辯偽錄 5.6

5.6

In the imperial decree of the Emperor: The Central Secretariat recently received an accusation from the Daoist Master Wang Zhizhen and others of Changchun Temple, alleging that Buddhist Controller Yuan of Fengfu Monastery ordered the young monk Ma Jie to commit arson, burning down the granaries and chambers of said temple along with over 3,900 shi of grain, as well as oil, flour, salt, and meal. When the case was properly interrogated, it turned out originally that Superintendent Gan instructed Ma Jie to falsely point to Buddhist Controller Yuan as having ordered the arson; that Wang Zhizhen sent the Daoist acolyte Ping to seize Ma Jie as the arsonist; and that, fraudulently using the name of the Temple Administrator, Ping the Daoist acolyte instigated and coached the words of the accusers. It was also found under interrogation that the grain originally reported had not in fact been burned; they merely used this pretext to demand offerings of money and goods from various people. Each of them signed a confession of guilt. On the twenty-second day of the sixth month, Assistant Bureau Director Boro, Manager of Governmental Affairs Zhang, Right Vice Chancellor Zhang, Minister Jiao, Assistant Administrator Geng, Toyin-tori, Minister Ali, and other officials reverently received the imperial decree which stated: 'When Daoist masters and Buddhist monks contested monasteries, around five hundred Daoist masters gathered, holding staves and beating the monks. They have acted lawlessly outside their own teachings. Where is there any such precedent? Previously, in the territory of Jingzhao Prefecture, people gathered at the hermitage of Patriarch Wang with malicious intent. Now these Daoist masters have once again acted lawlessly in such a manner. These Daoist masters have confessed plainly. Let the two who were their leaders be executed. For the others, let their ears and noses be cut off; for others, let them be beaten; and let the rest be conscripted into the army. Thus let it be adjudicated.' Respect this. Aside from this, the list of persons already sentenced is set forth below, and the severed head of Superintendent Gan Zhiquan shall be hung perpetually on a pole at the front gate of said temple. It is fitting that an engraved stele be erected to make this known to all. Executed according to the penal code, two persons: Superintendent Gan Zhiquan, who instructed the false accusation of Buddhist Controller Yuan for arson; and Temple Administrator Wang Zhizhen, who falsely seized Ma Jie as the arsonist. Ears and noses cut off, one person: Superintendent Cai Zhixiang, who embellished and fabricated details of the accusation. Exiled to the distant frontiers, six persons: Yin Hetong and Chen Daoguang, who assembled the crowd to commit violence; Wang Zhiyu and Chen Zhiyong, who lodged the false accusation first at Shangdu; Lan Deyi, who drafted the accusation; and Li Dezhen, who falsely reported the burned grain. Sentenced and released, three persons: Superintendent Cai Zhixi, who dispatched Wang Zhizhen to lodge the accusation; and Associate Administrators Zhou Daoxuan and Jia Zhirou, co-accusers.