Biography of the Tripitaka Master of the Great Ci'en Monastery of the Great Tang Dynasty (大唐大慈恩寺三藏法師傳)

Great Tang Dynasty Record of the Western Regions: Volume 9

Completed the inscription for Ci'en Temple in the third month of the first year of Xianqing (656 CE), and returned to the Western Capital with the imperial carriage in the first month of the third year (658 CE).

In the spring of the first year of the Xianqing era, on the day of Guihai in the third month, the Emperor finished composing the inscription for the Great Ci'en Temple. At that time, the Minister of Rites, Xu Jingzong, sent an envoy to deliver the inscription text to the Master. The Court of State Ceremonial also issued an official document to the temple.

On the day of Jiazi, the Master (Xuanzang) led the monastery's assembly to the imperial court to express gratitude. He said: "Your humble servant, the monk Xuanzang, speaks. Upon receiving the seal of the Honglu Temple, I humbly received Your Majesty's decree, inscribed by Your sacred hand. The stele inscription composed for the Great Ci'en Temple is now complete. Your profound grace descends upon us, and Your majestic words shine upon us from all sides. The path of Buddhism becomes ever more exalted, and the community of monks gains increased honor. Standing upon the vast earth, I feel ashamed, and bearing the weight of the boundless heavens, I find myself lacking in strength. I have heard that the work of creation and transformation spreads all things and establishes teachings, and the way of the sage also uses words to reveal emotions. However, the drawings of hexagrams and the transmission of written texts merely discuss physical forms; the setting of lines and the division of images do not transcend the world. The virtues of Emperor Fuxi were still praised in ancient times, and the customs of King Wen of Zhou stood alone in later generations. How can these compare to opening up things and accomplishing tasks, elucidating the Eightfold Path to create writings; explaining the Way and establishing teachings, realizing the Three Insights to guide worldly beings? Their principles penetrate beyond heaven and earth, and their feelings encompass more than the sun and moon. Comparing their merits and demerits, this is indeed the most magnificent. I humbly think that Your Majesty, the Emperor, has the Golden Wheel in motion and the Jade Calendar in season. Your transformation overflows the four continents, and Your benevolence extends to the nine regions. Your Way encompasses the sages, and Your achievements surpass the gods. You possess innate versatility, relying on nature for guidance. You first mourned the loss of the casket mirror, then established the monastery; soon You erected the victory banner, and then promulgated laws and writings. As for the celestial flowers blooming brilliantly, Your majestic literary flourishing surges like waves. It swallows the sea of pens and nurtures the dragon palace; it overshadows the forest of words and encompasses the Bodhi tree. Internally, it contains the eight treasuries; externally, it examines the Six Classics. It is profound yet standard, vast yet detailed. Surely, it will make the remains of the Jetavana Grove, entrusted with Your precious thoughts, even more exalted; and the lingering fragrance of the Nalanda Monastery, borrowed from Your jade-like writings, will not fade. It not only guides the dreamlike state and illuminates the path of confusion but truly shapes the four heavens and encompasses the three realms. Your servant Xuanzang’s words and deeds are unworthy; I humbly belong to the monkhood and have repeatedly received Your favor, always considering myself fortunate. Again honored by Your visit, I rejoice in meeting the flourishing of the Dharma. I am both ashamed and elated; these feelings genuinely intertwine within me. Overwhelmed with reverence and devotion, I respectfully come to the imperial court, presenting this memorial to express my gratitude."

On the day of Yichou, the Master reflected that the Emperor's literary brilliance was divinely bestowed—sagely and multi-talented, surpassing not only the literary splendor of the Wei ruler but also the calligraphic mastery of the Han emperor. Seeing that the imperial stele bore sacred writing, the Master also wished for the divine hand of the Emperor to inscribe it. Thus, he went to the palace and submitted a petition requesting that the Emperor personally write the inscription. The memorial read:

