大唐貞元續開元釋教錄 2.6.5

2.6.5

Chongrui and others. An official communication from the Academy for Jointly Authorizing the Vinaya Commentaries by Imperial Order at Da'anguo Temple stated: Received a memorial from the altar-attending Bhadanta Chongrui and others, stating: “On the twenty-eighth day of the first month, the palace commissioner Li Xiancheng proclaimed an imperial decree ordering that as soon as the bodhimaṇḍa ended, we should proceed to Da'anguo Temple. Of the fourteen compilers, thirteen, including Chongrui and others, arrived on that very day; only the Bhadanta Dansui of Tianzhang Temple has not come to this day. Nothing has been compiled, and the days and months are dragging on. Although we already reported this in a memorial earlier, he has still not assembled. Fearing that our superiors and inferiors may place blame on the cause of this delay, [we subsequently] received a report from Dansui stating that he had suddenly fallen ill with chest pain. As Vinaya Master Dansui is ill, let the thirteen Bhadantas, including Vinaya Master Chongrui, who have currently arrived, carry out the compilation and joint authorization in accordance with the decree and then submit it.” Hence this communication. Dispatched on the twenty-second day of the second month of the fourteenth year of Dali.
Administrative Assistant, former Vice-Prefect of Shouzhou, Liu She; Commissioner, Grand General of the Militant Guards and Acting General of the Right Dragon-Martial Army, Liu Chongxun.
At that time, the Bhadantas, having first received the heavenly favor and further received the commissioner's official communication, single-mindedly and profoundly investigated the vinaya texts. Twice each day they burned incense and twice went up to compile [the text]. Where the new chapter had reason, its doctrine was based on the new chapter; where the old commentary was more reasonable, its doctrine followed the old commentary. Where both commentaries had evidence, both interpretations were preserved; where neither commentary had support, they relied separately on the sūtras and vinaya texts. Delving deeply and meditating profoundly, they broadly examined the vinaya, months passing and days going by without leisure to rest.
On the sixteenth day of the fifth month, the imperial person was unwell, and a decree was issued for one hundred temples in the capital to begin lectures. By the twenty-first day, the compilation of the commentary was nearly halfway complete. The Baoying Yuansheng Wenwu Emperor suddenly abandoned the myriad realms; monastic and lay wept and wailed, silencing the eight musical instruments as though mourning their own deceased parents. On the twenty-third day, the Crown Prince reverently received the testamentary decree and ascended the precious throne. On the twenty-fourth day, an imperial decree told Chongxun: “The hundred lecture-seats and various meritorious deeds instituted by the late sage should all continue to be inspected and administered as before.”
On the twenty-fifth day of the intercalary fifth month, Liu Chongxun, Commissioner for Administering Meritorious Deeds at the Temples and Abbeys of the Capital, submitted a memorial requesting to abolish the post of Commissioner for Meritorious Deeds of the Capital. The Emperor reviewed the memorial and considered it utmost impartial. Soon after, he issued an imperial ink decree saying: “You guard the Forbidden Army, holding a heavy responsibility as claws and teeth, working diligently day and night, your post being to patrol. The practice of the Buddhist teachings is entirely different from military affairs. Temples and abbeys throughout the realm are subordinate to the departments and bureaus of the Ministry [of Rites], and next to the prefectures and counties. It is not appropriate to create a separate commissioner title for overseeing them. Reviewing what you have submitted, We consider it of the utmost impartiality. What you have requested concerning the abolition of the Commissioner for Meritorious Deeds of the Capital is approved, and all subordinate offices under this commission shall be discontinued accordingly.” On that day it was proclaimed to the relevant bureau: “Imperial decree: the internal and external Commissioners for Meritorious Deeds shall both be abolished.”
From this time on, monks and nuns were all placed under the Bureau of Sacrifices, and the matter of jointly authorizing the vinaya commentary was likewise returned to it; the bureau urged them on, waiting to submit a memorial.
