佛祖歷代通載 6.10

6.10

論曰。吳黃武初。陸績有言曰。從今更六十年。天下車同軌書同文。及泰康改元而吳平天下一統。果如績言。自是才二十載。至永寧之初。正道𧇊頹群雄嶽峙。趙王剏基叛逆。篡主於朝張軌繼請外遷。擅據涼土內外糜沸。仍漸亂階。劉淵所以平陽。李雄因茲井絡。懷帝蒙塵外郡。愍后播越長安。既道藉時興而兩都版蕩。法由人顯屬二主恓惶。萬姓崩離歸信靡託。百官失守釋種無依。時有沙門竺法護及釋法炬等。忘身利物志在宏宣。匪憚苦辛闡法為務。護於晉世譯經最多。且晉雖不文文才實著。翻傳妙典日有賞音。所以禮樂衣冠晉朝始備。信源道種相資而興焉。

The commentary states: Early in the Huangwu era of the Wu dynasty, Lu Ji said: 'Sixty years from now, carriages across the realm will share the same axle tracks, and writing will share the same script.' When the era name was changed to Taikang, Wu was pacified, and the world was brought under unified rule; it was indeed as Ji had spoken. Barely twenty years passed from then until the beginning of the Yongning era, when the correct path collapsed and numerous warlords stood arrayed like mountain peaks. The Prince of Zhao laid the ground for treason and usurped the throne at court; Zhang Gui successively requested a transfer abroad and seized autocratic control of the Liang territory. The regions both within and beyond the court boiled in turmoil, gradually opening the path to chaos. It was because of this that Liu Yuan seized Pingyang, and Li Xiong, through this, held the region of Shu. Emperor Huai was caught in the dust of the flight into the outer commanderies, and Empress Min fled into exile in Chang'an. Since the Way relies on the times to flourish, yet both capitals were thrown into chaos; and the Dharma depends on individuals to be revealed, yet it was subject to the panic and distress of the two sovereigns; the myriad people scattered, with nowhere to entrust their faith, while the hundred civil officials lost their posts, leaving the Śākya clan with no one to rely on. At that time, there were the monks Zhu Fahu, Shi Faju, and others, who forgot themselves to benefit sentient beings, with their minds set on grandly propagating the teaching; not shrinking from hardship and toil, they took the expounding of the Dharma as their primary task. Dharmarakṣa translated the greatest number of scriptures during the Jin dynasty. Moreover, although the Jin was not distinguished for civil rule, its literary talent was genuinely remarkable; with the translation and transmission of wonderful scriptures, discerning appreciators were found every day. Thus, the rites, music, robes, and caps were only fully provided under the Jin dynasty, and the spring of faith and seed of the Way flourished, supporting one another.