釋氏稽古略 2.129

2.129

魏興安元年。群臣多請復釋氏之教。詔曰。夫為帝王者。必祇奉明憲顯彰仁道。其能惠著生民濟益群品。雖在往古猶序其風烈。是以春秋喜崇明之禮。祭典載功施之族。況釋教如來功濟大千。惠流塵境。尋生死者歎其達觀。覽文義者貴其妙門。助王政之禁律。益仁智之善性。排撥群邪。開演正覺。故前代已來莫不崇尚。亦我國家常所尊事。今制諸州郡縣眾居之所。各聽建佛圖。其有好樂佛法欲為沙門者聽出家。大州五十人小州四十人。於是曏所毀佛圖。率皆修復（魏書又僧史略）又勅有司。於五級大寺為太祖已下五帝鑄銅佛像。各一丈六尺。帝親為沙門師賢等五人下髮。以師賢為道人統（魏書僧史）。

In the first year of the Xing'an era of the Wei, many ministers requested the restoration of the teachings of the Śākya lineage. An imperial edict was issued: 'As rulers of men, emperors must revere luminous statutes and make manifest the benevolent way. If someone's grace is bestowed upon the living people and brings benefit to all beings, even in ancient times their virtuous exploits were chronicled. Thus the Spring and Autumn Annals rejoices in the rites of honoring the illustrious, and the ritual canons record the clans whose deeds brought benefit. How much more so with the Tathāgata of the Śākya teachings, whose achievements save the great chiliocosm and whose grace flows through the realm of sensory dust! Those who investigate life and death admire his penetrating vision; those who peruse the texts and meanings prize his wondrous gateway. It aids the prohibitions and laws of royal governance, augments the virtuous nature of benevolence and wisdom, casts out all errors, and opens and expounds right awakening. Therefore, from previous generations onward, there have been none who did not venerate it, and it is also what our state has constantly revered. We now decree that in all prefectures, commanderies, and counties where people reside, permission is granted to construct Buddhist stupas. Those who find joy in the Buddha-Dharma and wish to become śramaṇas are permitted to renounce household life: fifty persons for large prefectures, and forty persons for small prefectures.' Thereupon, the Buddhist stupas previously destroyed were all restored (Book of Wei and Sengshi lüe). The authorities were also ordered to cast bronze Buddha statues at the Great Five-Tiered Monastery for the five emperors from Taizu downwards, each measuring one zhang and six chi. The emperor personally shaved the heads of five persons, including the śramaṇa Shixian, and appointed Shixian as Controller of Monastics (Daoren tong) (Book of Wei and Sengshi).