高僧傳 13.66

13.66

釋慧璩，丹陽人。出家止瓦官寺。讀覽經論，涉獵書史。眾技多閑，而尤善唱導。出語成章，動辭製作，臨時採博，罄無不妙。詣宋太祖文皇帝、車騎臧質，並提携友善，雅相崇愛。譙王鎮荊，要與同行。後逆節還朝，於梁山設會。頃之，譙王敗，璩還京。後宋孝武設齋，璩唱導，帝問璩曰：「今日之集，何如梁山？」璩曰：「天道助順，況復為逆？」帝悅之。明旦，別䞋一萬。後勅為京邑都維那。大明末，終於寺，年七十二。

Shi Huiqu was a native of Danyang. He left household life and stayed at the Waguan Temple. He read sūtras and treatises and dipped into the books and histories. He was skilled in many arts, but particularly excelled at leading chanting. When he spoke, it formed elegant prose; whatever he voiced became a composition. Drawing widely on the spur of the moment, nothing was not exquisite. When visiting Emperor Wen (Taizu) of the Song and General of Chariots and Cavalry Zang Zhi, they supported and treated him kindly, profoundly venerating and loving him. When the Prince of Qiao took up post in Jingzhou, he invited Huiqu to accompany him. Later, the prince rebelled and marched back to the court, setting up an assembly at Liangshan. Before long, the Prince of Qiao was defeated, and Huiqu returned to the capital. Later, Emperor Xiaowu of the Song held a fast, and Huiqu served as the chanting leader. The Emperor asked Huiqu: 'How does today's gathering compare to Liangshan?' Huiqu said: 'The Way of Heaven assists the compliant; how much more so when dealing with rebellion?' The Emperor was delighted. The next morning, he specially bestowed ten thousand [cash]. Later, by imperial decree, he was appointed Metropolitan Rector (Duweina) of the capital. At the end of the Daming era, he died at the temple at the age of seventy-two.