代宗朝贈司空大辨正廣智三藏和上表制集 2.79

2.79

The sacred traces of Mañjuśrī have been revered since antiquity. Now encountering Your Majesty, who has specially expanded and repaired them, splendidly constructing saṅghārāmas with repeated gracious commands, this will cause the hundreds of spirits secretly to assist and the myriad sages to take refuge. The establishment and flourishing of sacred traces is grandest here. Since the places are already solemn and pure, the people should be so as well. Since the times of difficulty, the assembly of monks has gradually diminished; some, having walked about converting beings, have subsequently settled in the mundane world, while others in aranyas have followed circumstances and dwelt all about in other places. Consequently, the recitations of repentance and the bell and chanting during the hours have gradually lapsed, and under the trees, spiderwebs intersect darkly over the meditation niches. The field of merit is not yet broad, falling short of the sage's heart. I prostrately beg Heavenly Grace to allow the practitioners and postulants previously on the mountain who have long practiced austerities to be ordained, fourteen persons for each temple, and to draw seven monks of good conduct from various prefectures, so that each temple will together reach twenty-one persons to practice the Way for the state, with replacements when vacancies occur. At the five temples such as Jinge Temple, let them constantly turn the Benevolent Kings State-Protecting Sūtra and the Ghanavyūha Sūtra. Furthermore, the name of Wumozi Temple is rather unsuitable; I hope it may be changed to Dali Fahua Temple, to turn the Lotus Sūtra constantly for the state, exempt from corvée levies in the same manner as the five temples. As for those to be ordained, I hope General Zong Fengchao of Yunjing and Palace Commissioner Wei Mingxiu, together with Śramaṇa Hanguang who oversees the meritorious work, may be entrusted to select them, so that there will be no illicit abuses. Furthermore, the pavilion built for the Great Sage Mañjuśrī at Qingliang Temple is now complete; I prostrately hope for Heavenly Grace to bestow an inscribed plaque in calligraphy to illuminate future generations eternally.