高僧傳 10.40

10.40

Shi thereupon hid away in mountains and marshes, cultivating dhūta practices. Later, Tuoba Tao again conquered Chang'an, wielding power over the Guan and Luo regions. At that time, there was Cui Hao of Boling, who in his youth had studied heterodox ways and harbored suspicion and jealousy toward the Buddhist teaching. Since he held high office in the illegitimate court and enjoyed Tao's trust and reliance, he and the Heavenly Master Kou told Tao that the Buddhist teaching was of no benefit and harmful to the people's interests, urging him to abolish it. Tao, deluded by their words, in the seventh year of the illegitimate Taiping reign era, proceeded to destroy the Buddhadharma. He dispatched troops in divisions to burn and loot monasteries, and ordered all monks and nuns within his domain to leave the monastic order. As for any who fled, he sent men to pursue and arrest them, and when captured they were invariably beheaded. Within the entire realm, there were no longer any śramaṇas. Shi alone remained sequestered in deep seclusion, where troops could not reach.