釋鑑稽古略續集 2.45

2.45

In the guichou year, the sixth year of Hongwu [1373], ordination certificates were universally granted to monks throughout the realm. In previous dynasties, monks were mostly counted to sell ordination certificates, which was called 'head-tax exemption money'. An edict abolished this. Wine and food were bestowed upon prefects and county magistrates who came to audience, and they were further instructed to exert themselves in cultivating virtue and broadly dispensing benevolent governance. The walls of Jinling were completed. The Emperor inspected them together with Liu Ji. The Emperor said, 'The walls being as high as this, they are not something humans can leap over.' Liu Ji said, 'Indeed, none but a swallow (yan) could fly into it.' Later, when the Prince of Yan entered Jinling, it fulfilled this prophecy. Talented and worthy men were sought throughout the realm, [the Emperor] saying, 'That the world has worthy talents is a treasure of the state. The sage rulers of antiquity eagerly sought the worthy, for if worthy talents are not fully provided, it is insufficient to govern. That the great swan can soar afar is because it has wings; that the scaly dragon can leap and surge is because it has scales and mane; that a human ruler can achieve good governance is because he has worthy men to assist him. Among the gentlemen of the mountains and forests now, how could there be none whose literary arts and virtuous conduct are worthy of praise? Let the authorities escort them with ritual to the capital, that they may be employed to plan the utmost governance.' The Emperor inquired about the way of governance from Gui Yanliang, who replied, 'The Way lies in rectifying the mind.' He also said, 'Employing virtue brings ease; employing law brings toil. If one pacifies the people by law, the people will toil and not be pacified; if one pacifies the people by virtue, the people will be pacified in virtue.' The Emperor said, 'You, sir, are a teacher of emperors.' An edict appointed the late Imperial Preceptor of the Yuan, Namgyel Sangpo, to be National Preceptor of the Flourishing Buddha-Treasure. From then on, Tibetan monks were invested as Initiation National Preceptors, as well as King of Promoting Goodness, King of Propagating Transformation, Dharma King of the Great Vehicle of Perfect Awakening, and Great Precious Dharma King of the Tathāgata; all were bestowed with seals and patents of investiture to lead the people of their respective countries and to present tribute in alternate years. In the fifth month, the Zuxun lu (Record of Ancestral Instructions) was completed. The Emperor commanded the ritual officials to examine the emperors and kings of past dynasties who had merit toward the living populace, and to erect temples to sacrifice to them. An edict ordered that the scriptures and classics be annotated in everyday language so that everyone could understand the intentions of the sages and worthies. When the annotations were completed, they were presented, and [the Emperor] bestowed the title Qunjing leiyao (Categorized Essentials of the Classics).