"Śramaṇa Xuanzang and others speak: The Way responds to phenomena and manifests signs; its divine efficacy is all-encompassing. Teaching is adapted to the times; the sacred work is complete. Thus, the sun and moon shine together to fulfill the celestial course, while all plants flourish to perfect the beauty of the earth. We humbly observe that Your Majesty, the Emperor, possesses wisdom encompassing all things and benevolence reaching the three realms. You have both exalted the transformative influence and proclaimed the mysterious wind of truth. You surpass King Mu of Zhou, who delighted in the Way yet merely admired the verses of the Jade Pool; you surpass Emperor Ming of Han, who honored the Dharma yet only established the White Horse Temple. Now, you have lowered your celestial literary grace to far-reaching esoteric teachings, carving them on jade and stone to establish enduring principles. Like the harmonies of six ancient odes or the radiance of five planets, you express your profound intent and move worldly customs, manifesting great vows to guide the age. How could this merely glorify the Thusness and reveal the mysterious depths? Though the words have flowed like jade and the stone is ready to be inscribed, the silver hooks of your brush have not yet touched it, and the red letters remain hidden. Yet, when Kui's music is set on the instruments, it is not fit for village tunes to join in; when the dragon's realm is illuminated, how can the faint glow of fireflies contend? Without the tuning of Ya and Kuang or the chariot of Xihe, how can the grand sound of the Dharma drum be raised and the gentle brilliance of the wisdom sun be enhanced? Boldly, in accord with this principle, we humbly plead: grant this perfect work, let it be signed by Your divine brush. May the wondrous grace surpass the former kings, and the miraculous beauty flow on and shine upon future sages. With the voice of gold and resonance of jade, the deluded shall awaken; with the dragon’s dance and phoenix’s circling, the blind shall see. This would not merely uphold the teachings of the image but bestow immeasurable grace upon all beings; indeed, it would aid the bright age and bless the ancestral temples with boundless fortune. But I, Xuanzang, am of shallow understanding and unworthy to stand among those in the sangha; ashamed of my narrow learning and frequent neglect of the precepts, I am unworthy of Your Majesty’s imperial words, which have granted me such excessive praise. Though overcome with awe and feeling no place to put my face, my earnest devotion has long pointed to this day. I dare to trouble you again, feeling as if standing between ice and fire."

The memorial was not accepted.

Monk Xuanzang further petitioned: "Yesterday, I was graciously granted Your Majesty's divine literary work, and my joy is beyond measure. Yet, I have not received the sacred imperial brushwork, and my earnest hope remains unfulfilled. I humbly believe that climbing a rare tree will surely bring forth fragrant blossoms, and kneeling at a jeweled mountain will yield radiant treasures. Your Majesty holds the balance of governance, upholding purity, and rules in tranquil peace. Your profound thoughts and exquisite brushwork penetrate the myriad arts. The grand principles shine forth like the Luo River's emergence, and the mastery of cursive script flourishes beside the imperial pond. I, Xuanzang, reverently acknowledge past favors, receiving them like gold mirrors reflecting blossoms. Now, I dare to hope for future grace, awaiting the moon's shadow within silver brushstrokes. It is not merely a matter of matching gems and linking pearls, nor just basking in their combined brilliance. I fear that without the celestial brush, there is no way to suspend the sun and moon's words. Only Your Majesty's radiance can unravel the subtle threads of truth. My soul rushes forward, my head bowed low—this is far beyond what I dare to hope. Yet, I cannot suppress my profound reverence, and so, risking death, I present this request." After the memorial was presented, the Emperor prepared to wield his divine brush.

Having received the Emperor’s gracious permission, the Master felt a joy beyond measure. He presented a memorial of thanks, saying:

"Your subject, the monk Xuanzang, speaks. I humbly received your sacred decree, granting permission for your imperial hand to personally inscribe the stele inscription for the Great Ci’en Temple. The imperial seal and command have arrived, bringing a flood of benevolent favor. Bearing this honor, I feel both shame and trepidation, at a loss for how to proceed. Xuanzang has heard that even the strongest crossbow, once drawn, is meaningless to a flying squirrel; the great bell, silent and hidden, cannot be sounded by a fragile clapper. Who would have thought that the sun and moon—your brilliant presence—would turn their light upon the gate of emptiness; that rain and clouds—your nurturing influence—would shine their grace upon this mysterious temple? This is what I had hoped for, but not what I had imagined.

