佛祖統紀 43.52

43.52

In the first year of the Duangong era, Master Tonghui of the Hanlin Academy, Zanning, submitted a memorial presenting the Biographies of Eminent Monks in thirty fascicles. An imperial edict praised it (xi has the sound xi, meaning the jade seal of the Son of Heaven) and ordered that it be included throughout the Great Canon. He was imperially appointed to reside at Tianshou Temple in the capital. The compilation of monastic biographies began with Jiaxiang Huijiao of the Liang dynasty, who composed the Biographies of Eminent Monks in fourteen fascicles, starting from Emperor Ming of the Han and ending in the eighteenth year of the Tianjian era of Emperor Wu of the Liang. Daoxuan of Ximing Temple in the Tang composed the Continued Biographies of Eminent Monks in thirty fascicles, starting from the Tianjian era of the Liang and concluding in the nineteenth year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang. Now, this Song compilation begins with the Zhenguan era of the Tang and reaches down to the first year of the Duangong era of the Song. Following the Liang and Tang biographies, it is divided into ten categories: 1. Translating Sūtras, 2. Explaining Meaning, 3. Dhyāna Meditation, 4. Vinaya Disciplines, 5. Protecting the Dharma, 6. Sympathetic Resonance, 7. Sacrificing the Body, 8. Recitation, 9. Promoting Blessings, and 10. Miscellaneous Learning. (Wang Yucheng has a poem presented to Monastic Director Ning, saying: "Master Zhi also possessed the talent of Dong Hu; when the historical biography was completed, the scrolls were unrolled at the second night watch.")