佛祖歷代通載 11.3

11.3

(Wuyin [618 CE]) Emperor Shengyao, Gaozu, Yuan, changed the reign title to Wude. (Courtesy name Shude, a native of Chengji in Longxi. His ancestor was a descendant of King Wuzhao, Li Gao; Li Xin, Grand Protector of Hongnong; Chong'er, Garrison Commander of Jinmen; Xi; Li Tianxi; Hu, one of the Eight Pillars of the Zhou dynasty. The Western Wei bestowed on him the surname Daye; he reached the official post of Grand Commander. Together with Li Bi and seven others, he rendered meritorious service in assisting the Zhou; they were all Pillar Generals of the State, called the Eight Pillars. When Hu died, the Zhou pursued his merits and enfeoffed him as Duke of Tang. The Duke begot Bing, who inherited the enfeoffment as Duke of Tang; he was the father of Gaozu. He served the Sui as Area Commander-in-Chief of Anzhou. He begot Gaozu in Chang'an, where purple vapors filled the courtyard and his body had three nipples. He was naturally lenient, kind, and generous. He again inherited the title of Duke of Tang. Emperor Gong of the Sui advanced his enfeoffment to King of Tang. When Taizong, Shimin, knew that the Sui must perish, he plotted to launch the great enterprise, and Gaozu followed him. In the seventh month of autumn, they raised righteous troops; in the eleventh month of winter, they conquered the capital. In the fifth month of summer the following year, Gong yielded the throne to Gaozu. He ascended the throne in Chang'an and changed the state title to Tang. He was on the throne for nine years and passed away at the age of seventy-one; he was buried at Xianling. He abdicated internally to Taizong. Taizong was a Son of Heaven with the mind of a Buddha. He founded the base, established the dynastic work, and cleared the regions in all directions. It was transmitted through twenty-two generations, for a total of 292 years. Since the beginning of creation, among those who possessed the realm, none was as magnificent as the Tang. The rise and fall of our teaching constantly kept pace with the imperial way. Consequently, as for the abundance of internal and external protector sages and worthies, and the completeness of codes and institutions, none exceeded this dynasty. Therefore, regarding the Tang, this may well be called a complete record; may the gentlemen of the moral teaching and those of our order who come after have something to investigate and verify here).