佛祖統紀 44.17

44.17

The author remarks: In honoring the Former Sage from antiquity, it began with Han Gaozu, who passed through Lu and performed sacrifices and enfeoffment. Later, Emperor Ping first enfeoffed him as Duke Baocheng. Emperor Wu of Liang first ordered that temples be erected throughout the realm. Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei altered the posthumous title to Duke Wenxuan. Emperor Taizong of the Tang adopted Fang Xuanling's proposal: when the Libation Sacrifice was performed at the Imperial Academy, [Confucius] was first honored as the Former Sage, with Master Yan as his companion in sacrifice. Emperor Xuanzong first advanced his title to King Wenxuan, seated facing south, using the Palace Hanging music fit for a king. Our imperial dynasty's Emperor Zhenzong added the posthumous title Most Sagely King Wenxuan; moreover, in the sacrificial prayer his personal name was advanced, and the established ceremonial protocol was specifically to make prostrations. From antiquity, the honoring of the Former Sage has never been greater than on this day. Han Changli said that across the realm all may sacrifice to Confucius; from the Son of Heaven on down, they kneel and prostrate facing north, and never has the magnificence of sacrificial rites equaled that accorded Confucius. This is because Confucius possessed virtue: though he did not obtain rank, he obtained constant sacrifice (see the Chuzhou Confucius Temple Stele). Thus we know that from Xuanzong onward he was honored with the rites of a king, wherefore the Sons of Heaven of successive generations have prostrated and sacrificed to him. Now Zhenzong's special prostration accords with antiquity; I do not know why the ritual officials of the day, out of ignorance, prescribed the ceremonial protocol of a solemn bow. How shameful!