歷代三寶紀 15.2

15.2

臣房言。臣聞有功於國史錄其勳。有政於民碑傳其德。況如來大聖化洽無窮而不垂美。百王流芳千載者也。臣竊尋覽。自漢魏已來代有翻譯。而錄目星散經多失源。世罕綴修時致間絕。緣此佛以正法付囑國王。是知教興寄在帝主。伏惟陛下應運秉圖。受如來記。紹輪王業。統閻浮提。愍世間昏開慧日照。廣緝經像大啟伽藍。闡解脫之門。導天人之路。建善舟檝濟拔蒼生。斯實曠古一代盛歟。豈臣庸微輕敢妄述。但昔毀廢臣在染衣。今日興隆還參法侶。時事所接頗預見聞。因綱歷世佛法緣起。始自姬周莊王甲午佛誕西域後漢明皇永平丁卯經度東歲。迄今開皇太歲丁巳。歷一千二百七十四載。其間靈瑞帝主名僧代別。顯彰名開皇三寶錄。凡十五卷。庶法無隱冀經有弘。不任下情惶悚戰懼。輕冒奉表上錄以聞。伏願天慈垂神降省謹言。

Your subject [Fei Zhang]fang states: Your subject has heard that when one renders meritorious service to the state, the histories record his achievements; when one governs the people well, stele inscriptions transmit his virtue. How much more so for the Tathāgata, the Great Sage, whose transformation pervades without end—should his beauty not be bequeathed to a hundred kings, shedding fragrance across a thousand years? Your subject has quietly searched and browsed: since the Han and Wei dynasties, every era has had its translations, yet catalogues have scattered like stars and many scriptures have lost their origins; the world has seldom continued and emended them, occasionally leading to discontinuations. For this reason, the Buddha entrusted the true Dharma to the monarchs of realms; thus we know that the flourishing of the teaching rests upon sovereign lords. We prostrate ourselves before Your Majesty, who has responded to the cosmic turn and held the mandate, received the Tathāgata’s prediction, inherited the wheel-turning king's legacy, and unified Jambudvīpa. Pitying the darkness of the world, you have opened the illumination of the sun of wisdom; widely gathering scriptures and images, you have greatly established saṅghārāmas, expounded the gate of liberation, and guided the path of devas and humans, building a fine boat and oars to ferry across all living beings. This is truly the flourishing of an epoch unrivaled across antiquity! How could your humble subject dare to presume to compile an account? Yet when [Buddhism] was formerly suppressed and abolished, your subject wore the dyed robes; now that it flourishes once more, he has rejoined the company of the Dharma. Having personally experienced the events of the times, he has witnessed and heard quite a lot. Following the main thread, he has outlined the origins and development of the Buddhadharma across the generations, beginning from the jiawu year of King Zhuang of the Ji-Zhou dynasty, when the Buddha was born in the Western Regions, through the dingmao year of the Yongping era of Emperor Ming of the Later Han, when the scriptures crossed to the East, down to the present dingzi year of the Kaihuang era, spanning one thousand two hundred and seventy-four years. During this time, the divine omens, the imperial rulers, and the eminent monks are distinguished by era, and clearly displayed under the title *Record of the Three Jewels of the Kaihuang Era*, in fifteen fascicles altogether. It is hoped that the Dharma may not remain hidden, and wished that the scriptures may spread widely. Unable to endure his low sentiments of trepidation and dread, he has presumptuously submitted this memorial presenting the catalogue for imperial notice. He prostrates himself and hopes that Your Celestial Compassion will deign to bestow your spirit and look down upon it. Respectfully submitted.