Humbly I consider: Your Majesty treads the celestial path, bearing the celestial mandate, carrying on the legacy of ancient sage-kings, surpassing Xuanyuan and Zhuanxu, encompassing the virtues of Xia and Shang. You unfold the myriad mysteries to shape the times, gather countless talents to inspire the age. Within the nine domains, all are bathed in benevolent winds; beyond the four heavens, all are touched by your mysterious transformation. Yet the dharma of the crossing—the raft of liberation—cannot be illuminated without a perfectly holy one. The work of subtle support cannot be spread without a supremely wise one. Though reaching back to honor the distant past moves the celestial heart of its own accord, one may also pray for hidden blessings—and thus Your Majesty turns your imperial gaze toward us. Your brilliant words, graciously bestowed, already surpass the rare treasures of any age. The hidden traces now unfold, revealing what will outshine priceless gems. Every being within the myriad ranks rejoices in reverence. But among them, the Buddhist community feels doubly blessed, leaping with joy. The dream of the vast celestial music of the Brahma heavens pales beside this marvel; the king’s precious hair ornament or chignon jewel are not worthy to be compared.

We shall engrave it on enduring stone, planting a field of blessings. The deluded beings, long lost, will open their eyes and ears. The great torch of Dharma will blaze, spreading to future ages. Let all who gaze upon the precious characters and lift their eyes to the silver hooks, awaken resolve for enlightenment on this very day. Let all who recite the profound words and explore the deepest meanings, awaken to prajñā wisdom on this very ground. Though the castle of kalpas may crumble like a mustard seed, this shining beauty will endure forever. Though the seas shift and the mulberry fields change, this fragrant breeze will never decay.

Xuanzang was born among the common people, and from early days I felt shame regarding my practice. After donning the monastic robes, I aspired to illuminate the mysterious path. My journey to Kapilavastu (India) was founded upon the imperial transformation. When I later undertook this work of translation, I again received the court’s favor. During the Zhenguan era, I was exceedingly graced with vast kindness. Since the Yonghui era, I have been even more privileged with extraordinary favor. The divine brushes of two emperors graciously bestowed praise upon me; the sacred writings of two reigns utterly adorned me with honor. Looking back upon my own humble and dull nature, I truly harbor fear and awe. My sincere wish to repay this kindness never dims, whether by day or night. But such grace is as deep as the vast ocean, and how can a single drop of water repay it? Such favor is as heavy as Mount Song, and how can a tiny speck of dust thank it? I must rely solely on the power of wisdom, wielding it without limit, to dedicate blessings to the imperial tomb and to aid the dynasty’s foundation for seven hundred generations.

I cannot contain my awe and reverence. I humbly submit this memorial through the court attendant, the minister Wang Junde, to express my thanks and to make this known. In lightly venturing against your august dignity, I tremble deeply in fear."

On the eighth day of the fourth month of summer, the Emperor completed the inscription and had the stele carved. When it was ready to be sent to the temple, the Master felt deeply grateful for the Emperor's sacred kindness and could not bear to simply have it delivered without ceremony. He therefore led the monastic community of Ci'en Temple, together with monks and nuns from the capital, each preparing banners, jeweled canopies, and flower-adorned pennants. They assembled together to welcome it at Fanglin Gate. The Emperor then commanded the Nine Traditional Orchestras of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, along with the musical troupes of Chang'an and Wannian counties, to escort the stele. The lowest banners rose above the clouds; the shortest pennants still brushed the heavens. In all, there were over three hundred decorations and more than a hundred music carts. By the seventh day at dusk, they gathered on Anfu Gate Street, west of the city. That night it rained. On the eighth day, the roads were impassable. The Emperor ordered them to pause and instead invited the Master into the palace. On the tenth day, the sky cleared and was beautiful. The Emperor ordered the original procession arrangements to proceed. On the morning of the fourteenth day, the cortege finally set out. The banners and pennants were arrayed in sequence, filling the thirty li from Fanglin Gate to Ci'en Temple with a splendid, overflowing display.

