佛祖統紀 48.63

48.63

In the second year, the Crown Prince stated: 'The Bureau of Tibetan and Buddhist Affairs previously received a decree stating that whoever strikes a Western monk shall have his head cut off, and whoever reviles one shall have his tongue severed. Such a law was unheard of in the past; it violates national statutes and is of no benefit to the monks. For offenses between monastics and laity, clear laws already exist. I beg that this order be changed.' This was approved. In this year, the White Lotus Society was banned, its shrines and buildings destroyed, and its followers returned to registration as commoners. Ministers of the Central Secretariat stated: 'The Bureau of Tibetan and Buddhist Affairs memorialized to exempt Buddhist and Daoist monks, as well as Arkagun and Danishmand, from land taxes and commercial levies. Your servants deliberate that land has rent and commerce has taxes; these are established laws of the ancestors. That the Bureau of Tibetan and Buddhist Affairs should memorialize across the board for exemption is not proper governance.' An imperial decree was issued ordering that taxes be collected according to precedent.