釋氏稽古略 3.153

3.153

In the wuxu year, the first year of Qianyuan, a great amnesty was proclaimed and the reign era was changed, once again using "nian" instead of "zai." The Emperor established an inner bodhimaṇḍa within the forbidden palace for lecturing, reciting, and chanting hymns. Soon after, he decreed that a monastery be built on each of the Five Sacred Peaks, selecting śramaṇas of lofty conduct to head them. Commoners who could recite five hundred pages of scriptures were permitted to be ordained as monks; alternatively, those who paid one hundred strings of cash could request a certificate and undergo tonsure, being also granted the status of Mingjing graduates. After the two capitals were pacified, in the prefectures of Guanfu more than ten thousand Buddhist monks and Daoist priests were ordained through payment of money; hence, the practice of "paying contributions" (jinnā) began. The Prince of Chu was installed as Crown Prince.