弘贊法華傳 10.4

10.4

齊大祖高皇帝。姓蕭。諱道成。字紹伯。閱想真乘。虎心寶地。出火宅而長騖。超化城而直指。度僧立寺。大啟福門。鑄像持經。頻修慧業。每七月十五日。普寺送盆。供僧三百。朔望之日。不許殺生。又以萬機之暇。手寫法花。莊嚴傑異。恒申供養。

Emperor Gao, Grand Ancestor of the Qi, had the surname Xiao, the taboo personal name Daocheng, and the courtesy name Shaobo. He contemplated and aspired to the True Vehicle, and fixed his mind upon the precious ground. Leaving the burning house, he galloped afar; surpassing the conjured city, he pointed directly [to the goal]. Ordaining monks and establishing temples, he opened wide the gate of merit; casting images and upholding sūtras, he repeatedly cultivated wise karma. On every fifteenth day of the seventh month, he sent [Ullambana] basins to all temples, making offerings to three hundred monks. On the days of the new and full moon, he forbade the taking of life. Furthermore, amidst his leisure from the myriad affairs of state, he hand-copied the Lotus Sūtra, whose ornamentation was outstanding, and constantly presented offerings to it.