集古今佛道論衡 4.20

4.20

三年四月十四日於蓬萊宮月陂北亭。與道士姚義玄等五人。西明寺僧子立等四人講論。其日晚　勅放道人道士各還觀寺別勅留僧靈辯及道士二人。至十五日乃放還。初十四日。道士方惠長開老經題。靈辯問曰。向陳道德唯止老教。亦在儒宗。答。道經獨有儒教所無　難。孝經曰。有至德要道。易云。一陰一陽謂之道。此則已顯於儒家。豈獨明於老氏。答。自然之道為本。餘者為末。難。自然之道不攝在陰陽。老氏可為本。陰陽亦苞於自然。周易豈為末。答。元氣已來大道為本。萬物皆從道生。道為萬法祖　難曰。道為物祖不異前言。老易同歸若為遣難。惠長不能答。因嘲之曰。昔列子纔遇季咸。怳然心醉。黃冠暫逢緇服。不覺魂迷　上大笑。令更難。靈辯奏曰。向者纔申短略黃巾以成瓦解。今若更憑神算赤舌將必氷銷。

On the fourteenth day of the fourth month in the third year [of Longshuo], at the North Pavilion of Yuebei in the Penglai Palace, [Lingbian] debated with five Daoist priests, including Yao Yixuan, and four monks from Ximing Temple, including Zili. That evening, an imperial decree discharged the monks and Daoist priests to return to their respective abbeys and temples, but specially decreed that the monk Lingbian and two Daoist priests remain behind; they were not released to return until the fifteenth day. At first, on the fourteenth day, the Daoist priest Fang Huichang explained the title of the Laozi. Lingbian asked, "You have just set forth Dao and virtue—do they belong only to the teachings of Laozi, or are they also in the Confucian tradition?" [Huichang] answered, "The Daoist scripture alone has them; the Confucian teaching lacks them." Lingbian objected, "The Classic of Filial Piety says, 'There is supreme virtue and essential Way.' The Book of Changes says, 'One yin and one yang is called the Way.' These are already clearly revealed in the Confucian texts; how could they be illuminated solely by Laozi?" Huichang answered, "The Way of naturalness is the root; the rest are branches." Lingbian objected, "If the Way of naturalness is not subsumed within yin and yang, Laozi might be considered the root. But yin and yang also encompass naturalness; how could the Zhouyi be considered branches?" Huichang answered, "Since the primordial qi, the Great Dao has been the root. The ten thousand things are all born from the Dao; the Dao is the ancestor of all dharmas." Lingbian objected, "Saying the Dao is the ancestor of all things is no different from what was said before. If Laozi and the Book of Changes share the same destination, how can you resolve this difficulty?" Huichang was unable to answer. Lingbian then mocked him, saying, "Of old, Liezi had barely encountered Ji Xian before his mind was dizzy as if drunk. When the yellow cap briefly met the black robe, he did not realize his spirit was lost in confusion!" The Emperor laughed heartily and ordered further objections. Lingbian addressed the throne, saying, "Just now, I only briefly set forth a slight outline, and the Yellow Turbans have already collapsed into ruin. If I now rely further on divine calculations, their red tongues will surely melt like ice."