鐔津文集 16.4

16.4

Master Han wrote in his biographical account (xingzhuang) for Ma Hui, the late Prefect of Jiangzhou: 'When the Grand Preceptor passed away, [Ma Hui] pricked his arm for blood to write more than a thousand words of Buddhist sutras, hoping thereby to repay [his father's] virtue.' He also said: 'His conduct during mourning surpassed that of other men.' He further said: 'Since Yu has long been acquainted with the family through generations and has heard in detail of their ancestral lineage and deeds, following the request of the Director of the Palace Administration (Shaofu), I have selected the major points to compile this biographical account, entrusting it to noble gentlemen who establish teachings in words, in order to seek his immortality.' Ma Hui was the eldest son of the Prince of Beiping Commandery and Grand Preceptor, Ma Sui. 'When the Grand Preceptor passed away' refers to his being in mourning for his father. Pricking his arm to draw blood to write Buddhist sutras was something that Master Han ought to have refuted, yet instead he praised it. Was Master Han perhaps just beginning to recognize and understand Buddhist sutras? The virtue of parents is vast as the boundless heavens; who indeed could ever repay it? Now he said, 'hoping thereby to repay [his father's] virtue'—did Master Han thereby know that the Dharma of the Buddha reaches [the ultimate]? Saying, 'His conduct during mourning surpassed that of other men' was also exalting his ability to practice the deeds of the Buddha. In saying, 'I have selected the major points to compile this biographical account, entrusting it to noble gentlemen who establish teachings in words, in order to seek his immortality,' did Master Han also wish that all people be encouraged to devote themselves to the Buddha? When I examine the time Master Han composed this biographical account, he was already thirty-four or thirty-five years of age; having taken his place at court, he had recently served as Erudite (boshi) and Censor (yushi). Master Han himself claimed that he had always read books and composed writings, and that the teachings of Yang, Mo, Śākya, and Lao had never entered his mind. Yet at this point he praised Hui for doing things of the Buddhists. Could it be that once Master Han reached prime adulthood, his spirit and vitality grew bright and flourishing, he first perceived truth, and thereupon realized that what the Buddha expounded is supreme? Later, although he slightly disputed Buddhism (as in the affair of disputing the Buddha's bone), was he outwardly devoting himself solely to Confucianism to safeguard his reputation, while inwardly in the end silently venerating its marvelous Dao? If not, why did he, straight through to old age, remain on such attentive and intimate terms with Dadian on account of the Dao? The Buddha is indeed the greatest of men; how could he be disparaged? Disparaging him merely suffices to diminish oneself—what harm could it do to the Buddha? Even so, in his *Yuandao*, he first rejected Buddhism—how excessively harsh! Yet in his biographical account, he promoted Buddhism—how single-minded! Master Han certainly was not constant in his virtue. (Note: In Master Han's *Jinxue jie*, it is said that he overtly denounced Buddhism and Daoism; hence, his writing of *Yuandao* was the earliest.)