大唐貞元續開元釋教錄 2.6.4

2.6.4

May your majestic authority spread afar, causing [all] to accord with the Vinaya school. With this slight sincerity, we offer support to the imperial throne. Unable to bear our utmost trepidation, we respectfully entrust the palace commissioner Li Xiancheng to present this memorial expressing our gratitude for your hearing. Śramaṇa Dansui and others respectfully speak with true dread and true fear.

Emperor Baoying Yuansheng Wenwu replied:
Masters, your virtue is manifest through your reliance on the scriptures, and your achievement surpasses self-enlightenment. Inheriting the profound intent of the Snow Palace (the Buddha), you serve as a vessel across the burning house. The Vinaya observances of the Four-Part [Vinaya] are the lock and key of the One Vehicle; they must return to a comprehensive synthesis, ending divergent schools forever. We have therefore ordered the officials in charge to supply funds and provisions; we await the completion of [this] work akin to Aśvaghoṣa's system. What you have thanked [us for] is noted.

On the same day, one hundred bhadantas of the Three Learnings among the Buddhist community of the capital presented a memorial of thanks, saying:
Śramaṇa Faluan, sthavira of Great Anguo Temple, and others of the Buddhist community of the capital state: Faluan has heard that when the four rivers enter the ocean, they retain no separate names; though the two commentaries are each presented, they must return to the one reality. We prostrate ourselves before Your Majesty, Emperor Baoying Yuansheng Wenwu: Your brilliance kindles the torch of the Dharma, and you broadly open the mystic portal. You have issued an extraordinary edict from the Ninefold Palaces, utilizing all resources so that the school of the Four-Part Vinaya's jewel of precepts may become harmonious without dispute. You have further ordered that the compilation take place at Great Anguo Temple. Humbly receiving the imperial grace, we were granted incense, tea, provisions, paper, and brushes to shed luster upon our Dharma companions. With divine favor bestowed from heaven, our gratitude knows no bounds. You have ordered that they be unified into a single commentary, cutting away redundancies; the mutual peril of the snipe and the clam is dispelled, leaving the fisherman empty-handed. Such is the sage will, pouring down like rain and gathering like clouds. Śākyan disciples numerous as the sands of the Ganges abandon the notion of self in the emptiness of phenomena; the thousand-petaled King of Flowers takes on new birth in the stamens of awakening. Unable to bear our utmost joy and celebration, we respectfully entrust the palace commissioner Li Xiancheng to present this memorial expressing our gratitude for your hearing. Śramaṇa Faluan respectfully speaks with true joy and true exuberance.

The rescript of Emperor Baoying Yuansheng Wenwu stated:
Masters, you are teachers of pure practice and leaders of the royal capital. Your path holds secret the true and profound; your achievements run deep in the Vinaya. The meanings of the Four-Part [Vinaya] commentary do not differ in their source; unified into a coherent text, they await weaving into compilation. The provisions from the authorities are truly the established rule. What you have thanked [us for] is noted.

At that time, when about to jointly determine [the text], the fourteen people who discussed and oversaw the tasks each recognized their assigned duties among the assembly's distribution:
Bhadanta Rujing of Great Jianfu Temple was responsible for editing, polishing, and joint determination.
Huiche of Baoshou Temple was co-editor, polisher, and joint determinator.
Yuanzhao of Ximing Temple was scribe, corrector of characters, and joint determinator.
Baoyi of Anguo Temple was scribe, compiler of text, and joint determinator.
Śramaṇa Chaoji was scribe, verifier of meaning, and joint determinator.
Chongrui of Jingzhu Temple, Daosui and Xingci of Ximing Temple, Dansui of Tianchang Temple, Chaozheng of Chongfu Temple, Shenlang and Zhizhao of Anguo Temple, Weigan of Qinglong Temple, and Xizhao of Zhangjing Temple were all verifiers of meaning and joint determinators.
Together they discussed the title: by imperial decree, it was designated *Fascicle of the Jointly Determined Commentary on the Four-Part Vinaya*; within the first fascicle, it was simply entitled *Commentary on the Four-Part Vinaya, Fascicle One*. The altar-presiding bhadantas of the capital established this as the title in obedience to the imperial decree.

On that day, the official of rank Yang Chongyi proclaimed the imperial words: "The three administrators of the two temples of Xingtang and Wenguo, together with the overseer monks of the Pure Land Chan cloister, shall adorn the place of practice and order fifty-four monks of religious practice to revolve the scriptures, practice repentance, and circumambulate during the six periods of the day, beginning from the first day of this month until they conclude on the first day of the second month of next year. Let the relevant office properly supply all matters above, such as their vegetarian provisions, incense, lamp oil, tea, and medicine. May each be pure and sincere. Inquire if the masters are faring well."

