佛祖統紀 46.26

46.26

In the first year of Daguan, an imperial decree sent Li Yu, Director of the Palace Buildings Directorate, to Qisheng Cloister to move the sandalwood image of Śākyamuni and place it in the Imperial Portrait Hall. The palanquin bearing the image arrived, but the crossbeam of the wing hall was too low to pass under. Just as the crowd was seized with fear, the image suddenly drew in its shoulders and bowed its head; the palanquin passed through without obstruction after all. High and low rejoiced. The emperor had previously heard that the Empress Dowager, when paying homage to the image, measured its foot with a cord; the next morning, the emperor visited the monastery to burn incense and ordered a young eunuch to hold a piece of paper to measure the image's foot. The crowd cried out in astonishment, 'It has grown!' The emperor praised and admired it all the more. ○ An imperial decree ordered that Daoist priests be ranked above Buddhist monks. ○ An imperial decree ordered Daokai of Jingyin Monastery on the Left Street to move to become abbot of Fayun, granting him the purple robe and the title Chan Master Dingzhao. Daokai submitted a memorial declining: 'Your poor monk took leave of his parents in youth and made a vow to them: "After leaving household life, I expect never to seek profit or fame. I shall concentrate single-mindedly on learning the Way to repay my parents' boundless kindness, liberate living beings, and requite the ruler's favor. If I ever betray this heart, I shall forever abandon my life." If I were now to assume favor and glory falsely, I would betray my parents' intentions above and violate my original vow below. I dare to decline.' The emperor sent Li Xiaoshou, the governor of Kaifeng, carrying the imperial edict to instruct him, but Daokai held firm and would not relent. The emperor in anger arrested him and handed him over to prison. The authorities asked, 'If the elder has an illness, the law dictates that he should be exempt from punishment.' Daokai said, 'All my life I have not spoken falsely; how could I dare claim illness to deceive my sovereign?' He thus accepted punishment, was dressed in scholar's robes, and was exiled to Zizhou. Clergy and laity throughout the capital wept tears.