集古今佛道論衡 2.24

2.24

Furthermore, in the second month of the first year of the Daxiang reign era, in the former city of Ye, Wang Mingguang—grand-disciple of Fotudeng of the Baima Temple from the time of Emperor Wu of the Later Zhao—submitted an account of how Wei Yuansong had destroyed the Buddha's Dharma, presenting it to Emperor Tianyuan. On the eighth day of the fourth month, the Senior Grand Master of the Palace Secretariat, Yuwen Yi, proclaimed an imperial edict concerning Yuansong: "Since the rise of the Buddhist teachings, many generations have elapsed. As for their ultimate principle, it is indeed difficult of itself to comprehend clearly. Yet because subsequent generations became frivolous and unstable, failing to accord with the Buddhist teachings, they caused the pure Dharma to turn into something defiled and impure. The reason why the Grand Ancestor, Emperor Wu, abolished and did not preserve it was precisely on this account. Now, Our heart cherishes the ultimate Dao and yearns to propagate the good Dharma. We are about to select and train those of refined practice to respectfully cultivate this principle, allowing their bodily appearance and attire not to be altered while their virtuous conduct is still preserved. Reverently establishing a place of practice, We desire to implement the good Dharma. All from princes and dukes down should be fully informed of this. The rest is as previously stated."