續集古今佛道論衡 1.17

1.17

正月九日。楊州界豫章郡吳丘縣南嶽道士褚善信。以為表頭。五嶽十八山觀太上三洞弟子道士褚善信等六百九十人死罪上言。臣聞。太上無形無名無極無上。無虛自然大道元首。自從造化道教從生無為之尊自然之父。上古同尊百王不易。今陛下道邁羲皇德過堯舜。光澤四海八表歸仁。臣等竊承陛下棄本追末。求教西域。臣觀西域所事者。既是胡師。所說者不參華夏。復請得胡道人令翻其語說同似漢。臣等思忖。陛下雖翻得此語。恐非大道。如不依信。願陛下恕臣等罪。聽與驗試。臣等五嶽諸山道士多有聰明智慧。博通經典。從元皇已來。太上經行悉能曉了。太虛符呪並皆明達。或有吞符餌氣。或有策使鬼神。或有入火不燒。或有履水不溺。或有白日昇天。或有隱形於地。至於方藥法術。無有不能者。願陛下許臣等得與比校。一則聖上意安。二則得辨真偽。三則大道有歸。四則不亂華俗。臣若比對不如。任上重決。若臣等比對有勝。乞除虛詐。臣等誠惶誠恐。死罪死罪。以聞。明帝又得沙門迦葉摩騰竺法蘭等二人說法。善明法相心大信敬。既得道士表聞。即遣尚書令宋庠引諸道士至長樂宮前。帝謂道士曰。諸大德。莫自誤也。

On the ninth day of the first month, Zhu Shanxin, a Daoist master of the Southern Peak from Wuqiu County, Yuzhang Commandery, in the region of Yangzhou, acted as the leader of the petition. Six hundred and ninety Daoists, including Zhu Shanxin, disciples of the Taishang Three Caverns from the monasteries of the Five Sacred Peaks and eighteen mountains, presented this memorial on pain of death: 'Your servants have heard that the Taishang is formless and nameless, boundless and supreme, the primal head of the unvacuous Great Dao of spontaneity. Ever since creation, the teachings of the Dao arose from it; it is the honored of non-action, the father of spontaneity. It was revered alike in high antiquity, unchanging throughout the hundred kings. Now Your Majesty's dao surpasses Fuxi, and your virtue exceeds Yao and Shun; your radiant grace covers the four seas, and the eight outer regions submit to your benevolence. Your servants have privily learned that Your Majesty has abandoned the root to pursue the branches, seeking teachings from the Western Regions. When your servants observe that which is served in the Western Regions, they are indeed barbarian masters, and what they preach does not accord with the Central Realm. Moreover, you have invited barbarian men of the Way and ordered their language translated to resemble Chinese speech. Your servants have reflected: although Your Majesty has obtained translations of these words, we fear they are not the Great Dao. If you do not believe us, we pray Your Majesty pardon your servants' crime and permit a trial by ordeal. Among your servants, the Daoist masters of the Five Sacred Peaks and various mountains, many are intelligent and wise, broadly versed in the scriptures. From the Primal Sovereign onward, we fully understand the scriptures and practices of the Taishang; we clearly comprehend all the talismans and incantations of Great Emptiness. Some swallow talismans and ingest qi; some summon and command ghosts and spirits; some enter fire without being burned; some walk on water without drowning; some ascend to heaven in broad daylight; some conceal their forms in the earth. As for medical arts and magical methods, there is none we cannot do. We pray Your Majesty allow your servants to compete and compare. First, the Sage Sovereign's mind will be set at ease; second, truth and falsehood may be distinguished; third, the Great Dao will have its rightful place; fourth, Chinese customs will not be thrown into disorder. If your servants are inferior in the comparison, we submit to Your Majesty's severe sentence. If your servants prevail in the comparison, we beg that the false and deceitful be eliminated. Your servants are truly terrified and fearful, and submit this on pain of death, on pain of death, for your consideration.' Emperor Ming had also received the two śramaṇas, Kāśyapa Mātaṅga and Dharmaratna, who expounded the Dharma; they clearly elucidated the characteristics of phenomena, and [the Emperor's] mind was filled with great faith and reverence. Having received the Daoists' memorial, he immediately dispatched Song Xiang, the Prefect of the Masters of Writing, to lead the Daoist masters before the Changle Palace. The Emperor addressed the Daoist masters, saying, 'Venerable sirs, do not delude yourselves.