佛祖統紀 48.78

48.78

三年。建殊祥寺於五臺山。賜田三百頃。以西僧公哥為帝師賜玉印。命帝師作佛事於天源延壽寺。賜鈔二萬錠。田千頃。中書省臣言。養給軍民必籍地利。世祖建宣文弘教寺賜永業。當時已號虛費。而成宗復搆天壽萬寧寺。較之世祖。用增倍半。若武宗之崇恩福元。仁宗之承華普慶。租搉所入益又甚焉。英宗鑿山開寺損民傷農而卒無益。夫土地祖宗所有。子孫當共惜之。臣恐茲後籍為口實妄興工役。邀福利以逞欲。惟陛下察之。帝嘉納其言。

In the third year, Shuxiang Monastery was built on Mount Wutai, and three hundred qing of land were bestowed upon it. The Western monk Gongge was appointed Imperial Preceptor and granted a jade seal. The Imperial Preceptor was commanded to conduct Buddhist services at Tianyuan Yanshou Monastery, and was bestowed two myriad ingots of paper currency and one thousand qing of land. The officials of the Central Secretariat stated: 'Providing for the military and civilians necessarily depends on the benefits of the land. When Shizu built the Xuanwen Hongjiao Monastery and granted it permanent estates, it was already termed a waste of funds at the time. Yet Chengzong again constructed Tianshou Wanning Monastery, which increased expenditures by one and a half times compared to Shizu. As for Wuzong's Chong'en Fuyuan and Renzong's Chenghua Puqing, the tax and monopoly revenues allocated to them were even greater. Yingzong carved mountains to open up monasteries, harming the people and damaging agriculture, yet ultimately with no benefit. The land belongs to the ancestors; their descendants should cherish it together. Your ministers fear that this will henceforth be used as a pretext to recklessly initiate corvée projects, soliciting merits to indulge desires. We only hope Your Majesty will examine this.' The Emperor commended and accepted their words.