續集古今佛道論衡 1.8

1.8

According to traditional worldly records: The True Dharma lasts five hundred years; the Semblance Dharma lasts one thousand years; the Final Dharma lasts ten thousand years. The sūtra says: 'Ceasing of function is called extinction; it is not death.' One edition lacks the Semblance Dharma, having only a record of the two Dharmas, True and Final. Counting from the Buddha's entrance into nirvāṇa to the tenth year of Yongping of Emperor Ming of the Han, it is altogether one thousand and twenty years. Counting from the tenth year of Yongping of Emperor Ming of the Han to the jiashu year, the tenth year of Daye, it is altogether five hundred and forty-eight years; making one thousand five hundred and sixty-eight years in total. From the tenth year of Daye to the bingshen year, the tenth year of Zhenguan, is twenty-two years; combined with the preceding, it is one thousand five hundred and ninety years.