No. 706-A
上諭朕惟三教之覺民於海內也。理同出於一原。道並行而不悖。人惟不能豁然貫通。於是人各異心。心各異見。慕道者謂佛不如道之尊。向佛者謂道不如佛之大。而儒者又兼闢二氏以為異端。懷挾私心。紛爭角勝而不相下。朕以持三教之論。亦惟得其平而已矣。能得其平。則外略形迹之異內證性理之同。而知三教初無異旨。無非欲人同歸於善。夫佛氏之五戒十善。導人於善也。吾儒之五常百行。誘掖獎勸。有一不引人為善者哉。昔宋文帝。問侍中何尚之曰。六經本是濟俗。若性靈真要。則以佛經為指南。如率土之民。皆湻此化。則吾坐致太平矣。何尚之對曰。百家之鄉十人持五戒。則十人湻謹。千室之邑。百人持十善。則百人和睦。持此風教。以周寰區。則編戶億千。仁人百萬。而能行一善。則去一惡。去一惡。則息一刑。一刑息於家。萬刑息於國。洵乎可以垂拱坐致太平矣。斯言也。蓋以勸善者。治天下之要道也。而佛教之化貪吝。誘賢良。其旨亦本於此。苟信而從之。洵可以型方訓俗。而為致君澤民之大助。其任意詆毀。妄揑為楊墨之道之論者。皆未見顏色。失乎之瞽說也。特諭。
An Imperial Edict: I consider that the three teachings—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism—enlighten the people within the realm. Their principles originate from the same source, and their ways run parallel without conflict. It is only because people fail to see through to their essential unity that minds differ and views diverge. Those devoted to the Daoist path claim Buddhism is not as venerable as Daoism; those inclined toward Buddhism say Daoism is not as great as Buddhism. Meanwhile, Confucian scholars reject both as heterodoxies. Harboring private biases, they contend and strive for supremacy, refusing to yield to one another.
My view on upholding the three teachings is simply to seek their balance. If balance can be attained, then externally we may overlook differences in form, while internally we realize the sameness of their inherent principles—and thus understand that the three teachings originally shared no divergent aim. All, without exception, wish to guide people toward goodness. Consider the Buddhist five precepts and ten wholesome deeds: they lead people toward goodness. Our Confucian five constant virtues and hundred conducts—do they not also encourage and guide, every one of them drawing people toward goodness?
In the past, Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty asked his attendant He Shangzhi, "The Six Classics fundamentally serve to aid common customs. But if one seeks the essential truth of spiritual nature, then Buddhist scriptures serve as the guide. If all the people within our territory were transformed by this teaching, I could sit back and achieve peace." He Shangzhi replied, "In a village of a hundred families, if ten people uphold the five precepts, then ten become honest and careful. In a town of a thousand households, if a hundred people practice the ten wholesome deeds, then a hundred live in harmony. Extend this moral influence throughout the land, and among millions of registered households, there will be millions of humane individuals. For every good deed performed, one evil is removed; with every evil removed, one punishment ceases. If one punishment ceases within a family, then ten thousand punishments cease within the state. Truly, one may sit with folded sleeves and bring about peace."
These words show that encouraging goodness is the essential way to govern the world. And the transformation Buddhism works—curbing greed and stinginess, guiding the virtuous—its purpose too is rooted herein. If one believes and follows it, it can indeed shape customs and instruct the masses, becoming a great aid in serving the ruler and benefiting the people. As for those who arbitrarily slander it, recklessly labeling it as the way of Yang Zhu or Mozi—such talk comes from those who have never truly seen its face; it is blind speech, missing the mark entirely.
By Special Edict.
雍正十一年二月十五日
February 15th, in the eleventh year of the Yongzheng reign.