釋鑑稽古略續集 2.81

2.81

庚申洪武十三年正月。丞相胡惟庸謀逆伏誅。因是罷丞相等官陞六部。分理天下庶務。改大都督分左右前後中五都督　宋濂卒。年七十二。公博極群書名滿天下。文傳四夷。而於佛老之言尤深研究。所著有潛溪集芝園集龍門子無相謄語等書。傳於世　四月。命群臣各舉所知以備任用　五月甲午。雷震謹身殿大赦　詔曰。朕以非德託以萬姓之上。奉天勤民於茲十有三年矣。不期宰輔失職。四姦擅權。使賢愚陷於不義。朕思創業之艱難。念守成之不易。首除姦惡。鋤根剪蔓。爰及餘黨。然刑戮之際不無過焉。甚非上帝好生之德。乃於是月初四日申時分雷震謹身殿。朕甚懼焉。於是赦天下罪者。除十惡不赦。外其餘已未發覺結正。罪無大小咸赦除之　六月詔曰。朕荷上天眷祐。君主華夷十有三年。倉廩盈府庫充。皆吾民之所供也。今民未甦詔告有司。今洪武十三年。天下秋糧盡行蠲免　授建昌僧官諭曰。天下大道惟善無上。其善無上者釋迦是也。固大慈忍。志立大悲願心。行無所不至。化無所不被。論性原情談心妙理。潔六塵之無垢。淨六根之無翳。去諸魔而清法界。制外道以樂人天。斯行斯修而歷劫無量。乃降兜率至於梵宮。既捨金輪而猶苦行於雪嶺時。道成午夜。明心相符。朕觀如來以己之大覺。而欲盡覺諸法界眾生。其為慈也大。其為悲也深。可為無上者歟。世人宿有善根者皆慕佛力。寰中之修者甚廣。今建昌僧某。博修佛道善馭僧民。其方士民。仰僧善道感化人淳。既內附之誠理。宜授以建昌府僧綱司云　辛酉洪武十四年創編賦役黃冊。餘帶曰畸零冊。頒五經博士於北方學校　始定翰林院官制。為正五品衙門　上謂廷臣曰。夫道之不明。由教之不行也。夫五經載聖人之道者也。譬之粟菽布帛。家不可無人。非菽粟布帛則無以為衣食。非五經四書則無由以知道理云。今以五經頒賜使其講習。夫君子知學則道興。小人知學則俗美。他日收學。亦未必不本於此。

In the thirteenth year of Hongwu, gengshen [1380], in the first month, the Prime Minister Hu Weiyong plotted rebellion and was executed. Because of this, the post of Prime Minister and others were abolished, and the Six Ministries were elevated to handle the various affairs of the realm separately. The Chief Military Commission was altered and divided into the Five Chief Military Commissions: Left, Right, Front, Rear, and Center. Song Lian passed away at the age of seventy-two. He was widely versed in numerous books, his fame filled the realm, and his writings spread to the four barbarian [regions]. In particular, he deeply studied the teachings of the Buddha and Laozi. He authored such works as the Qianxi ji, Zhiyuan ji, Longmenzi, and Wuxiang tengyu, which circulate in the world. In the fourth month, civil officials were commanded to recommend those they knew for employment. In the fifth month, on the jiawu day, lightning struck the Jinshen Hall, and a general amnesty was declared. The edict stated: "With unworthy virtue, We have been placed above the myriad people, serving Heaven and laboring for the people for thirteen years now. Unexpectedly, the chief ministers failed in their duties, and the four traitors usurped power, causing the worthy and the foolish alike to fall into disloyalty. We reflect on the hardship of founding an enterprise and consider the difficulty of preserving achievements. First, We eradicated the treacherous and evil, uprooting the roots and cutting the vines, reaching down to their remaining partisans. Yet, amid punishments and executions, there were certainly excesses, which are deeply contrary to the Supreme Emperor's virtue of cherishing life. Thereupon, on the fourth day of this month at the shen hour, lightning struck the Jinshen Hall. We were greatly alarmed. Therefore, We grant amnesty to the criminals of the realm: except for the ten abominations which are not pardoned, all other offenses, whether already discovered or not yet finalized, regardless of magnitude, are entirely pardoned." In the sixth month, the edict stated: "Bearing the favor and protection of Heaven, We have ruled the Hua and the Yi for thirteen years. The granaries are full and the treasuries are well-stocked, all provided by Our people. Now, as the people have not yet recovered, We issue an edict to the relevant authorities: for the present thirteenth year of Hongwu, the autumn grain taxes of the realm shall be entirely remitted." In an instruction conferring office on a Buddhist official of Jianchang, it said: "Of the great paths under Heaven, only goodness is supreme. The one whose goodness is supreme is Śākya. For he firmly held great compassionate patience and resolved to establish a heart of great compassionate vows. His deeds reached everywhere, and his transformation covered all. He discussed the nature, traced the emotions, and spoke of the subtle principle of the mind. He cleansed the six dusts without defilement and purified the six faculties without veil. He dispelled the various Māras to purify the Dharma realm, and subdued external paths to bring joy to humans and gods. He practiced thus and cultivated thus through immeasurable kalpas, descending from Tuṣita to the Brahma Palace. Having abandoned the golden wheel, he still practiced austerities on the Snow Mountains. At midnight his realization was achieved, his mind clearly matching [the truth]. We observe that the Tathāgata, with his own great awakening, desired to completely awaken all sentient beings of the Dharma realm. His kindness was great, and his compassion was deep; indeed, it may be called supreme! When people in the world have past roots of goodness, they all admire the power of the Buddha; those who cultivate within the realm are very numerous. Now, such-and-such monk of Jianchang has widely cultivated the Buddhist path and is skilled at governing monks and people. The scholars and commoners of that region look up to this monk's good path, which has transformed the people into being pure and honest. Since he has presented his sincerity of allegiance, it is proper to appoint him to the Prefectural Buddhist Registry of Jianchang Prefecture." In the fourteenth year of Hongwu, xinyou [1381], the Yellow Registers of taxation and corvée were first compiled; the supplementary registers were called the Oddment Registers. Erudites of the Five Classics were dispatched to schools in the north. The official system of the Hanlin Academy was first established as a fifth-rank government office. The Emperor addressed the court officials, saying: "The obscurity of the Way is due to the non-implementation of teachings. The Five Classics are what record the Way of the sages. To use an analogy: millet, beans, cloth, and silk cannot be lacked by any household; without beans, millet, cloth, and silk, there is nothing for food and clothing. Without the Five Classics and Four Books, there is no way to understand principles. Now We bestow the Five Classics so that they may lecture on and study them. If gentlemen know learning, the Way will flourish; if petty persons know learning, customs will become good. When the fruits of learning are gathered in the future, it will surely be rooted in this."