佛祖統紀 48.95

48.95

In the seventeenth year, Hama, Tulu Temür, and others secretly introduced a Western monk to the Emperor to practice the bedchamber breath-circulation arts, termed the Yansheer method. The 'Sheer method' is translated into Chinese as 'Great Joy'. They also introduced a Tibetan monk skilled in esoteric rituals. The Emperor practiced all of them. Having been on the throne for a long time, the Emperor grew negligent in government affairs and indulged in excursions and banquets. He had sixteen palace maidens perform a dance, called the Dance of the Heavenly Demons. Their hair hung down in several braids and they wore ivory crowns. Their bodies were adorned with necklace ornaments; they wore long and short skirts and jackets embroidered with gold, cloud-collars, robes with joined sleeves, flowing sashes, and shoes. Each held a kapāla vessel; one among them held a bell and vajra and played music. There were also eleven palace maidens with hair bundled in white silk turbans and ordinary dress, or wearing Tang-style hats and narrow-sleeved jackets. The instruments played included the dragon flute, touguan, small drum, zheng, qin, pipa, sheng, huqin, and clappers. The eunuch Chang'an Diebuhua supervised them. Whenever there was praise of the Buddha in the palace, they performed the dance and played music. Palace officials who had received esoteric precepts were permitted to enter; the rest could not participate. In the twenty-eighth year, the dynasty fell.