大唐內典錄 3.20

3.20

Preface: Juqu Mengxun was a Hu tribesman of Lushui in Linxong. For generations his clan served as the Left Grand [Commander] of the Northern Xiongnu; 'Juqu' was an official title taken as a surname. Relying upon the foundations of the Former Liang, he transformed the dynastic enterprise. In the fifth year of Long'an under Emperor An of the Jin, the xinchou year, he styled his state Northern Liang and changed the reign title to Chengqian. In the twelfth year, from Guzang, he changed the reign title to Xuanshi. He encountered the Dharma Master Dharmakṣema, who translated great works and broadly fanned the Buddha's teachings; this was at the beginning of the reign of Emperor Wu of the Song. At first, Mengxun revered and esteemed Dharmakṣema beyond compare. When the Northern Wei heard of Dharmakṣema's religious arts and was about to invite him east for an audience, Mengxun feared that Dharmakṣema might devise strategies for the Wei or turn west to plot against him, and stubbornly refused to permit it. Dharmakṣema, knowing Mengxun's intentions, took leave to head west in search of scriptures; moreover, knowing that his karmic span was near its end, he pretended to make preparations for the journey, burdening himself to conclude his life's affairs. When he indeed departed, Mengxun in anger sent assassins to murder Dharmakṣema along the road. The ancients had a proverb: 'When men of knowledge meet, if not auspicious, it brings disaster.' These words are worthy of record! Afterwards, Mengxun's conduct turned cruel, and his own heart felt guilt over this deed; in broad daylight he saw a ghost pierce him with a sword, and he thereupon expired. Two rulers over forty-three years, before being destroyed by the Wei. In all, there were nine translators, both monastics and householders, who produced thirty-two works in 266 fascicles, which, along with the scriptures of lost translators, constitute the catalogue of the Northern Liang.