宋高僧傳 24.25

24.25

釋玄奘，江陵人也。通大小乘學，尤明《法華》正典，別是命家。自五十載中，日誦七遍，甞因淨室焚香，感天人來傾聽。齋講之時，徵祥合沓。與道俊同被召，在京二載。景龍三年二月八日，孝和帝於林光殿解齋，時諸學士同觀盛集。奘等告乞還鄉，詔賜御詩，諸學士大僚奉和。中書令李嶠詩云：「三乘歸淨域，萬騎餞通莊。就日離亭近，彌天別路長。荊南旋杖鉢，渭北限津梁。何日紆真果，重來入帝鄉？」中書舍人李乂云：「初日承歸旨，秋風起贈言。漢珠留道味，江璧返真源。地出南關遠，天迴北斗尊，寧知一柱觀，却啟四禪門。」更有諸公詩送，此不殫錄。奘歸鄉，終本寺焉。

Śramaṇa Xuanzang was a native of Jiangling. He was versed in both Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna learning and was especially clear on the authoritative scripture of the Lotus Sūtra, being a renowned specialist in it. Over the course of fifty years, he recited it seven times a day. Once, when he burned incense in a clean room, he moved devas to come and listen attentively. Whenever he observed the fast and gave lectures, auspicious portents arrived in clusters. He and Daojun were summoned together, staying in the capital for two years. On the eighth day of the second month of the third year of the Jinglong era, Emperor Xiaohuai concluded a fast at the Linguang Hall, at which time all the academicians gathered to observe the splendid assembly. When Zang and the others submitted a petition requesting to return to their home region, the emperor issued an imperial edict bestowing an imperial poem, and all the academicians and high officials composed poems in reply. The poem by Li Qiao, Director of the Chancellery, said:
'The Three Vehicles return to the pure realm;
Ten thousand riders see them off along the thoroughfare.
Approaching the sun, the departure pavilion is near;
Filling the heavens, the path of parting is long.
South of the Jing River, the staff and bowl return;
North of the Wei River, the crossing and bridge mark the boundary.
On what day will the true fruit be attained,
And you enter the imperial realm once again?'
Li Yi, Secretariat Drafter, wrote:
'In the morning sun receiving the imperial decree to return,
In the autumn wind rise parting words.
Pearls of the Han retain the flavor of the Way;
Jades of the Jiang return to their true source.
From the land, the southern passes stretch far away;
Across the sky, the Northern Dipper turns in reverence.
Who could have known that from a single pillar cloister,
The gates of the four dhyānas would be thrown wide?'
There were further farewell poems by various gentlemen, which are not completely recorded here. Zang returned to his home region and passed away in his home temple.