天 聖節陞座諷經
Imperial Birthday: Ascending the Seat and Reciting Sutras
啟建屆期。僧行不給假。堂司整備黃榜。上殿經單。輪差僧簿。維那先五日。粥了備柈袱爐燭香小片紙。詣書記寮。插香觸拜。缺員書狀侍者。同當還香。拜稟云。(天○節。拜請製右語)製了。先呈方丈。親送堂司。還觸拜。維那染䟽用黃紙。僉貼○○處。如法嚴整。隔宿備柈袱爐燭香合。維那具威儀。行者帶人力。拓柈。上方丈僉疏。行者覆住持。出即炷香。稟云。(來日啟建○節。拜請和尚僉疏)呈疏僉了而退。行者就覆方丈。來早諷經。挂諸處諷經牌。燒香侍者覆方丈。來早上堂。正日僧堂徧食槌浚。再槌一下云。(白大眾。粥罷。聞鍾聲。各具威儀。詣大佛殿。啟建天壽聖節。謹白)復槌一下。往住持前問訊。面北巡堂一帀。至外堂下間至上間。歸內堂中問訊出。正日行香了。侍者覆住持。粥了上堂。客頭挂上堂牌。大殿排香燭湯茶鐃鈸手爐。堂司報方丈。客頭先覆住持。覆侍者鳴皷。堂司預鳴眾寮前板三下。集眾坐堂。單寮蒙堂諸寮。並外堂坐。住持出寢堂坐。侍者問訊東班立。行者西立。轉鼓。侍者下法堂上角立。頭首下地。聖僧前問訊。領眾出堂。上法堂。座前一字立問訊。歸立西班。大眾鴈列于后。
The preparation period has arrived. Monks are not permitted leave. The Temple Office prepares the yellow announcement board, the scripture reading schedule for the main hall, and the rotation roster for the monks.
Five days beforehand, after the morning porridge, the Rector brings a tray with a cloth, an incense burner, candles, incense, and a small piece of paper, and goes to the Scribe's Office. There, he offers incense and performs a full prostration. (If the position of Scribe is vacant, the Attendant acts in their place.) They return the incense offering. The Rector then makes his request:
((On the occasion of the Emperor's Birthday Festival,) please compose the ceremonial verses.)
Once the verses are composed, they are first presented to the Abbot, then personally delivered to the Temple Office, where another prostration is performed.
The Rector composes the formal invitation on yellow paper. It is signed and posted in the ○○ location, neatly and properly. The night before, he prepares a tray with a cloth, an incense burner, candles, and an incense box. The Rector, wearing his full ceremonial robes, with an attendant and laborers carrying the tray, goes to the Abbot's quarters to have the invitation signed. The attendant informs the Abbot. When the Abbot comes out, the Rector lights incense and announces:
("Tomorrow we begin the [name of festival/celebration]. I beseech the Venerable Abbot to sign the invitation.")
He presents the invitation, and once it is signed, they withdraw. The attendant then informs the Abbot that scripture recitation will take place early tomorrow morning. The scripture recitation boards are hung in all appropriate locations. The Incense Attendant informs the Abbot that tomorrow morning, there will be a formal Dharma talk in the hall.
On the day itself, the food gavel is struck throughout the Monks' Hall. After one more strike, the announcement is made:
("I declare to the Great Assembly: After the morning porridge, upon hearing the bell, each of you, in full ceremonial robes, proceed to the Great Buddha Hall to begin the celebration of the Emperor's Longevity Festival. I declare this.")
A final gavel strike follows. The Rector then goes to the Abbot to bow and inquire. Facing north, he makes a complete circuit of the hall, from the lower section to the upper section, then returns to the center of the inner hall for another bow before leaving.
On the main day, after incense offering, the Attendant informs the Abbot. After morning porridge, the Abbot gives a formal Dharma talk. The Guest Prefect hangs the announcement board for the Dharma talk. The main hall is prepared with incense, candles, tea, water, cymbals, bells, and hand-held incense burners. The Temple Office reports to the Abbot's quarters. The Guest Prefect first informs the Abbot, then the Attendant to sound the drum.
