集沙門不應拜俗等事 3.10

3.10

Imperial decree: The duties toward ruler and parents hold weight among the threefold teachings; the path of love and respect comes first among the hundred practices. Yet although the two gateways of Śākya and Lao transcend the ordinary realm in principle, their traces of reverence and filial piety correspond in practice with the Confucian ford. However, at the station of supreme honor, the etiquette of kneeling and prostrating has not been performed; following this precedent has lasted long, right down to the present day. The Song dynasty temporarily reformed this custom, but after a short while returned to following the old norms. We embody the heavenly constants to propagate filial piety; We rely on earthly propriety to proclaim rites. Encouraged by the Teaching of Names, this extends to both the absolute and the secular, so that the foundation of the Village of Lai may be accomplished, and the heaven-fashioned transformation of the joined rivers may be realized; the reason for entrusting the ruling monarchs to make decisions and regulations surely lies here. Now We wish to order Daoist priests, Daoist priestesses, monks, and nuns to pay reverence by bowing to the ruler, the empress, the crown prince, and their own parents. Fearing perhaps that this might violate their constant sentiments, let this be remitted to the competent officials for detailed deliberation and submitted in a memorial to the throne.