大明高僧傳 3.25

3.25

釋善啟字東白別號曉菴。姑蘇長洲楊氏子。世為宦族。甫能言即通釋典如舊熟。父母異之。知是法器捨入永茂院出家。無幾薙染受具。屏跡龍山研窮大藏。百氏諸史無不精究。永樂戊子出世郡之延慶寺。明年應召纂修永樂大典併校大藏經。賜金縷僧伽黎。一時名人若沈民望王汝玉錢原溥輩皆為方外交。或辯儒釋之異。師曰。無論聖人理同且各為其教。又曰。東魯垂道西竺見性皆莫先於厚本。故吾儕雖離父母而養生送死率皆從厚。與兄弟極友愛。正統癸亥示寂。塔於龍山。

Śramaṇa Shanqi, courtesy name Dongbai and art name Xiao'an, was a son of the Yang family of Changzhou in Gusu, an official family for generations. As soon as he could speak, he was already thoroughly versed in the Buddhist scriptures as if he had known them intimately before. His parents marveled at it, recognized that he was a vessel of the Dharma, and relinquished him to leave home at Yongmao Cloister. Before long, he underwent tonsure and received full ordination. Withdrawing to Mount Long, he researched and penetrated the Great Canon, and thoroughly investigated all the hundred philosophers and various histories. In the wu-zi year of Yongle, he emerged into the world at Yanqing Temple in the prefecture. The following year, he was summoned to compile the Yongle Encyclopedia and collate the Great Canon, and was bestowed a gold-threaded saṅghāṭī robe. Notable figures of the era such as Shen Minwang, Wang Ruyu, and Qian Yuanpu were all his friends outside the secular realm. When someone argued over the differences between Confucianism and Buddhism, the master said, 'Regardless of the fact that the sages share the same principle, each simply serves his own teaching.' He also said, 'In the promulgation of the Way in Eastern Lu and the seeing of the nature in the Western Land, nothing takes precedence over reinforcing the root. Therefore, although we have left our parents, in nourishing the living and sending off the dead, we generally follow what is generous.' He was extremely fraternal with his brothers. In the guihai year of Zhengtong, he manifested quiescence, and was enshrined in a stūpa at Mount Long.