佛祖統紀 1.45

1.45

In the compilation of this book, some parts abbreviate and revise older texts, some gather various writings for supplementation, some draw upon the treatises and writings of teachers and friends, and some examine the compositions on stelae and stone monuments. That the sources are not noted individually one by one is because the method of compiling history should be thus. Where multiple matters are closely interrelated, citations and verifications are necessarily provided from time to time, as an unavoidable necessity. Furthermore, the canonical scriptures and doctrinal writings used in this book are not easily understood by Confucian scholars and laymen. If someone can examine the meaning word by word and phrase by phrase, and question śramaṇas about difficult points of doubt, then their subtle understanding will enter the spiritual, and only thereafter can they understand the Buddha. If they read lightly and hastily without investigating where it leads, what benefit does this bring to anyone? Moreover, Confucian scholars of the world are fond of citing the anti-Buddhist arguments of Han [Yu] and Ou[yang Xiu], not knowing that in their late years both lords ultimately harmonized with the Way of the Śākya clan. If people today can slightly temper their haughtiness and fully read this book, thoroughly reflecting and savoring it, they will know that the writings established by Han and Ou both carried the intention of outwardly rejecting while secretly assisting.