經律異相卷第一
Scroll of Differentiated Appearances in Sutras and Vinaya, Volume 1
梁沙門僧旻寶唱等集
Collection by the Liang Monks Sengmin and Baochang
序
Preface
如來應跡投緣。隨機闡教。兼被龍鬼。匪直天人。化啟憍陳。道終須跋。文積巨萬簡累大千。自西徂東固難得而究也。若乃劉向校書。玄言久蘊。漢明感夢。靈證彌彰。自茲厥後傳譯相繼。三藏奧典雖已略周。九部雜言通未區集。
The Tathāgata appeared in the world in response to conditions, teaching beings according to their capacities. His guidance reached not only humans and celestial beings but also dragons and spirits. His teaching began with Kāśyapa and continued until Subhadra. The scriptures accumulated in vast numbers, filling countless scrolls and bundles. Coming from the West to the East, they were indeed difficult to fully comprehend. When Liu Xiang collated the ancient texts, the profound teachings had long been preserved. Emperor Ming of Han dreamed of a golden figure, confirming the miraculous truth beyond doubt. From that time onward, translation and transmission continued uninterrupted. Although the core teachings of the Tripitaka were largely covered, the various discourses and miscellaneous teachings had yet to be systematically collected.
皇帝同契等覺比德遍知。大弘經教並利法俗。廣延博古旁採遺文。於是散偈流章往往而出。今之所獲蓋亦多矣。
The emperor, possessing wisdom equal to that of the highest awakening and virtue that comprehends all, widely propagated the scriptures and benefited both monastics and laypeople. He extensively recruited scholars of ancient texts and gathered scattered literary works. As a result, verses and chapters emerged one after another. What we have now obtained is already quite substantial.
聖旨以為。象正浸末信樂彌衰。文句浩漫鮮能該洽。以天監七年。
勅釋僧旻等。備鈔眾典。顯證深文控會神宗。辭略意曉。於鑽求者已有太半之益。但希有異相猶散眾篇。難聞祕說未加標顯。又以十五年末。
I have instructed the monks Sengmin and others to diligently compile the essential teachings from various scriptures. They have clearly demonstrated profound truths, grasped the core of the spiritual tradition, and expressed them concisely while making their meaning easily understood. For those who seek to delve deep, this has already provided more than half the benefit.
Yet, the rare and extraordinary signs are still scattered across different texts. The subtle and secret teachings, so difficult to encounter, have not yet been highlighted or made prominent. Therefore, at the end of the fifteenth year,
勅寶唱鈔經律要事。皆使以類相從。令覽者易了。又
勅新安寺釋僧豪。興皇寺釋法生等。相助檢讀。於是博綜經籍擇採祕要。上詢神慮取則成規。凡為五十卷。又目錄五卷。分為五秩。名為經律異相。將來學者。可不勞而博矣。