集古今佛道論衡 4.3

4.3

永徽嗣曆屢發深衷。降意佛宗徵延論道。覽前王之逸典。追賢達之行事。宋魏兩朝咸興談述。周隋接運俱暢論衡。然則晉氏南遷以釋宗為令族。魏朝北有齊緇黃而等駕。由是江表談玄規猷。自隔關河語極淄澠一亂。所以屢有揚激教義殊途。雖事拒輪終歸陷網。雲泥路絕聲采罕追。人代致混論辯鞱陷。顧斯陳迹不無懷悼。致有黃巾被責緘默。當時後出論場昌言我勝。未登席者隨言信之。輒以所聞敘斯實錄。事連宸極。故絕浮詞。

When the Yonghui reign inherited the imperial succession, [the Emperor] repeatedly manifested his deep concern: turning his mind to the Buddhist tradition, he summoned them to debate the Dao. Looking over the lost records of former kings, he pursued the deeds of past worthies. The two dynasties of Song and Wei both promoted discussions and compositions; the Zhou and Sui in succession both gave voice to critical debates. Thus, when the Jin house moved south, it took the Buddhist tradition as a noble family; when the Wei dynasty ruled the north, it placed the black robes and the yellow caps on equal footing. Consequently, the discussion of the abstruse south of the Yangtze established its own model, while across the passes and rivers the debates reached the ultimate, muddying the waters of the Zi and the Mian. Hence there were repeated provocations and distinct paths of doctrine. Although like praying mantises resisting chariot wheels, [the Daoists] ultimately fell into the net; the difference was like clouds and mud, their brilliance hard to match. As generations grew confused, debate was buried in obscurity. Looking back upon these past traces, one cannot help but feel sorrow. It even reached the point where the Yellow Turbans, when refuted, remained silent at the time, but afterwards, upon leaving the debate arena, boldly claimed, 'We were victorious!' Those who had not attended the assembly believed them according to their words. Therefore, based on what I have heard, I set forth this true record. As the matters concern the imperial throne, superficial words have been entirely excluded.