集沙門不應拜俗等事 1.17

1.17

He Chong, Minister of the Department of Affairs of State, Champion General, Army Pacifying General, and Marquis of Duxiang; He Sha, Cavalier Attendant Regular, Left Vice Director of the Department of Affairs of State, and Count of Changping; Zhuge Hui, Cavalier Attendant Regular, Right Vice Director of the Department of Affairs of State, and Count of Jian'an; Feng Huishou, Minister of State and Marquis of Guanzhong; Xie Guang, Minister of State and Viscount of Chang'an; and others state: The Ancestor of the Dynasty, Emperor Wu, received the mandate in flourishing brilliance; the Venerable Ancestor, Emperor Ming, possessed sagacious discernment and profound insight. Was it that in those times śramaṇas could not easily have been made to bend their knees? Rather, it was considered that by leaving it unchanged, their method of cultivating good would unite the wills under Heaven. We humbly consider that complying with and continuing the precedents of the former emperors is superior in principle.