| Chapter 1: | The Life and Times of Zanning |
|
|
This is a limited free preview of this book. Please buy full access.
“grand plans,”148 and establish a position of respect for the Buddha. How can anyone say he did not succeed in gaining its longevity, succeed in winning its status?
(13) In order to explain [his teachings], the Great Master wrote very many compositions, without incurring the slightest retribution (?).149 Those who see [what he has written] trust in it and are not able to easily dismiss it. I have collected the titles of his written works and provide them [here] as separate records (bielu). In total, he compiled one hundred and fifty-two fascicles on Buddhist canonical topics, and forty-nine fascicles on non-Buddhist studies. By reading his writings (wen), we know his teaching (dao). Based on evidence of the activities and affairs of these [Buddhist] “hereditary houses,”150 he prepared [information] and wrote about them, being instructed [to compile] the latest biographical [installment based on] the tomb inscriptions of eminent monks.151 The imperial court at present puts trust in his words.
Chinese Text of the 左街僧錄通惠大師文集序
(1) 「左街僧錄通惠大師文集序」
(2) 釋子謂佛書為內典，謂儒書為外學。工詩則眾，工文則鮮。並是四者，其惟大師。
(3) 大師世姓高氏，法名贊寧。其先渤海人，隋末徒居吳興郡之德清縣。祖琄考審，皆陰德不仕。
(4) 母周氏，以唐天祐十六年歲，在己卯某月某日，生大師於金鵡山別㙒。
(5) 時梁貞明七年也。武蕭王錢某專制江浙。後唐天成中出家。清泰初，入天台山受具足戒，習四分律，通南山律。
(6) 長興三年，武肅王薨，文穆王某嗣位。大師聲望日隆，文學益茂。時錢氏公族有若忠懿王某，宣德節度倛，奉國節度億，越州刺史儀，金州觀察使儼，工部侍郎昱，與大師以文義切磋。時浙中士大夫有若衛尉卿催仁驥，工部侍郎慎知禮，內侍致仕楊憚，與大師以詩什唱和。又得文格於光文大師彙征，授詩訣於前進士龔霖。由時大為流輩所服。時錢塘名僧有若契凝者通名數一支，謂之論虎。常從義者文章俊揵，謂之文虎。大師多毘尼著述，謂之律虎。故時稱三虎焉。