佛祖歷代通載 8.32

8.32

（十三　丙戌）　是歲即元嘉二十三年。魏太武三月西伐長安。與崔皓皆信重寇謙之而奉其道。皓特不喜佛。每言於魏主。以為佛法虛誕為世費害。宜悉除之。及魏主討蓋吳。至長安入佛寺。沙門飲從官酒。從入其室。見大有兵器出白太武。武怒曰。此非沙門所用。必與蓋吳同謀欲為亂耳。命有司按誅合寺僧。閱其財產大有釀具。及州郡牧守富人所寄物以萬計。又為窟室以匿婦人。皓因說帝。將誅天下沙門毀諸經像帝從之。寇謙之切諫以為不可。皓不從。先盡誅長安沙門焚燒經像。還宮勅臺下四方命一依長安法。詔曰。昔後漢荒君信惑邪偽以亂天常。自古九州之中未甞有此。誇誕大言不本人情。叔季之世莫不眩焉。由是政化不行禮儀大壞。九服之內掬為丘墟。朕承天緒欲除偽定真復羲農之治。其餘一切蕩除滅其蹤跡。自今已後敢有事胡神及造形像泥人銅人者門誅。自王公已下。有私養沙門者。限今年三月十五日。過斯不首身死有司。宣告征鎮將軍刺史。諸有浮圖形像及一切經。皆擊破焚燒。沙門無少長悉坑之。太子素好佛法。屢諫不聽乃緩宣詔書。使遠近預聞之。得各為計。沙門多亡匿獲免收藏經像。唯塔廟在魏境者。無復孑遺。

(13. Bingxu) This year was the twenty-third year of the Yuanjia era. In the third month, Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei campaigned westward against Chang'an. Both he and Cui Hao placed great faith in and revered Kou Qianzhi, and observed his teachings. Hao especially disliked the Buddha; he repeatedly spoke to the Wei ruler, claiming that the Buddhist teaching was vacuous and absurd, causing expense and harm to the world, and ought to be entirely eradicated. When the Wei ruler was subjugating Gai Wu, he arrived in Chang'an and entered a Buddhist monastery. A śramaṇa served wine to the attending officials; when they entered his room, they saw a large quantity of weapons, and came out to report this to Emperor Taiwu. Emperor Taiwu angrily said: “These are not things used by śramaṇas; they must surely be conspiring with Gai Wu to initiate rebellion!” He ordered the authorities to examine and execute all the monks in the monastery. Upon inspecting their property, they found vast amounts of brewing equipment, as well as goods entrusted by provincial and commandery governors and wealthy people numbering in the tens of thousands. Furthermore, underground chambers had been constructed to conceal women. Hao thereupon persuaded the Emperor to execute all the śramaṇas throughout the world and destroy all scriptures and statues; the Emperor followed his advice. Kou Qianzhi earnestly remonstrated that this must not be done, but Hao would not listen. They first thoroughly executed the śramaṇas of Chang'an and burned the scriptures and statues. Returning to the palace, an edict was issued to the ministries and the four quarters ordering that everything be done according to the Chang'an method. The edict stated: “In antiquity, the reckless ruler of the Later Han believed in and was deluded by the heterodox and false, thereby disrupting the constant order of Heaven. From ancient times within the Nine Provinces, there had never been such a thing. With exaggerated, absurd, and grandiose talk, it does not accord with human sentiments; yet during the decadent later ages, none failed to be dazzled by it. Because of this, government and moral transformation have failed to operate, ritual and propriety have been utterly ruined, and within the Nine Domains all has been reduced to rubble. Inheriting the lineage of Heaven, We wish to eradicate the false and establish the true, restoring the governance of Fuxi and Shennong. All the rest shall be completely swept away and their traces obliterated. From this day forward, whoever dares to worship the foreign deity or fashion statues of mud or bronze shall have their entire clan executed. From princes and dukes on down, whoever privately harbors śramaṇas must hand them over by the fifteenth day of the third month of this year; those who exceed this deadline without confessing will be executed by the authorities. Announce to the expeditionary and garrison generals and regional inspectors: all stūpas, statues, and scriptures are to be smashed and burned. Regardless of age, śramaṇas are all to be buried alive.” The Crown Prince was naturally fond of the Buddhist teaching; having remonstrated repeatedly without being heard, he delayed promulgating the imperial edict, enabling those far and near to hear of it in advance and make their own plans. Most śramaṇas fled into hiding and were spared, concealing scriptures and statues. Only the stūpas and shrines within the Wei borders were left with not a single one remaining.