續貞元釋教錄 1.24

1.24

Your subject [Hengan] states: Some time ago, carrying scriptures from afar, I returned to the Divine Capital. Soon afterwards, I received the Imperial Grace, allowing their circulation and compilation into the catalogue, which truly augmented my joyful gratitude, not daring to obscure my sincere sentiments. Your subject is truly joyful, truly fearful, bowing his head and prostrating repeatedly. Humbly I reflect: Your Majesty the Emperor reigns over the Four Seas, your benevolence extending over myriad lands; moving in accord with the virtue of earth to meet the times, you mount the golden wheel to guide the world. Only that I, your subject, am fortunate to meet this flourishing era; having received extraordinary favor, there is nothing to compare with it. Now, heedless of the narrowness of my limited view, I have taken the newly translated Mahāyāna and Hīnayāna sūtras, vinayas, and treatises of the Zhenyuan canon that I retrieved, as well as the additionally calculated Da foming jing, Qianbo jing, and others—altogether one hundred and thirty-eight works, amounting to three hundred and seventy-two fascicles—with their sequence of works and cases, as well as the Xin Huayan jing lun and other works previously compiled into the canon, and compiled them into the Continued Zhenyuan Catalogue of Newly Translated Buddhist Teachings in the Yisi Year of the Baoda Era of the Great Tang in one fascicle, totaling seventeen sheets. Deeply concerned that as eras grow distant [these records might be lost], I fortunately made this record. I humbly beg that Your Majesty the Emperor, in your sage compassion, grant approval to order that they be compiled into the sequence of cases of the Zhenyuan canon scriptures and other works that I have brought, incorporated into the count, transcribed, and circulated, so as to aid the state. This one fascicle of the new catalogue of scriptures is respectfully submitted along with this memorial, humbly requesting your perusal. Offending the imperial presence, I cannot bear my utmost trembling and sweating. Respectfully I present this memorial to report, humbly awaiting the imperial decree. Your subject [Hengan], truly fearful, truly terrified, bowing his head and prostrating repeatedly, respectfully speaks.