釋氏稽古略 3.187

3.187

Stupa Inscription: In the fourth month of the fifteenth year of Zhenyuan, a yimao year, Yu Chengxuan composed the inscription for the Vimalaprabhā Stupa in Fuzhou. It stated in brief: Surveillance Commissioner Lord Liu and Military Inspector Lord Yu spoke to each other, saying, 'In repaying the sovereign, nothing is greater than exalting blessings; in exalting blessings, nothing is greater than planting goodness; in planting goodness, nothing is greater than the Buddha's teaching. Is not the foundation of the teaching in the stupa? For a stupa joins the heavenly realms above and calms the triple world below. Where its shadow covers, it is like the sun and moon shining to dispel darkness into light; where its bells chime, it is like metal and stone music played, producing goodness upon being heard. Such blessings all redound to the king of men.' Having made a good plan, they looked at each other with delight. Those who ate the king's stipends took joy in dāna; those who bore the emperor's strength gladly offered their labor. The laborers did not complain of fatigue, and the work was thus completed. The emperor commended it, inscribed the plaque with his imperial brush, and bestowed the name 'Zhenyuan Vimalaprabhā Stupa' (Old History of the Book of Tang).