佛祖統紀 7.12

7.12

The appraisal states: Commentaries (shu) are to expound the sūtras, and subcommentaries (ji) are to explain the commentaries. It is precisely because of this that the essential meaning first attains consummate appropriateness, and later generations are enabled to uphold the orthodox explanations. How great are the texts of the Shiqian, Miaole, and Fuxing! In their capacity to bring forth the Way of Tiantai, who would not call his meritorious deeds abundant? Had there not been Jingxi, then the followers of Cien and Nanshan, who engaged in arbitrary disputation thereafter, would have been able to run rampant and mislead the multitude. The Master's words say: 'If one wishes to take the correct path, whom else could they turn to if not me?' Truly is this so! It is a precious instruction. The main record mentions that several tens of scholar-officials received his instruction; thus we know that in those days the Confucian masters and gentlemen who studied this Way were so numerous. Today, we hear only of three or four, such as Liang and Li. How regrettable!