釋氏稽古略 3.91

3.91

*Ratnakūṭa-sūtra*: The śramaṇa Dharmaruci from South India—translated here as Faxi [Dharma-Desire]. Earlier, Gaozong heard of his renown, and in the first year of Kaiyao sent an envoy to the Western Regions with an edict earnestly inviting him. At this time, he arrived in Chang'an. The Empress Dowager summoned him for an audience, changing his name to Bodhiruci—translated here as Jue'ai [Awakening-Desire]. By imperial decree, he translated nineteen scriptures totaling twenty-eight fascicles at Foshouji Monastery. In the second year of Shenlong under Zhongzong, Ruci followed the imperial carriage back to the capital; an imperial decree ordered him to translate the *Ratnakūṭa-sūtra* at West Chongfu Monastery. The Emperor personally recorded the brush-transcription. In the first year of Jingyun under Ruizong, the Emperor again specially opened the translation assembly of the *Ratnakūṭa* at the White Lotus Pavilion of the Northern Garden, and the Emperor also personally served as the brush-transcriber. Wang Jin, He Zhizhang, and others polished the style. Secretariat Directors Lu Xiangxian and Wei Zhigu supervised the work. An imperial preface was composed by the emperor's own brush and placed at the head of the sūtra. In the first year of Kaiyuan under Xuanzong, Ruci completed the work, combining his own translation of the *Ratnakūṭa* with previous translations into one collection of one hundred and twenty fascicles. Ruci translated no more scriptures, but devoted himself exclusively to recitation and the practice of Chan contemplation. In the fifteenth year of Kaiyuan he entered cessation at the age of one hundred and fifty-six. On the day of his burial, he was specially granted a full imperial guard of honor and regalia. A stūpa was erected on the Western Plain of Longmen. He was posthumously granted the title Grand Court Director of the Court of State Ceremonial (Honglu Daqing) and bestowed the posthumous title 'Kaiyuan Omniscient Tripiṭaka Master'. Such high esteem and honor for virtue was unprecedented in antiquity. Ruci translated fifty-three works totaling one hundred and eighteen fascicles across his career (fully recorded in the *Old Tang History*).