The Temple Office first gives three taps on the wooden board outside the Monks' Common Room to gather the assembly. They all sit in the hall. Monks from private quarters, the Retreat Hall, and other lodgings also sit in the outer hall. The Abbot comes out and sits in his outer quarters. The Attendant bows and stands in the eastern row. The laborers stand in the western row. When the drum roll changes, the Attendant descends from the Dharma Hall and stands at the corner. The officers then descend, bow before the Sacred Monk statue, and lead the assembly out of the hall. They proceed to the Dharma Hall, stand in a line before the seat, bow, and then take their places in the western row. The Great Assembly lines up behind them like wild geese in a row.
行堂。鳴板三下。參頭領眾。列庫堂前。或土地堂前。俟。問訊知事。班集法堂。西班歸班已。亦一字列座前問訊。都寺引班歸左。朝揖立定。
When the mealtime officer signals with three strikes of the board, the head of meditation leads the assembly in a line before the kitchen hall or the local shrine hall. They wait to greet the administrator and then gather in the Dharma hall. After the western group takes their places, they each bow and greet from their seats. The deacon leads the eastern group to their positions on the left, and they stand still, facing each other with respect.
眾行者至法堂上間。左列迎住持。侍者入請住持。住持轎到眾前。行者列知事後。眾去頭袖。問訊。住持和南。登座。侍者隨上座。香合蓋盛香。皷絕捧呈。住持祝香了。侍者接香。以左手。插爐中。右手拈從香一炷。蓋合。住持上脚踏問訊。斂衣趺坐。侍者下座。先末班引過座下。一字列問訊。燒香侍者引班歸位。次首座領班。座前一字列。大眾同問訊。歸班。次東班出班。行者隨問訊。歸位。有東西堂。座下出班問訊。(叉手出班。合掌歸位)侍者登座。開合。左手上香一炷。蓋合。轉身。提坐具。問訊住持。謂之請法。側立拱聽。問答回向。提綱。不許敘謝官貴。況語餘事。結座。白云。(大眾各具威儀。詣大佛寶殿。啟建○○節)下座。鳴大鐘。眾到殿。點茶湯。侍者下畢鳴行香鈸。維那轉身爐前。揖住持上香。侍者捧香合。次東堂西堂出班。兩序對出。無借香問訊。若(堂中立僧)首座。大方西堂。先於立班西堂前出班也。東序右手上香。左轉歸位。西序左手上香。右轉歸位。出班畢。大眾同展三拜。此拜佛。為告天祝壽也。住持不収具。就跪爐。非法。維那白佛宣疏。至右伏以。住持再燒香。展拜跪爐。知客跪進手爐。侍者跪進香合。宣疏畢。知客跪接爐。住持収具。
The followers arrive at the Dharma hall and line up. On the left side, they welcome the Abbot. An attendant enters to invite the Abbot. When the Abbot’s sedan chair arrives before the assembly, the followers position themselves behind the administrative officers. Removing their headdresses, they bow in greeting. The Abbot returns the greeting with a joined-palm salute and ascends the seat. The attendant follows, carrying the incense case with its lid. Once the drumbeat ceases, the attendant presents the incense. The Abbot offers incense with a blessing. The attendant receives the incense, placing it in the burner with the left hand, then uses the right hand to take one additional incense stick and covers the case. The Abbot steps onto the footstool, bows, adjusts his robes, and sits cross-legged. The attendant descends from the seat, first goes to the end of the rows, leading them before the seat, where they all line up and bow. The incense-offering attendant then leads the group back to their positions. Next, the Head Seat leads the group before the seat, forming a single line. The entire assembly makes a bow together, then returns to their places. Then the Eastern rows come forward, with followers greeting them in turn, and return to their positions. If there are Eastern and Western Hall seat holders, they come before the seat and bow. (They leave their hands clasped when stepping out, and press palms together when returning) The attendant ascends the seat, opens the case, and offers one incense stick with the left hand, then closes the case. Turning around, he lifts his sitting mat and bows to the Abbot—this is called "requesting the Dharma." He stands aside with hands cupped to listen. Questions and answers follow, with dedication of merits. The Dharma talk summarizes the core teachings. It is not permitted to thank officials or nobility, or discuss mundane matters. When concluding, the speaker declares: ("May all of you be reverent and proceed to the Great Buddha Hall to commence the ○○ festival.") Then they descend the seat. The large bell is struck. When everyone arrives at the hall, tea and soup are served. After the attendant finishes serving, the handbell for incense circumambulation is struck. The Liturgy Master turns and stands before the incense burner, inviting the Abbot to offer incense. The attendant holds the incense case. Next, the Eastern and Western Hall seat holders come forward. The two rows face each other as they step out, without offering incense or bowing. If there is a (monks standing within the hall) who are the Head Seat or a great Western Hall seat holder, they should step out before the Western Hall seat holders standing in line. The Eastern side offers incense with the right hand, turns left to return. The Western side offers incense with the left hand, turns right to return. When all have finished, the entire assembly does three prostrations together. These prostrations are to the Buddha, for prayers to Heaven and long life. It is against rules for the Abbot to kneel at the burner without putting away his sitting mat. The Liturgy Master addresses the Buddha and recites the petition. At the line "To the right, we beseech..." the Abbot again offers incense, prostrates, and kneels at the burner. The Guest Prefect kneels and offers a hand-censer. An attendant kneels and offers the incense case. After reciting the petition, the Guest Prefect kneels to receive the censer. The Abbot collects his sitting mat.
