宋高僧傳 15.28

15.28

釋靈澈，不知何許人也。稟氣貞良，執操無革，而吟詠性情，尤見所長。居越谿雲門寺，成立之歲，為文之譽襲遠。講貫無倦，生徒戾止如闤闠焉。故祕書郎嚴維、劉隋州長卿、前殿中侍御史皇甫曾，覩面論心，皆如膠固，分聲唱和，名散四陬。澈遊吳興，與杼山晝師一見為林下之遊，互相擊節。晝與書上包佶中丞，盛標揀其警句最所重者：「《歸湘南作》則有『山邊水邊待月明，暫向人間借路行，如今還向山邊去，唯有湖水無行路』句。此僧諸作皆妙，獨此一篇，使老僧見，欲棄筆硯。伏冀中丞高鑒深量，其進諸乎？其捨諸乎？方今天下有故，大賢勤王，輒以非急干請視聽，亦昭愚老僧不達時也。然澈公秉心立節，不可多得，其道行空慧，無慚安遠。復著《律宗引源》二十一卷，為緇流所歸。至於玄言道理，應接靡滯，風月之間，亦足以助君子之高興也。」其為同曹所重也如此。晝又齎詩附澈去見，佶禮遇非輕。又權德輿聞澈之譽，書問晝公，迴簡極筆稱之。建中、貞元已來，江表諺曰：「越之澈，洞氷雪。」可謂一代勝士，與杭標、霅晝分鼎足矣。不測其終。

Shi Lingche: it is unknown from where he came. By nature he was pure and upright, maintaining his integrity without alteration, and his talent was especially evident in chanting and expressing his sentiments through verse. Residing at Yunmen Temple by the Yue stream, by the year he came of age his renown for literature had spread far and wide. He lectured and instructed without weariness, and students gathered like crowds in a marketplace. The former Editorial Director Yan Wei, Prefect of Suizhou Liu Changqing, and former Palace Attendant Censor Huangfu Zeng saw his face and spoke from the heart, adhering together like glue and lacquer, chiming and answering one another in verse, their fame dispersing to the four corners. Che traveled to Wuxing, where he met Master Jiao of Mount Zhu; they bonded on a single meeting as companions of the woods and streams, clicking their tongues in mutual praise. Jiao sent a letter to Censor Bao Ji, prominently selecting and highlighting his most valued stirring verses: 'In his 'Composed upon Returning South of the Xiang', there are the lines: "By mountain edge and water's brim, waiting for the moon to shine, / For a moment toward the human realm, I borrow a path to walk; / Now returning toward the mountain edge once more, / There is only lake water, and no path to walk." All the works of this monk are marvelous, but this single piece in particular made this old monk want to discard his brush and inkstone upon seeing it. I humbly hope the Censor, with your lofty discernment and deep measure, will advance him or leave him be. Just now the realm faces troubles, and great worthies exert themselves for the monarch; that I should abruptly present an unurgent matter to importune your ears and eyes also reveals this foolish old monk's failure to understand the times. Yet Master Che holds fast to his mind and establishes his integrity; he is truly rare to find. His practice of the Dao and wisdom of emptiness would not bring shame before Daoan and Huiyuan. Furthermore, he composed the Luzong yinyuan (Tracing the Source of the Vinaya School) in twenty-one rolls, to which the dark-robed stream turned. As for profound discourse and guiding principles, he responded without obstruction; amidst wind and moon, he was also fully able to aid a gentleman's lofty mood.' Such was the high regard in which he was held by his peers. Jiao also gave poems to Che to take to visit Bao Ji, who treated him with no light courtesy. Furthermore, when Quan Deyu heard of Che's renown, he wrote to Master Jiao inquiring about him, and Jiao replied with the utmost praise of his brush. From the Jianzhong and Zhenyuan eras onward, a proverb in the Jiangbiao region went: 'Che of Yue is penetrating like ice and snow.' He may be called an eminent gentleman of an age, forming a tripod together with Biao of Hangzhou and Jiao of Zha. His end is not known.