[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [釋氏稽古略](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037) › 3.35 # 釋氏稽古略 3.35 釋氏稽古略 3.35 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [3.35](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037.3.35) 貞觀九年四月。太上皇崩。十一月詔曰。三乘結轍濟度為先。八正歸依慈悲為主。流智慧之海膏澤群生。剪煩惱之林津梁品物。任真體道理叶至仁。妙果勝因事符積善。朕欽若金輪恭膺寶命。至德之訓無遠不思。大聖之規無幽不察。欲使人免蓋纏家臻仁壽。比緣喪亂僧徒減少。華臺寶塔窺戶無人。紺髮青蓮櫛風沐雨。眷言凋毀良用憮然。其天下諸州有寺之處。宜度僧尼數以三千為限。其州有大小。地有華夷。當處所度多少。有司詳定務取德業精明。其往因減省還俗。及私度白衣之徒。若行業可稱通在取限。必無人可取亦任其闕數比聞多有僧徒溺於流俗。或假託鬼神妄傳妖怪。或謬稱醫巫左道求利。或灼鑽膚體駭俗驚愚。或造詣官曹囑致贓賄。凡此等類大虧聖教。朕情在護持。必無寬貸。自今宜令所司依附內律參以金科明為條制（唐書舊史）。 > In the fourth month of the ninth year of Zhenguan, the Retired Emperor passed away. In the eleventh month, an edict declared: "The three vehicles join their tracks, prioritizing deliverance; the eightfold correct path is taken as refuge, with compassion as paramount. It pours out the ocean of wisdom to enrich all living beings; it cuts down the forest of afflictions to bridge the myriad things. Entrusting to truth and realizing the principle, its doctrine accords with utmost benevolence; wondrous fruits and superior causes match in the accumulation of goodness. We revere the Golden Wheel and respectfully receive the precious mandate. In the teachings of supreme virtue, there is nothing distant we do not ponder; in the regulations of the Great Sage, there is nothing obscure we do not examine. We wish to cause people to be free from hindrances and bonds, and families to attain benevolence and longevity. Recently, due to disruptions and chaos, the monastic assembly has dwindled; before flowered terraces and jeweled stupas, no one gazes through the doors. Dark hair and blue lotuses are combed by the wind and bathed in the rain. Reflecting on this decline and ruin, we are truly dejected. Let the prefectures throughout the realm that possess monasteries ordain monks and nuns up to the limit of three thousand. Since prefectures are large or small and lands are Chinese or frontier, the authorities shall deliberate and determine the numbers to be ordained in each place, striving to select those of pure and illustrious virtuous practice. Those who in the past returned to lay life due to monastic reductions, as well as laymen who were privately ordained—if their conduct and practice are commendable, they may all be included within the quota. If there are indeed no qualified people to select, let their quota remain vacant. Recently, we have heard that many monks are drowned in vulgar habits: some falsely invoking ghosts and spirits to fabricate and spread strange portents; some erroneously claiming to be medical shamans and following heterodox paths to pursue gain; some scorching or piercing their flesh to shock the common folk and frighten the ignorant; some frequenting government offices to solicit bribes. All such kinds gravely undermine the sagely teachings. Our heart lies in protecting and sustaining \[the Dharma\], and there shall be no leniency. From now on, let the authorities be ordered to rely upon the internal monastic rules and cross-reference the golden statutes to establish clear regulations" (Tang shu, Jiu shi). > — English (machine translation) (machine translation) - [Previous: 3.34](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037.3.34) - [Next: 3.36](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037.3.36) - [Up: 3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037.3) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037~en-mt.3.35) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (2) - [廣弘明集](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2103.28.121) — Classical Chinese - [佛祖歷代通載](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2036.11.24) — Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037.3.35](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2037.3.35) · Pramāṇa