弘明集 8.20

8.20

The Five Pecks of Rice teaching originated from the Celestial Master. Later generations became depraved and turbid, establishing anew the 'Rice People', who were abhorred and feared by the world. Thus Ziming and Du Gong both arose on account of demonic serpents. Furthermore, the 'Fast of Mud and Charcoal' originated with Zhang Lu. Because the Di and Yi barbarians were hard to transform, he instituted this method: having them roll like donkeys in the mud, smearing yellow brine and mud on their faces, disheveling their hair and hanging ropes around their necks, working them like potter's clay until thoroughly subdued. This method was intended for the borderlands, not to be implemented in the central lands. At the beginning of the Yixi era, there was Prince Wang, whose successors were greedy for treasures and shrank from hardship, secretly omitting the beatings. Lu Xiujing of Wu knew well that its origin was depraved, yet he still merely smeared the forehead and hung ropes. It is the height of foolish depravity; pray do not call it the Dao!