釋鑑稽古略續集 2.87

2.87

六月二十四日。禮部為欽依開設僧道衙門事照得。釋道二教流傳已久。歷代以來皆設官以領之。天下寺觀僧道數多。未有總屬。爰稽宋制。設置僧道衙門以掌其事。務在恪守戒律以明教法。所有事宜開列於後。

On the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, the Ministry of Rites, concerning the imperial authorization to establish government offices for Buddhists and Daoists, noted: The two teachings of Buddhism and Daoism have circulated for a long time, and successive dynasties have all appointed officials to oversee them. The number of monasteries, cloisters, monks, and Daoists in the realm is large, but there has been no unified jurisdiction. Therefore, investigating the Song system, government offices for Buddhists and Daoists are established to manage their affairs, requiring them to scrupulously observe the monastic precepts in order to illuminate the teachings. All relevant matters are listed below: