高僧傳 7.14

7.14

Before this, the Emperor had not been deeply reverent or believing. In the twelfth year of the Yuanjia era, the Capital Intendant Xiao Mozhi submitted a memorial requesting regulations on the construction of temples and the casting of statues. The Emperor then discussed it with Palace Attendant He Shangzhi, Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel Yang Xuanbao, and others, saying to Shangzhi: "Since my youth I have not read many scriptures, and lately I have had even less leisure; I have not yet established a clear conviction concerning the cause and effect of the three periods of time, yet I dare not take an opposing view, precisely because eminent figures of the age such as yourselves generally revere and believe in it. Fan Tai and Xie Lingyun used to say that the classical texts of the Six Classics originally aimed at aiding the world and governing; if one must seek the true profundity of the spiritual nature, how could one not take the Buddhist scriptures as a compass? Recently I saw Yan Yanzhi's 'Tuida xing lun' (Treatise on Inferring and Penetrating the Nature) and Zong Bing's 'Nan baihei lun' (Treatise Refuting the White and the Black); their clarification of the Buddha is vast and deep, their philosophical reasoning is fully sufficient, and they inspire people's minds. If all within the borders of the realm were to observe this edification, I could bring about Great Peace while sitting at ease, so what further business would there be? Recently, the regulations requested by Xiao Mozhi were not entirely well-rounded and comprehensive. I am now showing them to you, entrusting you to revise and amend them. If there is a way to check and prohibit superficial extravagance without harming the broad encouragement [of the teaching], only then should it be enacted as a decree."