Preface to the Reprint of the Four Masters' Records in the Congrong Lu

When the Buddha held up a flower, and Mahākāśyapa faintly smiled—though it is said the ancestral teaching was silently revealed, it still feels like a complete yet subtly leaking vessel. Then came later generations of well-meaning descendants who, not knowing how to cherish their family treasure, each risked life and limb, stirring dust on level ground, churning clear waters into waves, scattering empty blossoms in confusion, deceiving eyes with false gestures, and passing down errors through countless mouths. Thus, public cases multiplied endlessly.

The leftover words of Tiantong and Xuedou were sadly left uncollected; the dream-talk of Yuanwu and Wansong mostly remained unawakened. Fortunately, the Elder of Qingliang, long aware of the unresolved calamity passed down from ancestors, today sees his disciples—with ancient faces—hauling out all these antiquities, dividing them among four schools, and carving them anew. Alas! The stolen goods are now exposed; the true thief cannot escape. I dare to invite the Vajra Sword to cut them all down at once. Then, we shall piece together the fragments, compose a commentary, and join all beings under heaven in singing a song of great peace.

Inscribed by Luo Rufang of Nanchang, near the river.

In the autumn of the year Dingwei, Shen Xian of Changzhou inscribed this.