佛祖歷代通載 7.58

7.58

（十六）　法師僧肇。幼家貧。為人傭書。遂博觀子史。尤善莊老。蓋其粗也。年二十為沙門。名震三輔。什公在姑臧。肇走依之。什與語驚曰。法中龍象也。及歸關中詳定經論。四方學者輻湊而至。設難交攻肇迎刃而解。皆出意表。著般若無知論。什覽之曰。吾解不謝子。文當相揖耳。傳其論至匡山。劉遺民以似遠公。公撫髀歎曰。以為未甞有也。復著物不遷等論。皆妙盡精微。秦主尤重其筆札。勅傳布中外。肇卒年三十有二。當時惜其早世云。

(16) Dharma Master Sengzhao was poor in his youth and worked as a copyist for hire, thereby reading widely in the masters and histories; he was especially skilled in Zhuangzi and Laozi, though he considered them superficial. At the age of twenty he became a śramaṇa, his fame resounding through the Sanfu region. While Master [Kumāra]jīva was in Guzang, Zhao hastened to take refuge with him. [Kumāra]jīva spoke with him and said in astonishment: 'He is a dragon and elephant among the Dharma!' When they returned to Guanzhong to revise and finalize the sūtras and treatises, scholars from all directions converged like spokes at an axle. When they presented difficulties and attacked in debate, Zhao solved them with ease, always surpassing expectations. He composed the Treatise on Prajñā without Knowing (*Bōrě wúzhī lùn*). [Kumāra]jīva examined it and said: 'My understanding is no inferior to yours, but in literary expression I must yield to you.' The treatise was transmitted to Mount Kuang, where Liu Yimin showed it to Master [Hui]yuan. Master [Hui]yuan slapped his thigh and sighed: 'I thought such a work had never existed before!' Zhao also composed treatises such as Things Do Not Shift (*Wù bù qiān lùn*), all reaching the ultimate subtlety. The ruler of Qin especially valued his writings and ordered them circulated throughout the realm. Zhao died at the age of thirty-two, and at that time people lamented his early passing.