On the first day of the first month of the fifteenth year of Dali, the gengshen year, the honorific title of Holy, Divine, Civil, and Martial Emperor was conferred upon the present sovereign, and the era was changed to the first year of Jianzhong. On the sixteenth day, jimao, of the fifth month, the draft was completed. Reaching the first day, jiawu, of the sixth month, they began the initial collation with the Bhadantas. On the fifteenth day, wushen, the śramaṇa Yuanzhao was ordered to begin transcribing the presentation copy according to the newly fixed character standards of the Dali era from the Directorate of the National University: twenty-four lines per sheet, twenty-five characters per line. On the twenty-eighth day, gengyin, of the seventh month, the first month beginning with guihai, the initial proofreading of the draft was finished. On the third day, guisi, of the tenth month, the month beginning with xinmao, the transcription of the presentation copy was completed, divided into ten fascicles, using 566 sheets of paper, totaling 330,104 words. Further, on the seventh day, dingmao, of the eleventh month, the month beginning with xinyou, they again began repeatedly finalizing the text with the Bhadantas, checking and collating the draft, the presentation copy, and the duplicate copy against one another; on the twenty-seventh day, the joint authorization was concluded. On the twelfth day of the twelfth month, the month beginning with xinmao, it was submitted with a report to the Bureau of Sacrifices.
“The Academy for Jointly Authorizing the Vinaya Commentaries by Imperial Order at Da'anguo Temple requests to present ten fascicles of the newly and jointly authorized commentary on the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya:
The above: Rujing and others respectfully received the decree of the twenty-seventh day of the eleventh month of the thirteenth year of Dali, ordering that the old and new commentaries on the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya be jointly authorized into a single version for circulation. Yet Rujing and the others have no merits to boast of, being ordinary talents of the run of the mill. We were undeservedly chosen by the late court to take part in the revision. Holding our brushes and thinking deeply, we checked every passage thrice, turning day into night and letting months succeed hours. Beginning on the twenty-second day of the second month of last year and completing the work on the sixteenth day of the fifth month of the current first year of Jianzhong, we repeatedly collated and transcribed it with the Bhadantas until it was done. Relying on the two previous commentaries, which were divided into old and new, we have now merged them into a single tradition. Tracing their key linkages, we have compiled it into 566 sheets, divided into ten fascicles: above, to fulfill Daizong's decree for unifying the texts; in the middle, to uphold the vinaya piṭaka's principle of extinguishing disputes; below, to yield the twofold benefit for future students. We truly hope it will serve as an enduring model. We respectfully append the original imperial decree and report as above, requesting that it be memorialized to the throne, humbly awaiting the imperial will.”
On that day, Supernumerary Bureau Director Fang You decided: “Send forward a memorial detailing the purports of the old and new commentaries.”
On the thirteenth day of the first month of the second year of Jianzhong, a memorial was submitted to the Bureau of Sacrifices: “The Academy for Jointly Authorizing the Vinaya Commentaries by Imperial Order at Da'anguo Temple requests to present ten fascicles of the newly and jointly authorized commentary on the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya (one set consisting of 566 sheets).
An Exegesis of the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya, one set in sixty fascicles.
The above: in obedience to the imperial decree, we submit this memorial detailing the purports of the old and new commentaries. We humbly submit: the maintenance and protection of the Buddhist teachings depends upon the vinaya rules. As the root text is difficult to understand, its meaning must be explained by commentaries. Now, after deliberation among Rujing, Huiche, and others, where the old commentary was more reasonable, its doctrine followed the old commentary; where the new chapter had reason, its doctrine was based on the new chapter; where both commentaries had text, both interpretations were preserved. We respectfully submit this memorial, humbly requesting imperial disposition.”
At that time, the Bureau of Sacrifices submitted a memorial, and an imperial edict was issued for its circulation.
Newly Authorized Commentary on the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya, ten fascicles.
The above: The Bureau of Sacrifices memorialized: “We have received a report from the monks Rujing and others of Anguo Temple, stating: ‘On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month of the thirteenth year of Dali, the Palace Attendant Li Xiancheng orally proclaimed an imperial decree ordering that the aforementioned vinaya commentary be jointly authorized at the vinaya academy of the said temple. Now that the compilation and authorization are completed, we request that it be memorialized to the throne.’ We humbly submit: The Buddhist teachings are subtle and profound, and their expressions are rarely plumbed to the end. The two versions of the old commentaries already consist of copious texts, and what has now been compiled has also followed and adopted them. Since it was compiled in accordance with an imperial decree, there must be instructions. We humbly request that both be allowed to circulate side by side, leaving it to the preference of scholars.”
The imperial decree: “It shall be referred to the relevant bureau.”
On the twenty-second day of the second month of the second year of Jianzhong, Grand Commandant, concurrently Secretariat Director, Imperial Father, Prince of Fenyang Commandery, Acting Secretariat Vice Director, and Equalizer of Matters with the Secretariat-Chancellery, Minister Yang Yan proclaimed; Grand Master of the Silver-Green Karuṇā-Splendor, Acting Secretariat Drafter, concurrently Vice Minister of Rites, Compiler of the Institute of Historiography, and Pillar of State, Minister Yu Shao executed.