或住持受州縣關請。上首知事。偏位跪爐。庫司客頭跪進手爐。復跪接爐。庫司茶頭跪進香合。
If a senior monastic is invited by local officials to preside over an assembly, the head of the monastery and the administrative officer should kneel by the incense burner at the side, while the temple quartermaster and guest attendant kneel to present the hand-held incense burner. After receiving it, they kneel again to pass it back, and the quartermaster’s tea attendant kneels to offer the incense box.
惟那舉楞嚴回向。啟建。堂司行者。隔日將轉僧簿。請住持頭首眾僧。僉書上下字名。具寫差單。輪排經目于上。揭挂殿內。至日。住持同眾上殿看經。各務嚴肅。鳴大鐘。上殿。各炷香三拜。歸位看經。維那當詣殿。燒香一炷。大展三拜。知客躬當點湯茶。庫司嚴設香燭點心湯茶。堂司行者。供送恐有缺典。維那時當照拂。至晚。鳴大鐘。下殿。每日僧員。依戒輪定。堂司庫子。直殿行者。時時守防官員到來。拈香鳴鐘。集眾諷經。方丈庫司迎送聖節內。遇八。佛殿念誦。巡廊鳴板。眾集。相對鴈立。住持至。鳴大板。即鳴大鐘。燒香歸位。維那出班念誦。式見後。誦畢。鳴僧堂前鐘三下。眾散。先不請湯也。凡遇聖節啟散。暫到客司給由。隨身照證。住持領眾看經。知事營供俵嚫。祝一人壽。務在處誠。當報水土之恩也。滿散節目。並同。堂司製疏。具列經文。例留交割準備刷具。凡住持公出。歸日不問近遠。鳴鍾集眾。門迎。詣方丈。人事。眾散。住持更不相巡寮報禮也。
Here is the translation:
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**The Guanyin Repentance and the Turning of the Scriptures (Huixiang)**
**Inauguration Ceremony**
Every other day, the temple attendant in charge of the assembly hall is to circulate the roster of monks for the Scripture Turning. He invites the abbot, the senior monastics, and the entire assembly to sign their names—both their given and Dharma names—at the designated spots. A detailed duty roster is then drawn up, listing the sequence of scriptures to be recited, and posted prominently within the main shrine hall.
On the appointed day, the abbot and the assembly gather in the shrine hall to recite the scriptures. All must maintain an atmosphere of dignified reverence. The great bell is sounded as everyone enters the hall. Each person offers incense and performs three full prostrations, then takes their place to begin recitation.
The rector (Weina) should personally approach the shrine, offer a stick of incense, and perform three expansive prostrations. The guest prefect (Zhike) is responsible for personally serving tea and refreshments. The kitchen office is to prepare incense, candles, refreshments, and tea with care. The assembly hall attendant handles distribution, and should deficiencies arise, the rector is to oversee and address them promptly.
In the evening, the great bell is sounded again as all descend from the hall. Each day, monastic participants rotate according to their seniority in the precepts. The assembly hall stewards, kitchen staff, and shrine attendants are to remain vigilant at all times. Should officials arrive, incense is offered, the bell rung, and the assembly gathered for scripture recitation. The abbot's quarters and kitchen office are to receive and escort them ceremoniously.
