廣弘明集 4.11

4.11

Formerly, the Daoist Lu Xiujing of Jinling was the hope of the Daoist community. During the two dynasties of Song and Qi, he ancestralized the Three Zhangs and propagated the Two Ges; men of Xi and Zhang sealed their gates to receive registers. He thereupon made wanton additions and far-fetched inventions, extensively establishing fasting rituals; the expenditures were extremely burdensome, with his intent being that the rulers would honor and follow them. It happened that the Founder of the Liang initiated his reign-era and issued an edict renouncing Daoism. Xiujing could not bear his resentment, and thereupon with his disciples and outlaws from the borders rebelled and fled into the Northern Qi. He furthermore dispersed gold and jade to gift to all the aristocrats, confiding his hopes to them in the expectation of reviving Daoist practices. The Emperor was confused by him; in the ninth month of the sixth year of the Tianbao era, he thereupon issued a decree summoning eminent monks and Daoists who were well-versed in learning, ten individuals in all, to personally compete face to face. At that time, the Daoists cast incantations upon the robes and bowls of the monks, causing them either to fly or spin; they cast incantations upon the roof beams, causing them either to lie horizontal or stand erect. The monks had never studied occult arts, and silently gave no response. Men and women crowded around in clamor, and both high and low had their minds swayed, all considering the followers of Xiujing to be victorious. All the Daoists leaped and danced, looking askance toward the clouds, talking loftily and boasting of themselves, vaunting their Daoist arts. They further called out, saying: 'Supernatural powers are expediently displayed to suppress and break the obstinate and powerful. If a monk displays one, I will display two! Now we have shown merely a slight measure of minor arts, yet they have already given excuses, retreated, and yielded; the matter can plainly be seen.'