佛祖統紀 12.11

12.11

Dharma Master Zequan, styled Shuping, belonged to the Shi clan of Siming. He left home relying on Baoguo and immediately went to Fazhi to study doctrine and contemplation. At that time, the Nanhu [assembly] vied to promote the ten great disciples, and the Master was the foremost among them. He was broadly versed in literature and history and especially skilled in writing. Being upright in nature and unyielding in character, he dared to point out others' faults, for which people feared him. He resided at Sanxue for thirty years. The commandery governor Lang Jian respected him all the more, once saying to others: 'Shuping's talent and spirit are inspiringly stern; if he wore the scholar's cap and served as a remonstrator, how would he be inferior to Ji An of the Han, Wei Zheng of the Tang, or Wang Yuanzhi of our own dynasty?' In the summer of the fifth year of Qingli, he took leave of the assembly and died in a seated posture. His disciple Ruoshui erected a stele at Yanqing. People said that the Siming shilu authored by the Master was comparable to Cai Yong composing the stele for Guo Youdao. (In the Later Han, Guo Linzong was recommended for the 'Youdao' [Way-possessing] examination but did not accept. After he died, Cai Yong wrote his stele inscription and said to Lu Zhi: 'I have written many steles, and all had shameful exaggerations; only for Guo Youdao did I feel no blush.')