續高僧傳 5.16

5.16

Shi Sengshao was surnamed Wang and was a native of Gao'an in the state of Qi. In his youth, he aspired to transcend the mundane; in his early years, following his resolve, he donned monastic robes. Both monastics and laypeople revered him as a master. He had a fine appearance and manner, and was skilled in his deportment. Gentle in temperament, his tone was pure and refined. Fond of propagating the scriptural teachings, his fame was celebrated throughout the province. He specialized in Abhidharma as his craft. At the beginning of the Yuanhui era, he first arrived at the imperial capital and resided at Jianyuan Monastery. Broad-minded, kind, and aloof, he did not socialize carelessly. At the close of the Song dynasty, customs were frivolous and norms were absent; people competed for immediate gains, and glory faded in an instant. Sengshao kept to his quiet room alone, as though there were no one else around. When the Qi dynasty initiated an era of peace, the ritual teachings spread early on; monastics and laypeople looked up to him, and lectures were held continuously. Later students came to know the fundamental tenets, and earlier practitioners revised their views. A single Abhidharma text spread its transformative influence throughout the realm; those inquiring and listening regularly numbered in the hundreds. Prince Wenhui of Qi and Prince Jingling, Xiao Ziliang, deeply admired and respected him. Cui Hui of Qinghe personally faced north and received his remaining instructions. In the third year of the Tianjian era, he died at his monastery at the age of fifty-eight. At that time, Jianyuan [Monastery] also had Falang, who was likewise known for his intellectual learning. Originally surnamed Shen, he was a native of Wukang in Wuxing. Because his family suffered misfortune in the secular world, he came to live in Jianye. In the seventh year of the Daming era, together with his elder brother Faliang, an imperial decree commanded them to succeed Huiyi and leave household life. He initially lived at Yaowang Monastery. Faliang's conduct was lofty and clean, and his scriptural knowledge was cultivated and brilliant. Falang was naturally casual and blunt, paying no heed to formal deportment. His chanting voice gained a reputation, and his doctrinal exegesis was widely acclaimed. He compiled a commentary on the *Nirvāṇa Sūtra*, producing a set of volumes. However, he joked and laughed teasingly and was not selective in his companions; whenever he met persons of high status or those superior to himself, he took note of them. Both died during the Tianjian era.