續高僧傳 30.23

30.23

釋法琰。俗姓嚴。江表金陵人。本名法藏。住願力寺。聽莊嚴寺皭公成實。入義知歸。時共讚賞。每聞經聲唄讚。如舊所經充滿胸臆。試密尋擬。意言通詣。即以所解用諮先達咸曰。卿曾昔習。故有今緣。不可怪也。遂取瑞應依聲盡卷。舉擲旁迸囀態驚馳。無不訝之。皆來返啟。乃於講隙一時為敘。陳國齋會有執卷者。若不陳聲齋福不濟。故使人各所懷相從畢聽。清音盈耳頌聲洋溢。廣流世路。晚被晉府召入日嚴。終于武德。復居玄法。雖年迫期頤。而聲喉不敗。京室雖富聲業甚貧。諸有尋味莫有高於琰者。然而性在知足。不畜貲財。福利所歸隨皆散盡。以貞觀十年卒于此寺。九十餘矣。

Śramaṇa Fayan, whose secular surname was Yan, was a native of Jinling south of the Yangzi. His original name was Fazang. Residing at Yuanli Monastery, he listened to Master Jiao of Zhuangyan Monastery lecture on the Tattvasiddhi-śāstra; he penetrated its meaning and knew its ultimate purport, being widely praised at the time. Whenever he heard the cantillation of sūtras and hymns of praise, it filled his chest as if he had experienced them before. When he tentatively explored and imitated them in secret, his vocal expressions were fluent and accomplished. He presented what he understood to consult the senior masters, who all said: 'You must have practiced this in the past; hence you have this present affinity. It should not be found surprising.' Thereupon, taking the Ruixing [sūtra], he followed the cantillation throughout the entire scroll. His vocal leaps, side-bursts, and melodic flourishes were astonishingly agile, so that no one failed to marvel at him, and all came back to request instruction. During the gaps between lectures, he would elucidate it for them. In the fast-assemblies of the Chen dynasty, there were always those who held the scrolls; if the chanting was not presented, the merit of the fast would not be accomplished. Therefore, people with various wishes all followed him to listen attentively. Clear sounds filled their ears, and songs of praise overflowed, spreading widely through the secular world. In his later years, he was summoned by the Prince of Jin to enter Riyan Monastery. Toward the end of the Wude era, he again resided at Xuanfa Monastery. Although his age approached a hundred years, his voice and throat never failed. Although the capital was rich, its craft of cantillation was very impoverished; among all who appreciated its savor, none stood higher than Yan. However, his nature lay in contentment, and he accumulated no property; whatever meritorious gifts came to him were completely distributed. In the tenth year of the Zhenguan era [636 CE], he passed away at this monastery, aged over ninety.