宋高僧傳 3.48

3.48

Fifth, elegant and vulgar Chinese: this is also what is called phonology having distinctions between Chu and Xia. Furthermore, regarding the language of this land, 'elegant' is the text of the classics and histories, while 'vulgar' is the talk of the alleys. This is roughly similar to the Western Regions, where 'fine' is classical and correct, and 'coarse' is corrupt and vernacular. 1. Elegant and not vulgar: as when language from classical books is used in the sūtras. 2. Vulgar and not elegant: as with expressions like 'begging for a head' or 'slapping the cheeks' in the sūtras. 3. Both elegant and vulgar: when the prose has not been polished by literati, but written down by ordinary faithful monks, wherein unworked gold and uncarved jade are mixed together. 4. Neither: absent.