楊苕華
Yang Tiaohua
晉東莞楊德慎女也。少有才貌。許字同郡人王晞。未及行。苕華父母相繼沒。晞亦喪母。忽悟無常。即捨俗出家。改名僧度。苕華服畢。乃與度書。謂髮膚不可毀傷。宗祀不可頓廢。宜顧世教。改遠志。佐盛明之代。休祖考之靈。慰神人之願。并贈詩五章。其一云。人生一世間。飄若風過牖。川上有餘吟。日斜思鼓缶。清音可娛耳。滋味可適口。羅紈可飾軀。華冠可耀首。安事自翦削。耽空以害有。不道妾區區。願言恤爾後。度答書云。夫事君以治一國。未若宏願以濟萬邦。事親以成一家。未若宏道以濟三界。但吾德不及遠。未能兼被。以此為媿。然積簣成山。亦冀從微之著也。且被袈裟。振錫杖。飲清流。味般若。雖王公之服。八珍之饍。鏗鏘之聲。煒燿之飾。不與易也。若能懸契。則同期於泥洹矣。又報詩五章。以申己志。苕華感悟。亦秉道以終身焉(高僧傳)。
Yang Deqian's daughter from Dongguan in Jin. She had talent and beauty from a young age. She was betrothed to Wang Xi, a man from the same commandery. Before the marriage could take place, Tiaohua's parents passed away one after the other, and Xi also lost his mother. He suddenly awakened to impermanence and immediately renounced worldly life to become a monk, changing his name to Sengdu. After Tiaohua completed her mourning period, she wrote to Du, saying that one's hair and skin should not be damaged, and that ancestral sacrifices should not be abruptly abandoned. She urged him to consider the teachings of the world, change his lofty aspirations, assist this flourishing era, bring rest to the spirits of his ancestors, and comfort the wishes of gods and humans. She also sent five poems. One of them said: "Human life in this world drifts like wind through a window. By the river, lingering songs remain; as the sun slants, one thinks of drumming on a pot. Clear music can delight the ear; fine flavors can please the mouth. Silk and gauze can adorn the body; splendid caps can make the head shine. Why trouble yourself to shave and cut, indulging in Emptiness while harming the existing? Do not say that I am insignificant—I only wish you would take pity on your descendants." Du replied in a letter: "To serve a ruler and govern one state is not as good as making a great Vow to save the myriad multitudes. To serve one's parents and perfect one family is not as good as spreading the great Path to save the Three Realms. But my virtue does not reach far, and I cannot benefit all alike. For this I feel shame. Yet basket by basket builds a mountain; I also hope that from the subtle it may become manifest. Moreover, wearing the kasaya, shaking the tin staff, drinking clear streams, and savoring Prajna—even the robes of kings and dukes, the delicacies of eight treasures, the clang of music, and dazzling ornaments would not be exchanged for this. If you can silently resonate with this, then we shall share the same vow for Nirvana." He also sent five poems in reply to express his own aspiration. Tiaohua was moved to awakening and also upheld the Path for the rest of her life. (Lives of Eminent Monks)