貞元新定釋教目錄 1.2

1.2

I respectfully examine the old catalogue, which states: "The emergence of catalogues is indeed to distinguish the authentic from the spurious and clarify the correct and the incorrect, to record the antiquity and modernity of human eras, and to indicate the size and number of fascicles and sections. They collect omissions, excise redundancies, and seek to bring the orthodox teachings into accord with reason and give coherence to the golden words, raising up the main guidelines and essentials so that they may be viewed with complete clarity. However, because the Dharma-gates are profound and subtle and the net of transformation is vast, as translations and transmissions have succeeded one another over passing years, texts have repeatedly been scattered and lost, and scrolls have become uneven. Moreover, unconventional individuals have at times added spurious and fraudulent works, leading to confusion and difficulty in tracing origins. Therefore, ancient worthies and Confucian sages formulated these listed records; today, barely six or seven schools [of these catalogues] survive. Yet they still have not reached the very source, and many omissions and defects remain. I, [Zhi]sheng, despite my mediocrity and shallowness, have long engaged in examining and searching them out, checking similarities and differences, setting forth merits and demerits, and completing this work, hoping to avoid discrepancies. I hope that wise masters will deign to examine it thoroughly together." Now observing what this former worthy composed, it surpassed all eminent scholars. Prostrating myself, I note that since the gengwu year [730], seventy years have elapsed. Tripiṭaka masters have succeeded one another down to the present through four reigns. The sagely Emperor, respectful and bright, has ordered successive translations; more than one hundred sections of sūtras and vinayas are especially clear. Repeatedly he has bestowed his