佛祖歷代通載 11.17

11.17

（八）　七月蝗害稼。帝在苑中掇蝗而言曰。民以穀為命。而汝害之。是害吾民也。百姓有過在予一人。汝而有靈。當食朕身無害吾民。將吞之。左右恐致疾遽求代。帝曰。所貴移災朕躬。何疾之避。遂吞之。由是終帝世蝗不為害。冬十二月癸酉。詔曰。有隋失道九服沸騰。朕親總見戎致茲明罰。其有桀犬嬰此湯羅。銜鬚義憤終乎握節。各狥所奉咸有可嘉。日往月來逝川斯遠。切恐九泉之下向淪鼎鑊。八難之間永纏氷炭。愀然疚懷無忘興寢。所以樹立福田濟其營魄。可於建義以來交兵之處為義士凶徒殞身戎陣者各建寺剎招延勝侶。望法鼓所振。變災火於青蓮。清梵所聞。易苦海於甘露。所司量定處所。并立寺名支配僧徒。及修院宇。具於事條以聞。稱朕矜哀之意。仍命虞世南李伯樂褚遂良顏師古岑文本許敬宗朱子奢等。為碑銘以紀功業（已上見舊史）。

(8) In the seventh month, locusts damaged the crops. The Emperor, in the imperial park, picked up a locust and said to it: "The people depend on grain for their lives, yet you harm it; this is harming my people. If the hundred surnames have faults, they rest on me alone. If you possess a spirit, you should devour my own body and do no harm to my people." He was about to swallow it. His attendants, fearing it would cause illness, quickly begged to take his place. The Emperor said, "What is valued is transferring the calamity to my own body; why should I evade illness?" He then swallowed it. Because of this, during the Emperor's entire reign, locusts caused no further harm. In winter, the twelfth month, on the guiyou day, an imperial edict stated: "The Sui dynasty lost the Way, and the nine domains were in turmoil. I personally commanded the troops and executed this clear punishment. Among those fierce hounds who fell into this net of Tang, there were those who clenched their beards in righteous indignation and held firm to their integrity to the end. Each died for the one he served, and all were commendable. As the days and months have passed, the flowing river of time has drifted far away. I deeply fear that beneath the Nine Springs they have plunged into boiling cauldrons, and among the eight difficulties they remain perpetually ensnared in ice and burning coals. Sorrowful and anguished in mind, I cannot forget them whether rising or resting. Therefore, I shall establish fields of merit to deliver their wandering souls. In places where battles have been fought since the righteous uprising, monasteries shall be erected for both the righteous soldiers and the rebel forces who lost their lives on the field of combat, to invite and house superior companions. It is my hope that where the Dharma drum resounds, the fires of disaster will turn into blue lotuses, and where the pure Sanskrit chanting is heard, the sea of suffering will be transformed into sweet dew. Let the responsible officials evaluate and decide upon the locations, establish the temple names, assign the clergy, and construct the halls and courtyards, reporting all the details in items to the throne, so as to accord with my sentiment of pity and grief." Furthermore, Yu Shinan, Li Bole, Chu Suiliang, Yan Shigu, Cen Wenben, Xu Jingzong, Zhu Zishe, and others were commanded to compose stele inscriptions to record these meritorious deeds. (The above appears in the Old Histories.)