佛祖統紀 51.35

51.35

唐中宗景龍初。詔天下試經度僧。山陰靈隱僧童大義。誦法華試中第一○肅宗勅白衣誦經五百紙。賜明經出身為僧。時僧標試中第一○代宗勅童行策試經律論三科。給牒放度○敬宗勅僧背經百五十紙。尼百紙。許剃度○宣宗勅每歲度僧。依戒定慧三學。擇有道性通法門者。

In the early Jinglong era of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang, an edict was issued across the realm to test on scriptures and ordain monks; Dayi, an acolyte of Lingyin in Shanyin, ranked first in the examination by reciting the Lotus Sūtra. Suzong decreed that white-robed laymen who recited five hundred pages of scriptures be granted the status of an advanced scholar in scriptures and ordained as monks; at that time, Sengbiao ranked first in the test. Daizong decreed that postulants be examined on the three subjects of sūtras, vinaya, and śāstras, and granted certificates for ordination. Jingzong decreed that monks who recited one hundred and fifty pages from memory and nuns who recited one hundred pages be permitted to shave their heads and receive ordination. Xuanzong decreed that annual ordinations of monks follow the three learnings of morality, samādhi, and wisdom, selecting those with Daoist nature and understanding of the Dharma gates.