請勑額奏文
Memorial Requesting Imperial Bestowal of Temple Plaque
明州傳教院(臣)僧延德右㠯輙具丹誠上干 天聽退量踰僣頓抱憂惶切念(臣)師授和尚傳天台教僧義通所住當院是開寶元年得福州前轉運使顧承微經淮海大王申請入院住持為國長講天台教聽徒六十餘眾院宇一百來閒統眾安居二時供應雖蓮臺登陟宣揚久贊於皇風且華社莊嚴輝煥未霑於勑額恭惟 皇帝陛下應天撫運執禮臨朝萬邦而盡被無私四海而咸歌有道(臣)叨逢聖代幸預真徒是敢遠詣明廷仰祈寵錫伏乞俯迴督造特降勑命指揮賜(臣)當院真額圖記所冀天恩顯授梵剎遐傳俾光佛法之門永贊成平之化干犯宸聽(臣)無任瞻天荷聖激切屏營之至謹進狀奏聞伏聽聖旨。
Respectfully submitted by the monk Yande of the Mingzhou Transmission Institute(Your servant):
Having prepared this sincere petition to be heard by Heaven, I now feel the weight of my audacity and am filled with anxious trepidation. I humbly reflect that my teacher, the Venerable Master Yitong, who transmits the Tiantai teachings, resides at this temple. This monastery was established in the first year of the Kaibao era, thanks to the former Transport Commissioner of Fuzhou, Gu Chengwei, who—through the King of the Huaihai region—petitioned for the master’s installation as abbot, so that he might forever propagate the Tiantai doctrine for the nation.
Here, we host over sixty disciples and maintain a compound of about a hundred rooms. All reside in harmony, with daily provisions for the two main meals. Although our platform of the lotus flower ascending has long proclaimed the imperial grace in its teachings, the splendor of our Dharma community has yet to receive the honor of an official temple plaque.
Now, the Emperor, Your Majesty, responds to Heaven’s mandate, governs with propriety, and sits in court upholding rites. The ten thousand regions enjoy his impartial benevolence, and all realms sing of his virtuous rule. I, your humble servant, have been fortunate to be born in this sage era and, still more, to become a member of the true assembly. Therefore, I have dared to journey to the distant imperial court, earnestly seeking your favored bestowal.
I humbly beg that you graciously oversee, grant a special imperial decree, and confer upon my temple a true official plaque and seal. Let the imperial grace be openly bestowed, that this sacred monastery may be forever renowned, thereby illuminating the gateway of the Dharma and eternally celebrating the peace and transformation of Your Majesty’s reign.
I, your unworthy servant, having presumed to disturb the Heavenly ear, feel an overwhelming mix of reverence, gratitude, and anxious prostration. With utmost sincerity, I present this petition and await the Imperial decree.
太平興國六年十二月日明州傳教院(臣)僧延德狀奏
On a day in the twelfth month of the sixth year of the Taiping Xingguo era, the monk Yande of the Mingzhou Teaching Transmission Institute humbly submitted this memorial.