集沙門不應拜俗等事 1.5

1.5

皇帝乘雷震極鑠電離宮。驅九駁以曾馳。駕八翼而橫厲。希風崛岫。啟鶴苑於神畿。仰化連河。構蜂臺於勝壤。敷攝誘之徽範。敦愛敬之洪謨而以控國必俟於忠。裝家寔資於孝。爰命僧尼之輩。將申跪拜之儀。則裕凝懷。誶通規於會府。因心在。念拾輿頌於英寮。雖囂議相攻各言其志。而宸襟歷選遂率於常。特懷顧復之恩。仍致昇堂之拜。悰上人沖宇淹穆秀器韶雅。逈韻遒通峻調閑綽。身城浪謐。飛寶刃以衝天。意樹紛披。聳珍翹而拂漢。既洽九儒之要。還探二藏之微。緇徒擅其姱節。素侶挹其徽望。固以偶迹乘杯侔聲飛錫者矣。將恐迷生曲學近識孤聞。以適俗之權。為會真之實。叫鳳閽而莫遂。叩鸞掖而無從。爰興護念之心。載啟發揮之作。粵自晉氏迄于聖代。凡其議拜事。並集而錄之。總合三篇。分成六卷。為之贊論。格以通途。縟旨含鏘雕文振彩。信所以激昂幽致刷盪冥津者也。隱客業寡才疎。名蕪槩淺。坐烟郊而晦迹。泊風戶以棲神。徒以早尚花編深崇葉篆。欣茲盛事綴而序之。秋䗲輕光。匪助奔羲之曜。春蛙陋響。寧裨大樂之音。聊以宣情。詎云摛藻。與我同志。幸無誚焉。

The Emperor, mounting thunder, shakes the celestial pole; flashing lightning, he blazes from the palace. Driving nine mottled coursers, he gallops afar; riding eight wings, he crosses the vast heavens. Cherishing the style of high crags, he established the Crane Park in the divine capital; looking up to conversion along the Heavenly River, he built the terrace in the sacred land. He widely manifests the fine patterns of guidance and gathers support, cultivating the grand model of love and reverence. Yet, holding that ruling the state must depend on loyalty, and managing the family truly relies on filial piety, an order was issued that monks and nuns should render the ceremony of kneeling and prostrating. The Emperor harbored a broad mind, inquiring into general norms through the administrative offices; from deep affection and concern, he collected public sentiment among the noble ministers. Although clamorous debates clashed as each expressed his views, the imperial heart examined them all and ultimately followed the customary ways. Especially mindful of the deep debt to parents, he still required the bowing upon ascending the ancestral hall. Master Yancong has an empty mind of tranquil serenity, an eminent capacity of graceful elegance; his distant tone is forceful and clear, his lofty register leisurely and free. The fortress of his body is quiet without waves; flying a precious blade, he reaches the sky. The tree of his mind spreads luxuriantly, lifting prized tips to brush the Milky Way. Having thoroughly mastered the essentials of the nine schools of literati, he went on to fathom the subtleties of the two canons. The monastic community admires his fine conduct; the lay companions look up to his illustrious prestige. Truly, he is one who walks alongside those floating on cups and matches those who fly with staffs! Fearing that confused beings with prejudiced learning and narrow-minded knowledge might take the expedient means of worldly adaptation as the ultimate truth of realizing reality, and wishing to appeal to the Phoenix Gate without success, or knock on the imperial palace without a way forward, he thereupon gave rise to a mind of protection and undertook this clarifying work. From the Jin dynasty down to our sacred era, all discussions concerning the matter of bowing were collected and recorded. Compiled into three sections, they are divided into six fascicles. He composed praises and treatises for them, standardizing them into an accessible path. The ornate doctrines resonate with splendor; the polished words shine with radiance. Truly, this serves to inspire profound insight and wash clean the dark ford! I, Yinke, have slight learning and meager talent; my fame is barren and my insight shallow. Sitting in the misty suburbs, I hide my traces; lodging by the windy door, I settle my spirit. Merely because I have long cherished the Buddhist texts and deeply revered the palm leaves, I rejoice in this splendid achievement, composing this preface for it. The faint glow of an autumn firefly cannot assist the radiance of the blazing sun; the humble sound of a spring frog can hardly supplement the music of the grand court orchestra. I offer this merely to express my sentiment—how could it be called exhibiting literary talent? To those who share my aspirations, I hope you will not mock me.