集沙門不應拜俗等事 2.39

2.39

During the Daming era, Emperor Wu of the Qi decreed that the monk Faxian of Upper Dinglin Temple and the monk Xuanchang of Changgan Temple screen and select the monks and nuns in Sanwu. At that time, both monks Chang and Xian had practiced the disciplinary rules from their youth and did not compete in worldly matters. Whenever they conversed with Emperor Wu, they always called themselves by their names and did not sit. Later, the monk Zhong of Zhongxing [Temple] had an audience with the Emperor in the Qianhe Hall. The Emperor asked: "Is Zhong well?" Zhong replied: "This poor daoren has recently suffered from qi illness." The Emperor was displeased by this. He then asked Wang Jian, the Minister of the Department of State Affairs: "When the śramaṇas of the northern regions converse with kings, what do they call themselves? And do they sit in the main hall?" Jian replied: "During the Han and Wei, the Buddha-Dharma was not yet widely flourishing, and no records or transmissions are seen. Ever since the illegitimate northern states grew somewhat prosperous, [monks there] have all called themselves 'poor daoren' and have also been granted seats. It was also like this at the beginning of the Jin. In the middle period, there were Yu Bing, Huan Xuan, and others who wished to make śramaṇas pay full homage, but the court debates were so contentious that the matter was abandoned each time. During the middle of the Song dynasty, they were also somewhat ordered to offer homage, but before long it was completely abandoned. From then until now, most have been granted seats and have called themselves 'poor daoren.'" The Emperor said: "Monks Chang and Xian had religious accomplishments such as theirs, yet they still called themselves by their names; how much more so should the rest? Making formal bows is too excessive, but calling oneself by name carries no objection." From that time on, śramaṇas all called themselves by their names before emperors and kings; this began with Chang and Xian.