廣弘明集 2.24

2.24

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.