釋氏稽古略 4.282

4.282

In the second month, the Song issued an imperial decree changing the Buddha to 'Golden Immortal of Great Awakening', the others to 'Immortals and Mahāsattvas', monks to 'Gentlemen of Virtue', and nuns to 'Female Gentlemen of Virtue'; monasteries (si) were changed to 'palaces' (gong), and cloisters (yuan) to 'abbeys' (guan); bronze cymbals were prohibited; and statues of the Buddha were bestowed the garments of Heavenly Worthies. Gentlemen of Virtue were to wear the robes of Daoists, don crowns, and hold hu-tablets. Master Baojue Yongdao of Chongxian Xiangji Cloister on the Left Street of the capital submitted a memorial admonishing: 'Since antiquity, the Buddhadharma and the fortune of the state have flourished and declined together. Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei believed Cui Hao and destroyed the Buddhadharma; within five or six years, Cui Hao's entire clan was exterminated, and Emperor Wencheng revived it on a grand scale. Emperor Wu of the Zhou believed Wei Yuansong and destroyed the Buddhadharma; within six or seven years, Yuansong was demoted and died, and Emperor Wen of the Sui succeeded him and revived it. Emperor Wuzong of the Tang believed Li Deyu and Li Guizhen and destroyed the Buddhadharma; within a year, Guizhen was executed, Deyu was banished and died in Zhuya, and Emperor Xuanzong revived it magnificently. In our dynasty, Emperor Taizu, Emperor Taizong, and the successive sage rulers have passed down the tradition of translating scriptures, examining monks, and circulating the Buddhadharma; there are established precedents that can be observed for myriad generations.' The Emperor was furious and tattooed Yongdao, banishing him to Daozhou. While in his place of exile, Dao maintained his vegetarian fasts and monastic discipline as strictly as ever. Earlier, Dao had received the esoteric ritual models (mantra-vidhi) from the Western Indian Dharanī Tripiṭaka Master. When military and civilian populations suffered from pestilence and malaria, Dao empowered water with incantations for them to drink, and all were restored to health. In the third month, a major flood struck the capital, turning the streets and avenues into vast waters. The court appointed Lin Lingsu to control the waters, but they surged and rose day and night. Sovereign and ministers were gripped by fear. Then Master Sengqie, the Light-Radiating King of Sizhou, manifested a miracle in the imperial palace. The Emperor burned incense and took refuge with reverence. He saw Sengqie shake his monk's staff and climb the city walls, whereupon the waters suddenly dried up. High and low rejoiced greatly. In the winter, the eleventh month, Lin Lingsu was banished back to Wenzhou. In the autumn, the ninth month of the second year of the Xuanhe era, an imperial decree restored the titles of the Buddha; Gentlemen of Virtue were restored to monks; and Yongdao was transferred to a closer commandery. In the seventh year of the Xuanhe era, an imperial decree summoned Yongdao back to the capital and restored his monastic appearance and robes. The court commended his protection of the Dharma and, mindful of his utmost loyalty, conferred upon him the name Fadao, appointing him abbot of the Zhaoqing and Zhaoxian cloisters and to concurrently oversee the Xiansheng Śākya Cloister on the Right Street (Short Account of the Eastern Capital and Master Dao Tripiṭaka's Original Biography). In the fourth month, the Jin invaded and captured the Liao kingdom. In the Supreme Capital Circuit, this included the Tianchan Hall of Taizu in Zuzhou, the Chongyuan Hall of Taizong Deguang in Huaizhou, and the three halls of Wangxian, Wangsheng, and Shenyi in Qingzhou. Prior to this, they had conquered Qianzhou, Xianzhou, and other prefectures, and thoroughly burned, looted, and excavated the gold, silver, pearls, and jade from the Ningshen Hall, Anyuan Shengmu Hall, the Ancestral Hall on Mount Muye, the imperial tombs, and the portrait halls of imperial consorts and sons. The responsible officials immediately reported this, but Xiao Fengxian suppressed all of them and did not memorialize them to the throne (Annals of Liao).