佛祖統紀 35.106

35.106

述曰。周秦以來為儒者。尊孔子為宗師。而在上之君曾未知所以褒稱而尊事之。高皇帝當干戈甫定之日。過魯祠之。且封其後以奉嗣焉。所以教人以武定文守之義。後代人主尊稱先聖。通祀天下。為萬世師儒之法者。自漢家始。豈不盛哉。

The Commentary states: Since the Zhou and Qin dynasties, those who were Confucians revered Confucius as their ancestral master, yet the rulers above did not yet know how to praise and honour him. When weapons of war had only just been laid to rest, Emperor Gao passed through Lu and sacrificed to him, and moreover enfeoffed his descendant to maintain the succession. This was to instruct people in the principle of pacifying by military force and preserving through civil culture. That rulers of later generations honoured the former sage with titles, performed universal sacrifices throughout the realm, and made him the model for masters and scholars for myriad generations—all began with the house of Han. How magnificent indeed!