**For the Emperor's Birthday (Sacred Festival)**
During the sacred festival period, on every eighth day, the Buddha hall holds scripture chanting. A wooden board is struck along the corridor to summon the assembly. All gather, standing facing each other in the formation of wild geese. When the abbot arrives, the large board is struck, followed by the great bell. Incense is offered and all return to their places. The rector then steps forward to lead the recitation, following the established liturgy (see below for details).
After the recitation, the bell before the monastics' hall is struck three times, and the assembly disperses. For these occasions, a preliminary tea service is not offered.
Whenever the sacred festival begins or concludes, visiting monks are to receive travel documents from the guest office, which serve as their credentials while away.
**Concluding Ceremony**
The abbot leads the assembly in scripture recitation, the officers manage offerings and distribute alms, all to pray for the Emperor's longevity. This must be carried out with utmost sincerity, as a way of repaying the kindness of the land and water that sustain us. The closing ceremony follows the same protocol as the opening.
The assembly hall office prepares the formal prayer document and lists the scriptures to be recited. These are to be properly filed and preserved for future reference.
**Abbot's Return**
Whenever the abbot returns from an official trip, regardless of whether the absence was long or short, the bell is rung to summon the assembly. All gather at the gate to welcome him. They then proceed to the abbot's quarters to pay their respects, after which the assembly disperses. The abbot does not make a personal tour of the quarters to return greetings.
陞座回向(前同榜意。今辰啟建。住持臣僧。升于此座。舉唱宗乘。所集洪因。端為祝延聖壽萬安者)白佛偈(玉毫騰輝。金色炳耀。具大人相。號正徧知。瞻之仰之。福滿沙界)。
Ascending the Seat and Dedicating the Merit (As previously stated on the board. Today, we begin this ceremony. I, the humble monk serving as abbot, ascend to this seat to proclaim the essential teachings of our tradition. All the vast merits gathered here are dedicated solely to praying for the Emperor's boundless longevity and peace.)
Verse in Praise of the Buddha (His radiant brow emits brilliant light, his golden form shines brightly. Endowed with the marks of a great being, he is called the Fully Enlightened One. Beholding him with reverence and devotion, blessings fill the entire universe.)
又(大圓滿覺。應跡西乾。心包大虗。量周沙界)。
Thus the great perfect enlightenment manifests in the Western Land, its mind encompassing the vast emptiness, its measure extending to all realms.
回向(上來諷誦。洪因。祝延 聖壽萬安。金剛無量壽佛。仁王菩薩云云)。
Dedication of Merit(Through the recitation just completed, may abundant blessings extend to grant the Holy Emperor long life and peace, as enduring as the Diamond Immeasurable Life Buddha and the Benevolent King Bodhisattva.)
佛殿念誦(皇風永扇。帝道遐昌。佛日增輝。法輪常轉。為如上緣念。清淨法身毗盧遮那佛)。
Reciting in the Buddha Hall(May the imperial breeze forever blow, may the emperor's way prosper far and wide, may the Buddha's sun shine ever brighter, and may the wheel of Dharma turn endlessly. For these reasons, we recite: The Pure Dharma Body, Vairocana Buddha.).
路由(暫到一僧。某甲上座。今月幾日。恭遇天○節。已於本寺。啟散訖。憑此為照者。年月 日。某寺知客。某押給)。
The route is as follows. (A monk arrived temporarily and said: "Your Reverence, on such-and-such day of this month, in reverent observance of the Emperor's Birthday Festival, the ceremony of opening and concluding has already been held at this temple. Let this serve as the record." Dated: year, month, day. The guest-prefect of such-and-such temple, so-and-so, signed and issued.)
右語。
I'm ready to translate. Please provide the source passage you'd like translated.
(啟)伏以。紅日升時。四海賴照臨之慶。白雲深處。常年伸祝頌之誠。以不可思議之功𤏩。倍無有筭數之壽量。
皇帝陛下。恭願。淵獻珠。山獻玉。令夷夏之歸仁。車同軌。書同文。盡山川之一統。但臣僧(某)。下情無任瞻天望聖。激切屏營之至。謹疏。
(散)天開閶闔。慶流虹遶電於斯辰。人効華對。悉望日瞻雲於此際。爰畢三旬之華藏。聿嚴萬歲之山呼。恭願。曆數在躬。文明至治。九五福曰富曰壽。無彊為休。八千歲為春為秋。自今而始。