佛祖統紀 53.77

53.77

唐太宗。勅李義表王元策使西竺。登耆山刻碑。紀唐威德○玄奘三藏自西天求經還。召見。詔撰西域記。○武后。初義淨三藏自南海附舶。往西竺求法。至是將梵本寄佛逝國。述南海寄歸傳。求法高僧傳○玄宗。沙門惠日往西天還。召見說法。賜號慈愍三藏法師○梁太祖。沙門智宣往西竺求經還。進佛骨梵經。○宋太祖。沙門道圓遊五天竺還。進舍利梵經○沙門行勤等。應詔往西竺求法。所經諸國並賜詔書。令遣人前導○沙門建盛自西竺還。進貝葉梵經○真宗。開封府陳恕言。沙門往西天取經者。宜察人材○仁宗。沙門懷問乞往西竺。為今上建塔於佛金剛座側○沙門懷問得濟永定等自中天竺還。進佛骨舍利貝葉梵經西天碑十九本。

Under Emperor Taizong of Tang, an imperial order sent Li Yibiao and Wang Xuance as envoys to Western India; they ascended Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa and carved a stele commemorating the Tang's awesome virtue. Tripiṭaka Master Xuanzang returned from seeking scriptures in Western India, was granted an audience, and was ordered by edict to compose the *Record of the Western Regions*. Under Empress Wu, initially Tripiṭaka Master Yijing had boarded a ship via the Southern Sea to seek the Dharma in Western India; by this time he sent the Sanskrit texts to the kingdom of Śrīvijaya and composed the *Account of Buddhism Sent from the South Seas* and *Biographies of Eminent Monks Who Sought the Dharma*. Under Emperor Xuanzong, the śramaṇa Huiri returned from Western India, was granted an audience to preach the Dharma, and was bestowed the title 'Tripiṭaka Master of Compassionate Sympathy' (Cimin). Under Emperor Taizu of Liang, the śramaṇa Zhixuan returned from seeking scriptures in Western India and presented Buddha relics and Sanskrit scriptures. Under Emperor Taizu of Song, the śramaṇa Daoyuan returned from traveling across the Five Indias and presented relics and Sanskrit scriptures. The śramaṇa Xingqin and others went to Western India in response to an edict to seek the Dharma, and all countries they traversed were bestowed imperial edicts instructing them to send guides ahead. The śramaṇa Jiansheng returned from Western India and presented Sanskrit scriptures on palm leaves. Under Emperor Zhenzong, Chen Shu of Kaifeng Prefecture stated that śramaṇas going to Western India to obtain scriptures should be examined for their talent. Under Emperor Renzong, the śramaṇa Huaiwen requested to go to Western India to build a stupa beside the Buddha's Diamond Seat (vajrāsana) on behalf of the present Emperor. The śramaṇa Huaiwen, Deji, Yongding, and others returned from Central India and presented Buddha bone relics, Sanskrit scriptures on palm leaves, and nineteen rubbings of Western steles.