廣弘明集 11.59

11.59

We reply: The Shujing says: "How majestic was the manner in which Shun and Yu possessed all under heaven! How glorious was their cultural accomplishment!" The "Counsels of Great Yu" says that Yu was able to live in a humble palace, eat simple food, use black curtains and coarse cloth, and expend his strength on ditches and watercourses. He controlled the floodwaters for the people and performed meritorious service for them. If august Heaven aids the virtuous, why was his heavenly mandate not long-lasting and his reign limited to nine years? Examining the Nianji, during the reigns of the Xia sovereigns Xiang and Shaokang, their ministers Yi of Youqiong and Han Zhuo, as well as the states of Fengyi, Huaiyi, Huangyi, Zhenxun, and others, rose in rebellion in succession; for a total of twenty-six years they usurped the Xia and set themselves up. At that time there was no Buddha: from whom did the usurpation and rebellion arise?