釋氏稽古略 3.143

3.143

Chan Master Puji. Chan Master Puji of Tangxing Monastery in the capital. The Jiu Tangshu states: Puji was born into the Ma family of Hedong. In his youth he visited eminent monks everywhere, studying the sūtras and vinaya. He served Shenxiu as his teacher for six years. Shenxiu considered him extraordinary and transmitted the entire Way to him. When Shenxiu entered the capital, he recommended him to Zetian, through whom he received ordination as a monk. After Shenxiu died, all in the realm who favored the Śākya lineage served him as their teacher. Emperor Zhongzong, hearing of his lofty conduct, issued a special edict ordering him to lead the Dharma assembly in place of Shenxiu. In the thirteenth year of Xuanzong's Kaiyuan era, there was an imperial decree for him to move his residence to the capital. At that time, princes, dukes, literati, and commoners vied with one another to pay their respects to him. Puji was grave, solemn, and of few words, and one could rarely see a pleasant or cheerful expression on his face; those near and far respected him all the more for this. Reaching this point, in the twenty-eighth year of Kaiyuan, he entered quiescence. An imperial edict bestowed the title Chan Master Dazhao. On the day of his burial, Pei Kuan, the Governor of Hedong, along with his wife and children, wore mourning garments of hemp and stood in the ranks among his disciples. Literati and commoners emptied the city to escort him weeping, and the markets were almost completely shut down. The master was the heir of Xiu, and Xiu was the heir of the Fifth Patriarch. His dharma heirs were Weizheng and Yixing.