廣弘明集 2.24

2.24

太和十六年下詔。每年四月八日七月十五日。聽大州一百人為僧尼。中州五十下州二十人。著令以為常准。太和十九年帝幸徐州白塔寺。顧諸王侍臣曰。此寺近有名僧嵩法師者。受成實論於羅什。後授淵法師。淵又授登紀二法師。朕每翫成實。可以釋人深情。故至此寺。道登雅有義業。高祖眷賞恒侍講論於禁內。及卒帝悼惜。施帛千匹。設一切僧齋京城七日行道。下詔曰。朕師登法師奄至徂。背痛怛摧慟不能已。已比藥治。慎喪未容即赴。便准師義哭諸門外。緇素榮之。西域沙門跋陀者。有深道業。帝所敬重。詔於少室山陰立少林寺。以居之。公給衣供。

In the sixteenth year of Taihe, an edict was issued: Every year on the eighth day of the fourth month and the fifteenth day of the seventh month, large provinces are permitted to ordain one hundred monks and nuns, medium provinces fifty, and small provinces twenty, established by decree as the regular standard. In the nineteenth year of Taihe, the Emperor visited Baita Temple in Xuzhou, and looking around at the various princes and attendant officials, he said: 'In recent times this temple had a famous monk, Dharma Master Sengsong, who received the *Tattvasiddhi-śāstra* from Kumārajīva, and later transmitted it to Dharma Master Yuan; Yuan in turn transmitted it to the two Dharma Masters Dao Deng and Tanji. Whenever We study the *Tattvasiddhi*, it can untie one's deepest sentiments, which is why We have come to this temple.' Daodeng was refined in his doctrinal undertakings; Gaozu favored and esteemed him, constantly having him attend upon lectures and discussions within the imperial precincts. When he died, the Emperor mourned him with regret, donating a thousand bolts of silk, holding a vegetarian feast for all the saṅgha, and performing circumambulations of the Way in the capital for seven days. He issued an edict saying: 'Our teacher, Dharma Master Deng, has suddenly passed away; Our grief and sorrowful distress cannot be stayed. Recently We have been taking medicine and are cautious about attending funerals, which does not allow Us to hasten there immediately, but conforming to the propriety due a teacher, We wept outside the gates.' The monastics and laity honored him for this. The Western Regions śramaṇa Batuo possessed profound practice in the Way and was held in deep respect by the Emperor; by edict, Shaolin Temple was founded on the northern slope of Mount Shaoshi for him to reside in, with clothing and requisites provided at public expense.