and others of Zhuangyan Monastery to compile and assemble these catalogues to provide for urgent necessities: whether for establishing blessings and warding off disasters, or for prostrations and repentance to eliminate hindrances, or for offering sacrifices to spirits and ghosts, or for sacrificing to dragon kings. In all these petitions the Emperor personally inspected [the texts], and once the rituals and prayers were directed to the matter at hand, most evoked spiritual responses. That the millions of people were indebted to him throughout his fifty years [of reign] was entirely by virtue of this power.