釋氏稽古略 4.53

4.53

An imperial decree established the Institute for Translation of Scriptures and Propagation of the Dharma to the west of Taiping Xingguo Monastery in the Eastern Capital, following the historical precedent of the Tang, appointing grand chancellors as commissioners for the polish and style of translated scriptures, setting up offices and dividing duties. Tripiṭaka Master Tianxizai of Milin Monastery in the Jālandhara kingdom of Western and Central India, together with Fatian, Dānapāla, and others, translated the Mahāyāna-guṇakāraṇḍavyūha-sūtra. The emperor composed the "Da Song xinyi Sanzang shengjiao xu" (Preface to the Newly Translated Tripiṭaka Sacred Teachings of the Great Song). An imperial decree granted general ordination throughout the realm to youth postulancy, without restriction by the regular quotas of the authorities. From the first to the eighth year of the Taiping xingguo era, more than 170,000 monks were ordained (Seng shi lüe).