佛祖統紀 41.37

41.37

永貞元年。詔尸利禪師入內殿咨問禪理。帝曰。大地眾生如何得見性成佛。利曰。佛法如水中月。月可見不可取。帝說（師得法於石頭遷師）○日本國沙門最澄來學教於天台邃法師。盡寫一宗論疏以歸。為日本傳教之始也。

In the first year of Yongzhen, an edict summoned Chan Master Shili into the inner palace to inquire about Chan principles. The emperor asked, 'How can the living beings of the great earth see their nature and become Buddhas?' Li said, 'The Buddha-Dharma is like the moon in the water: the moon can be seen, but cannot be grasped.' The emperor was pleased (the Master had attained the Dharma from Master Qian of Shitou). Śramaṇa Saichō of the state of Japan came to study the teachings under Master Sui of Tiantai, copied all the treatises and commentaries of the tradition to return home, which was the beginning of the transmission of the teachings to Japan.