佛祖統紀 54.68

54.68

唐太宗。詔僧徒有過準內律明為條制。詔頒遺教經。付京官刺史。僧尼業行與經不同者。公私勸勉○高宗。奘法師奏二事。一者正觀以老子位在佛上。二者僧道有過同俗推勘虧辱法門。上曰。僧用俗法即遣停罷○玄宗詔。僧尼有過一依佛律處分。州縣不得擅行決罰○代宗詔。天下官司毋得捶辱僧尼。

Emperor Taizong of the Tang decreed that offenses committed by monks should be clearly codified according to the internal Vinaya; he ordered the *Sūtra of the Buddha's Bequeathed Teaching* to be promulgated to officials in the capital and prefects, so that where the conduct of monks and nuns did not accord with the sūtra, they should be admonished both publicly and privately. Under Emperor Gaozong, Dharma Master Xuanzang memorialized two matters: first, that during the Zhenguan era Laozi was placed above the Buddha; second, that monks and Daoists committing offenses were interrogated alongside commoners, degrading the Dharma. The Emperor said: "Subjecting monks to secular law shall be halted immediately." Emperor Xuanzong decreed that offenses by monks and nuns must be handled strictly in accordance with the Buddhist Vinaya, and prefectures and counties must not arbitrarily execute punishments. Emperor Daizong decreed that officials throughout the realm must not beat or insult monks and nuns.