續集古今佛道論衡 1.72

1.72

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."