佛祖統紀 38.93

38.93

大成元年。先是沙門道林以學業進見。與武帝議論二十日。酬酢七十番。帝不能屈。遂許以復教。會帝殂。至是道林申請尤力。上許之。遂下詔曰。先帝惑於異論。以釋道為無益。故廢而不行。然大教所繫詎宜罷黜。今簡耆舊有道者二百二十人。勿翦髮毀形。於東西二京陟岵寺為國行道。乃勅智藏等長髮為菩薩僧。充寺主。華冠瓔珞作菩薩大士相○詔曰。三寶尊重特宜修敬。其令舊沙門有德行者。於政成殿西安居行道○追封孔子為鄒國公。

In the first year of Dacheng, earlier, the monk Daolin was granted an audience on account of his scholarship and debated with Emperor Wu for twenty days, exchanging arguments seventy times. The Emperor was unable to make him yield and thus promised to restore the teaching. It coincided with the Emperor's demise. By this time, Daolin's petition had become even more urgent, and the Sovereign granted it. An imperial edict was subsequently issued, stating: "The late Emperor was misled by divergent opinions, considering Buddhism and Daoism to be of no benefit, and thus abolished and did not practice them. However, since the Great Teaching is that upon which so much depends, how could it be suitable to dismiss it? Let two hundred and twenty elderly and virtuous practitioners of the Way be selected now, who need not shave their hair or disfigure themselves, to practice the Way on behalf of the state at the Zhigu Temples in both the eastern and western capitals." He then commanded Zhizang and others to keep long hair as bodhisattva-monks to serve as temple abbots, wearing floral crowns and necklaces in the likeness of bodhisattva Mahāsattvas. An edict stated: "The Three Jewels are profoundly venerable and especially deserve cultivation and reverence. Let former monks possessing virtuous conduct reside peacefully and practice the Way to the west of Zhengcheng Hall." Confucius was posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of the State of Zou.