佛祖歷代通載 11.27

11.27

（十四　戊戌）　十二年尚書虞世南卒。帝手勅魏王泰曰。虞世南與我猶一體也。拾遺補過無日暫忘。當代名臣人倫準的。吾有小失。必犯顏而諍之。今其云亡石渠東觀之中。無復人矣痛惜豈可言耶。未幾帝賦往代興亡詩一篇。輒歎惜曰。鍾子期死伯牙不復鼓琴。朕此詩將何所示。令褚遂良持詣世南靈帳讀畢焚之。冀其神識感悟焉。明年夢世南進讜言有如平生。因下詔曰。故禮部尚書文懿公虞世南。德行純備文為辭宗。夙夜盡心志存忠益。奄從物化忽移時序。昨因夜夢倏覩斯人。兼進讜言有若平生之日。追懷遺美良用悲悼。宜資冥福申朕思舊之情。可即其家齋五百僧造佛像一軀（出舊唐史本紀）。

([Year] 14, wuxu [638 CE]) In the twelfth year, Minister of the Department of State Affairs Yu Shinan died. The Emperor wrote a handwritten imperial decree to Prince Tai of Wei, saying: "Yu Shinan was like one body with me. He did not forget for a single moment to pick up my omissions and mend my faults. He was a famous minister of our era and a standard for human relations. Whenever I had a minor failing, he would inevitably offend my countenance to remonstrate against it. Now that he has passed away, within the Stone Canal and Eastern View libraries, there is no one left like him. How can my grief and regret be expressed in words?" Shortly thereafter, the Emperor composed a poem on the rise and fall of past eras, and sighing with lamentation, said: "When Zhong Ziqi died, Boya played the zither no more. To whom shall I show this poem?" He ordered Chu Suiliang to carry it to Shinan's spirit pavilion, read it, and burn it, hoping that his consciousness might perceive and be awakened by it. The following year, the Emperor dreamed that Shinan presented candid counsel just as during his lifetime. Thereupon he issued an edict: "The late Minister of Rites, Duke of Wenyi, Yu Shinan, was fully endowed with virtuous conduct and was a master of literary composition. Day and night he devoted his heart, with an intent resting on loyal benefit. Suddenly he passed away, and the seasons have swiftly shifted. Last night, because of a dream, I suddenly saw this man, who moreover presented candid counsel just as he did in life. Recalling his bequeathed excellence, I am truly filled with grief and mourning. It is proper to assist his post-mortem welfare to express my sentiments of remembering the past. Let a vegetarian feast be held at his house for five hundred monks, and let one Buddhist image be made." (Derived from the Basic Annals of the Old Tang History).