佛祖歷代通載 11.28

11.28

（十五）　秋八月。詔三學秀異。於弘文殿論議。道士蔡子晃問法師惠淨曰。法華稱序品第一。未審序第何分。淨曰。如來入定放光現瑞假遠開近。為破二之鴻基。啟一真之由致。此其序也。第者為居。一者為始。故曰序品第一。晃難曰。第者弟也。為弟則不宜稱一。言一則不應稱弟。兩言矛盾。何以會通淨曰。向不云。第者為居。一者為始。先生不省名義。安能難人。晃忙亂曲為之詞。淨乘勝剉折。遂蒙慚而退。淨雅與房玄齡厚善尤為太常褚亮所敬。亮甞謂人曰。淨俯視安遠顧蔑生肇。真當世獨步也。及天竺三藏波頗那羅譯大莊嚴論。詔淨筆授。并勅趙郡王孝恭詹事杜正倫同監護。

([Year] 15) In the eighth month, autumn, an edict summoned the outstanding scholars of the Three Learnings to hold debates in the Hongwen Hall. The Daoist priest Cai Zihuang asked Dharma Master Huijing: "The Lotus Sūtra speaks of 'Introduction, Chapter One' (xupin diyi). I wonder which division the introductory order (xu di) belongs to?" Jing said: "The Tathāgata entered samādhi, emitted light, and manifested auspicious signs, using the distant to open the near, serving as the grand foundation for breaking through the two [vehicles] and opening the impetus of the one true [reality]. This is its introduction. 'Di' means dwelling; 'yi' means the beginning. Therefore it is called 'Introduction, Chapter One.'" Huang challenged him, saying: "'Di' means younger brother (di). Being a younger brother, it is improper to be called first; speaking of first, it should not be called a younger brother. The two words contradict each other. How can they be harmonized?" Jing said: "Did I not just say: 'Di' means dwelling; 'yi' means beginning? If the gentleman does not even understand the meanings of names, how can you challenge others?" Huang was thrown into fluster and made strained excuses; Jing pressed his advantage to refute him, so Huang withdrew in shame. Jing was on deeply good terms with Fang Xuanling and was especially respected by Court Minister of Sacrificial Worship Chu Liang. Liang once said to others: "Jing looks down on Dao'an and Huiyuan, and looks askance with disregard at Daosheng and Sengzhao; he is truly without equal in the present age." When the Indian Tripiṭaka Master Prabhākaramitra translated the Mahāyāna-sūtrālaṅkāra, an edict appointed Jing to transcribe the translation, and also commanded Prince Xiaogong of Zhaojun and Supervisor of the Household Du Zhenglun to jointly supervise the work.