辯正論 3.18

3.18

Receiving the precious mandate to rule as sovereign, he met the auspicious era to guide the flock. He stood eight feet tall, with a beard three feet long, whorled hair covering his ears, and hands hanging past his knees. With the power of his great vow, he brought peace and salvation to the multitude of beings; through great adornment, he quelled many hardships. Always mindful of his hometown of Pei, he longed to repay the debt to his native soil; he wished to let the capital of Qiao share in this joyful celebration. In the second year of Yongding [558 CE], he constructed Dong'an Monastery in Yangzhou. Again on behalf of the realm and the living beings, he built four monasteries, including Xinghuang and Tianju, within the capital of Yangdu. All had embroidered brackets, carved pillars, patterned beams, and whitewashed walls. The three tiers were dignified and winding; the thousand pillars were dazzling and exquisite. Tall pillars stood along the thoroughfares, and high gates overlooked the imperial avenues. The Ghoshila vihāra could hardly rival them, nor could the shrines of supreme virtue be compared. He had twelve complete sets of the Buddhist canon copied, made one million gold and bronze life-sized statues, ordained seven thousand monks and nuns, and restored thirty-two ancient monasteries.