續集古今佛道論衡 1.72

1.72

帝曰。經在何處。姜斌對曰。在觀。遣中書侍郎魏取尚書祖瑩等。就觀取得經將來。帝遣文武官尚書郎已上議當太尉公蕭琮太府李寔衛尉卿許百桃吏部尚書邢巒散騎常侍溫子昇等一百七十人。讀訖云。老子止著五千文。西隱流沙更無言說。此書虛妄。專言老子化胡說十二部經。臣等所議。姜斌罪當惑眾　帝謂道士曰。卿等比來專學此法。何名求道。諸道士對曰。臣等並無此書。今日始聞姜斌所說　帝即遣中書郎邢子才黃門侍郎楊寬等向觀重搜諸房。搜訖盡無此書　帝曰。姜斌道人罪合極刑付獄斬決。爾時廷尉卿元超。領斌將出　三藏法師菩提流支諫曰。陛下新赦恩宥天下。今復建齋以啟多福　勅令論議開暢風猷。姜斌雖可語無宗旨得沾案會。今　陛下從天怒之威。就案法之中。如欲戮人恐不當天意。

The Emperor said, "Where is the scripture?" Jiang Bin replied, "It is at the abbey." [The Emperor] dispatched the Vice Director of the Secretariat Wei Qu, the Department Director Zu Ying, and others to go to the abbey to fetch the scripture and bring it back. The Emperor dispatched one hundred and seventy civil and military officials of the rank of Secretarial Court Gentleman and above—including the Grand Commandant, Duke Xiao Cong; the Chamberlain for the National Treasury, Li Shi; the Minister of the Guards, Xu Baita; the Minister of Personnel, Xing Luan; and the Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, Wen Zisheng—to deliberate upon it. Having finished reading it, they said, "Laozi composed only the five thousand characters. When he withdrew west to the Shifting Sands, he made no further statements. This book is fabricated, specifically claiming that Laozi converted the barbarians and expounded the twelve divisions of scriptures. According to our deliberation, Jiang Bin's crime warrants [the charge of] misleading the multitude." The Emperor addressed the Daoist masters: "Have you recently specialized in studying this teaching? How can this be called seeking the Dao?" The Daoist masters replied, "None of us have this book. Today is the first time we have heard what Jiang Bin spoke of." The Emperor then dispatched the Gentleman of the Secretariat Xing Zicai, the Gentleman Attendant at the Yellow Gates Yang Kuan, and others to the abbey to search thoroughly through all the rooms. When the search was completed, there was entirely no such book. The Emperor said, "The Daoist Jiang Bin's crime warrants capital punishment. Deliver him to prison to be beheaded." At that time, the Minister of Justice, Yuan Chao, led Bin out. The Tripiṭaka Dharma Master Bodhiruci remonstrated: "Your Majesty has recently granted a general amnesty, showing clemency to all under Heaven. Now you have also established a vegetarian feast to inaugurate manifold blessings. An imperial order commanded this debate to unfold noble customs. Although Jiang Bin's speech lacked a central tenet, he was permitted to take part in this gathering. If Your Majesty now yields to the awe of heavenly wrath within this judicial proceeding and executes the man, I fear it will not accord with the will of Heaven."