On the same day, the Office of the Right Yintai Gate and Zhao Xiari proclaimed an official document conveying the imperial words: "The Bureau of the Imperial Kitchen requested vegetarian meals, fruit platters, porridge rice, and raw ingredients for sixty-four people, all furnished from its own resources. Let them immediately confer with Master Daji to supply and deliver them to the Pure Land Cloisters of the two temples of Xingtang and Wenguo, according to each on a daily basis, constantly supplied from the second day of this month until they cease on the second day of the second month of next year. Respectfully dispatched."

On this day, the fourteen bhadantas who jointly determined the commentary on the Four-Part Vinaya, by imperial order, divided to attend the places of practice at the two temples to revolve scriptures and circumambulate on behalf of the state.

On the fifth day of that month, the official of rank Yang Chongyi proclaimed the imperial words: "Are Overseer Bhadanta Feixi, Bhadanta Dansui in special charge of recitation, and the others of Wenguo Temple faring well? You have toiled in overseeing. You should increase your sincerity in chanting and circumambulating, universally for the sake of all living beings."

On the twenty-fifth day of the first month of the fourteenth year, the official of rank Yang Chongyi again proclaimed the imperial words: "Are Overseer Altar-Presiding Bhadantas Dansui, Feixi, and others of Wenguo Temple faring well? You have toiled in overseeing. As for the place of practice where scriptures are revolved and Vinaya Master Zhencao chants the scriptures, it is fitting to extend it until the tenth day of the second month, when it will conclude with the provision of a vegetarian banquet."

On the twenty-eighth day, the palace commissioner and Palace Attendant Li Xiancheng proclaimed the imperial words: "To the altar-presiding bhadantas of the Four-Part Vinaya at the recitation place of practice at Wenguo Temple: In the three learnings of the Buddhist tradition, the mind-seal is transmitted to attain unexcelled bodhi, and the learning of the precepts serves as the foundation. When the place of practice concludes, you should immediately proceed to Great Anguo Temple to compile the commentary. After its completion, it shall circulate throughout the Ten Circuits."

On the eighth day of the second month, the official of rank Yang Chongyi proclaimed the imperial words: "To Overseer Bhadantas Dansui, Feixi, and others of the place of practice at Great Wenguo Temple: This place of practice should conclude on the tenth day. A vegetarian feast for one thousand monks shall be provided." When it concluded on the tenth day, the imperial commissioner distributed incense, and each of the fifty-four bhadantas was presented with three bolts of silk as a donation.

After the place of practice was completed and the celebratory feast came to an end, the bhadantas rejoiced together and submitted a memorial of gratitude, stating: "Śramaṇa Feixi and others say: Feixi has heard that the Golden Wheel ascends to transform humanity through the ten good deeds, and the Great Sage applies his mind to hold all living beings in thought. We humbly reflect that Your Majesty has deeply penetrated the subtle and profound; your bright virtue alone is fragrant. You proclaim edicts in the Jetavana and summon dragons and elephants to Wenguo. According to the number fifty-four, tens of millions of verses of scripture were revolved; prostrations were performed in the golden halls, and pure vegetarian meals were held in the jade chambers. Either ascending the seat to chant texts of sweet dew, or circumambulating with steps resembling lotus blossoms. Chan Master Daji personally attended each Dharma assembly, reverently holding the censer. We monks have bathed in the sage transformation and respond to the imperial grace. We have further received heavenly compassion shedding luster on our Dharma companions: imperial incense and jade silks are arrayed in abundance in the Brahma palace, and precious foods and money fall down like snow upon the Pure Land. Unable to bear our extraordinary gratitude, we respectfully entrust the palace commissioner Yang Chongyi to present this memorial expressing our gratitude for your hearing. Śramaṇa Feixi and others respectfully speak with true joy and true celebration."

Emperor Baoying Yuansheng Wenwu replied:
Masters, you have entrusted your steps to the black-robed sangha and cultivated the wonderful teaching. The vegetarian donations bestowed are meant to broaden superior causes. What you have thanked [us for] is noted.

On that day, the bhadantas who jointly determined the commentary on the Four-Part Vinaya, having received the imperial order, assembled at Anguo [Temple] after the vegetarian meal. Only Bhadanta Dansui of the place of practice violated the deadline and failed to arrive. The list of attending bhadantas was submitted to the commissioner's office. On the twenty-second day, the commissioner overseeing merit-making in all temples and monasteries of the capital issued an official notice to the Vinaya bhadantas: