續傳燈錄 17.13

17.13

台州護國守昌禪師上堂。拈拄杖卓曰。三十六旬之開始七十二侯之起元。萬邦迎和氣之時。東帝布生成之令。直得天垂瑞彩地擁禎祥。微微細雨洗寒空。淡淡春光籠野色。可謂應時納祐慶無不宜。盡大地人皆添一歲。敢問諸人。且道那一人年多少。良久曰。千歲老兒顏似這。玉萬年童子鬢如絲。

Chan Master Shouchang of HFeedback in Taizhou ascended the hall. Holding up his staff, he struck it and said: "The start of the thirty-six decades, the beginning of the seventy-two pentads. At the time when all nations welcome harmonious qi, the Eastern Emperor issues the decree of generation. It brings auspicious colors hanging from heaven and propitious portents welling up from earth. A fine, slight drizzle washes the cold sky; a faint spring radiance envelops the countryside. It can be called receiving blessings in accord with the season, where nothing is not felicitous. Everyone throughout the whole earth adds a year to their age. I venture to ask you all: tell me, how old is that one person?" After a long pause he said: "A thousand-year-old elder has a face like jade; / A ten-thousand-year-old child has sideburns like silk thread."