一切經音義 51.12

51.12

"Conceals a hare is not the moon" (Fanqie: 通 + 路 [tù]. The correct cause and correct action have already been fully explained before according to Buddhist teachings. Now, teachings of Confucian texts are cited to enlighten those who have not heard them. Wang Chong's Lunheng states: 'Confucian scholars all say that within the sun there is a three-legged crow; the sun is the essence of yang and fire. Within the moon there is a white hare and a toad; the moon is the essence of yin and water. How could a crow dwell in fire without being scorched, and a hare reside in water without drowning? This is contradictory and unreasonable.' Li Chunfeng's commentary on the Jisheng fu cites the Baopuzi: 'Those who attain the Way now and persons of wondrous arts can also enter fire without being burned and enter water without getting wet; yet both belong to human kind, and their differences are like this. How could this Master Wang know that the crow in the sun and the toad and hare in the moon are not like the sorcerers among humans who can enter water and fire, differing from ordinary crows and common hares?' It also says: 'Karmic retribution resides above the starry heavens and within the sun and moon. Although their forms are similar, they must be of the spirit-like class, which cannot be measured by human principles and worldly sentiments.' The Shuowen jiezi says: 'Hare is the name of a beast. It resembles [the animal] crouching, and the dot at the end resembles its tail. The head of a hare is the same as that of an elephant, hence it derives from the abbreviated 㲋.')