佛祖歷代通載 16.30

16.30

（十七）　三年正月。制曰。齋月斷屠出於釋典。國家剏業猶近梁隋。卿相大臣或緣茲弊。自今惟正月萬物生植之初。宜斷屠三日。列聖忌各斷一日。餘不須禁。三月以道士趙歸真為左右街道門教授先生。時帝銳意求仙。師事歸真。歸真乘寵。每對必排毀釋氏。非中國之教。蠹害生靈。宜盡除去。帝深然之。歸真復請與釋氏辨論。有旨追僧道於麟德殿談論。法師知玄登論座。辨捷精壯。道流不能屈。玄因奏。王者本禮樂一憲度則天下治。吐納服食蓋山林匹夫獨擅之事。願陛下不足留神。帝色不平。侍臣諷玄賦詩以自釋。玄立進五篇。有鶴背傾危龍背滑君王且住一千年之句。帝知其刺。特放還桑梓。

(Seventeenth year) In the first month of the third year, an edict stated: "Abstaining from slaughter during the fasting months originates from the Buddhist scriptures. When our dynasty founded its enterprise, it was still close to the Liang and Sui dynasties, and ministers and high officials may have adopted these corruptions. From now on, only in the first month, when the myriad things begin to sprout and grow, shall slaughter be forbidden for three days; on the death anniversaries of the successive sage emperors, it shall be forbidden for one day each; for the rest, there is no need for prohibition." In the third month, the Daoist priest Zhao Guizhen was appointed Master Instructor of the Daoist Gate of the Left and Right Streets. At that time, the Emperor was eagerly seeking immortality and served Guizhen as his master. Taking advantage of his favor, Guizhen denigrated the Buddhist teachings whenever he had an audience, saying they were not the teachings of the Central Kingdom, that they undermined and harmed living beings, and that they should be entirely eliminated. The Emperor deeply agreed with him. Guizhen further requested to debate with the Buddhists, and an imperial decree summoned monks and Daoists to dispute in the Linde Hall. Dharma Master Zhixuan mounted the debate seat; his eloquence was swift and robust, and the Daoists could not refute him. Zhixuan then memorialized: "When a ruler bases himself on rites and music and unifies the laws and standards, then all under Heaven is ordered. Guiding the breath and ingesting elixirs are merely the private affairs of common men in the mountains and forests. I hope Your Majesty will not dwell your thoughts upon them." The Emperor's expression became displeased. An attendant minister hinted that Zhixuan compose a poem to explain himself. Zhixuan immediately presented five verses, which included the lines: 'The crane's back is perilous and steep, the dragon's back is slick; / May Your Majesty abide for another thousand years.' The Emperor knew he was satirizing him, but specifically permitted him to return to his home village.