集沙門不應拜俗等事 2.35

2.35

Shi Yancong states: The 'Biographies of Emperor Xiaowu' records: 'During the two or three years after the Emperor ascended the throne, he gave free rein to his desires; he rejected admonitions enough to ruin his virtue, causing the realm to lose hope. He possessed the talent and intelligence of Shizu (Emperor Wen), but lacked the thoughtful discipline to restrain himself with ritual standards. If he had possessed the frugality of Emperor Wu and pursued the clemency of Taizu, then how would Emperors Wen and Jing of the Han even be worth mentioning?' From the sixth year of Daming to the first year of Jingming, for a total of four years, he ordered [monks] to bow to the ruler of the state, yet the saṃgha ultimately never practiced it. Is it not because defying heavenly norms naturally rendered the imperial decrees completely futile?