大宋僧史略 1.12

1.12

按佛生日。多說不同。一則應現非常。遇緣即化。故有見聞不同也。一則西域來僧。生處有都城村落。傳事有部類宗計。故各說不同也。一則西域朴略。罕能紀錄庶事。寬慢不尚繁細。故流傳不同也。今且據東土傳記及經律所明。而有多說。

Regarding the Buddha's birthday, various accounts differ. First, his manifestations and appearances were extraordinary, teaching according to whatever conditions he met, hence what was seen and heard differed. Second, among the monks who came from the Western Regions, their birthplaces included cities and villages, and their transmitted matters belonged to different lineages and doctrines, hence their accounts differed. Third, the Western Regions were simple and rustic, rarely keeping records of ordinary events, being relaxed and not prizing detail, hence the transmissions differed. Now, relying on eastern records as well as what is clarified in the scriptures and vinaya, there are various accounts.