集古今佛道論衡 3.4

3.4

When the August Tang initiated its destiny, all teachings flourished alongside one another; yet regarding the Buddha-Dharma, faith and reverence were especially deep. [The emperor] gave up his old residence in the capital to establish Xingsheng Temple, and elsewhere temples such as Huichang, Shengye, Cibei, Zhengguo, and Jixian were constructed in succession. As for Daoist abbeys, they were no different from secular dwellings. In the fourth year of Wude, there was the Grand Astrologer Fu Yi. Formerly a Yellow Turban, he deeply resented the monastic robes. Seeing the state paying special respect [to Buddhism], his heart became all the more grieved. He then submitted eleven articles on abolishing the Buddha-Dharma, stating: 'The Buddhist scriptures are false and absurd, their words bewitching and their matters obscure. They harm the state and ruin families, and have never been heard to benefit the world. I request that the barbarian Buddha's perverse teaching be sent back to Tianzhu, and that all śramaṇas be dismissed back to their native places; then the family and state will prosper and become great, and the teachings of Li [Laozi] and Kong [Confucius] will be practiced.'