佛祖歷代通載 9.22

9.22

（十四　己亥）　會稽沙門惠皎。以寶唱所撰名僧傳頗多浮汎。因著高僧傳十四卷。始元漢永平十年終于是歲。凡四百五十三載。二百五十有七人。附見者二百餘人。開其德業大略為十例。其自敘曰。前古撰集多曰名僧。然名者實之賓也。若實行潛光則高而不名。若寡德適時則名而不高。茲焉用紀。高而不名則備今錄。世以為確論。

(14. Jihai) The śramaṇa Huijiao of Kuaiji, considering that the Biographies of Famous Monks compiled by Baochang was rather superficial and unfocused, accordingly composed the Biographies of Eminent Monks in fourteen fascicles. It began in the tenth year of Yongping of the Later Han and ended in this year, spanning a total of 453 years, covering 257 principal figures and more than 200 appended figures. He outlined their virtues and accomplishments into ten broad categories. His self-preface stated: 'Compilations of antiquity mostly spoke of "famous monks." Yet fame is merely the guest of reality. If real practice conceals its light, one is eminent without being famous; if meager virtue accords with the times, one is famous without being eminent. Why record such as these? Those who are eminent without being famous are fully included in the present record.' Contemporary opinion regarded this as a definitive judgment.