續高僧傳 30.17

30.17

釋法稱。江南人。通諸經聲清響動眾。陳氏所化舉朝奉之。又善披導即務標奇。雖無希世之明。而有隨機之要。隋平南服。與白雲經師。同歸秦壤。住興善寺。每引內禁。敘論正義開納帝心。即勅正殿常置經座。日別差讀經。聲聲不絕。聽覽微隙即問經旨。遂終昇遐。晚住定水。與雲同卒。俱八十餘。仁壽年也。時有智雲。亦善經唄。對前白者。世號烏雲。令望所高聲飛南北。每執經對御。嚮振如雷。時慘哀囀。停駐飛走。其德甚眾。祕不泄之。故無事緒可列。又善席上談吐驚奇。子史丘索都皆諳曉。對時引挽如宿搆焉。隋煬在蕃。彌崇敬愛。召入慧日。把臂朋從。欣其詞令故也。年登五十卒於京師。王悲惜焉數日不出。廣為追福。又教沙門法論為之墓誌見於別集。

Śramaṇa Facheng was a man of Jiangnan. He was versed in the various scriptures, and his clear voice moved the multitude. Throughout the domain transformed by the Chen dynasty, the entire court revered him. Furthermore, he was skilled at unrolling and guiding explanations, always striving to manifest something extraordinary; although he lacked matchless brilliance, he possessed the knack of adapting to circumstances. When the Sui pacified the southern territories, he, together with the scriptural reciter Baiyun, returned to the land of Qin and resided at Xingshan Monastery. He was often summoned to the inner palace to discuss the correct doctrines and open the Emperor's mind to receive them. An imperial decree was issued that a scriptural seat be permanently set up in the main hall, with someone specially assigned each day to read the scriptures, the chanting continuing without interruption. Whenever there was a slight interval in attending to state affairs, the Emperor would inquire about the import of the sūtras, right up until his demise. In his later years, Facheng resided at Dingshui Monastery and passed away together with Yun, both in their eighties, during the Renshou era [601–604 CE].

At that time, there was also Zhiyun, who was likewise skilled in scriptural chanting. In contrast to the aforementioned Bai ["White"] Yun, the world called him Wuyun ["Black Cloud"]. His high reputation and voice resounded through north and south. Whenever he held a scripture in the imperial presence, his resonance shook like thunder; at times, his mournful modulations caused flying birds and running beasts to stop in their tracks. His virtues were very manifold, but he kept them concealed without disclosing them, so there are no traces of events to be listed. Moreover, he was skilled at astonishing conversation at gatherings, thoroughly familiar with the masters, the histories, and the ancient texts (*qiusuo*). In responding to the moment, he drew upon them as if they had been prepared long in advance. When Emperor Yang of the Sui was still a prince, he respected and loved him even more, summoning him into the Huiri Sanctuary, walking arm in arm as friends and companions, delighting in his eloquence. When he reached the age of fifty, he died in the capital. The Prince grieved and mourned for him, not emerging for several days, and broadly cultivated merit for his posthumous welfare. He also directed Śramaṇa Falun to compose an epitaph for him, which appears in a separate collection.