佛祖統紀 44.4

44.4

In the first year of Xianping, the Emperor composed the Preface to the Holy Teachings of the Tripiṭaka and bestowed it upon Great Master Mingjiao Faxian and others, ordering that it be placed after the late Emperor's Preface to the Holy Teachings. The monk Kesheng annotated the preface and presented it to the throne. ○ An imperial decree appointed Zhu Ang, Hanlin Academician Drafter, concurrently as Polishing Official for Sūtra Translation. ○ The Emperor composed the Treatise on Exalting the Buddhist Teaching, which stated in outline: 'Upholding these ten powers (the Buddha possesses ten powers) to assist the five constant virtues; above, the ruler models himself on them to love the people, and below, the subjects follow them to turn toward goodness; truly they can shelter the common folk and bring them to benevolence and longevity.' It also stated: 'The vinaya texts of the Śākyan lineage and the works of the Duke of Zhou, Confucius, Xunzi, and Mencius differ in their outward traces but are identical in their principle. Their main purpose is to encourage good in men and restrain evil: not killing is benevolence; not stealing is integrity; not indulging in delusion is trustworthiness; not lying is rectitude; not becoming intoxicated is decorum.' ○ The monk Niweini and others of Central India came to pay court; they presented relics of the Buddha, Sanskrit sūtras, bodhi tree leaves, and bodhi-seed rosaries, and were bestowed purple robes. ○ The monk Buddhatrāta of Western India came to pay court and presented Sanskrit sūtras; he was bestowed a purple robe. ○ An imperial decree appointed Zanning, Compiler in the Historiography Institute, as Registrar of Monks of the Right Street.