佛祖統紀 43.9

43.9

讚曰。范公以名儒盛德為佐命首。相當慶誕祝讚之辭。純用佛典以寓歸美。其為敬佛重君。有見於此論者。謂明良慶會海宇統一。皆佛大士應世之祥也。

The appraisal says: Duke Fan, as an eminent Confucian of abundant virtue, was the foremost of the founding ministers. His text of celebratory praise for the imperial birthday entirely drew upon the Buddhist scriptures to convey his admiration. His reverence for the Buddha and respect for his sovereign are apparent in this. Commentators state that the joyous conjunction of an enlightened sovereign and capable ministers, and the unification of all within the seas, were all auspicious signs of a Buddhist Mahāsattva manifesting in the world.