釋氏稽古略 4.12

4.12

An edict ordered that monastic postulants should each year take examinations in their home prefectures to enter the capital. The grand councilors supervised the re-examinations. Their subject of study was the seven volumes of the Lotus Sūtra. Those who passed had their names submitted to the Ministry of Rites to receive ordination certificates and be tonsured. If there were a special imperial edict extending benevolence, such as the general ordinations of monks and nuns in Jianlong and Taiping Xingguo, they were not restricted by this rule (Xinian lu).