The emperor ascended to the Gate Tower of Peace and Blessings to observe the scene, and he was thoroughly delighted. Watching from the capital were over a million men and women. On the fifteenth day, seven monks were ordained, a meal was prepared for two thousand monks, and the Nine Divisions of Music were performed before the Buddha Hall; the festivities did not disperse until evening.

On the sixteenth day, the Master, accompanied by his followers, went to the court to express gratitude and then transported the stele to the temple. He presented this memorial: "We, the monk Xuanzang and others, respectfully state: On the fourteenth day of this month, we received Your Majesty's decree ordering the imperial inscription for the Great Ci'en Temple to be sent, along with a nine-part musical offering. The light of the sun of Yao has shone upon us, first enhancing the brilliance of the torch of wisdom; the waves of the sea of Shun have spread widely, further broadening the flow of the Dharma. The towering monument stands like a rocky cliff, the celestial script shining like a torch, like colored clouds reflecting on a sacred mountain, or like the gathered stars appearing on an immortal peak. All monks and laypeople, aroused as by lightning and driven as by clouds, gaze upon it with awe and leap with joy, an experience never before encountered.

Now, the eight trigrams have revealed their patterns, the six lines have issued their explanations. Observing birds led to the creation of writing, and weeping over the unicorn gave rise to the propagation of scriptures. The sages' abilities are fully displayed herein, all intended to serve as standards and models, to establish teachings in accordance with the times, to mold sentient beings, and to exalt or suppress customs and traditions. Yet, the engraved stones of the Qin Emperor only glorified his sacrifices to heaven and earth; the inscribed steles of the Wei Emperor merely recorded his achievements in grand offerings. Even these are renowned as exceptional, looking down upon all the kings of a hundred generations. But how can they compare to the personal expression of Your Majesty's profound literary genius, deigning to produce such celestial calligraphy? The golden music resounds in rhythm, the silver hooks create exquisite traces. It explores the dragon palace, surpassing the three profound teachings; it transcends the phoenix seal script, exhausting all eight calligraphic styles. It unleashes thoughts like spring waves and marks wonders like autumn dew. It propagates the sublime principles of the One Vehicle and praises the profound depths of the Six Perfections, transforming the realm of the three thousand worlds, with its renown spreading beyond a hundred billion lands.

The subtle words of the Nirvana Garden are made even more brilliant through the Heavenly phrases; the enlightened ones of the Bamboo Grove are further honored by the Divine brush. This causes the Brahmans to turn their hearts, cutting through the net of doubts to follow the teachings, and makes Mara change his intentions, subduing his mountains of evil to walk the Path. How could it only awaken those trapped in the mundane to realize their confusion, or enable those lost in dreams to transcend the sea of suffering? Since the Buddhist teachings spread eastward, nearly six hundred years have passed. None of the grand propagations and elucidations have matched this present one. Even Emperor Ming of Han, moved by spiritual communication, still consulted Fu Yi; the Wu ruler, when revering the faith, still sought confirmation from Kan Ze. Since then, there has been nothing worthy of mention. But now, adapting to conditions and transforming beings, Your Majesty alone promotes this bright destiny; doing good is sure to receive a response, establishing a strong and prosperous foundation. Like the Wheel-Turning King, whose divine power is immeasurable, or like the Emperor with a jeweled crown, whose blessed reign will long endure.

We, Xuanzang and the others, though unworthy of the imperial favor, were fortunate enough to ascend to the profound platform. When this cloud of compassion spreads once more and the Dharma drum beats again, the transformative influence of the Three Insights flourishes, and the gate of the Eightfold Path opens wide. Yet we, realizing our lack of true sincerity, are undeserving of this encouragement and guidance. We look up to the majestic heaven, feeling the grace poured upon us, and bow down over the deep valley, harboring shame. Our hearts are filled with awe and reverence beyond measure. We reverently approach the palace gate to present this memorial of gratitude for Your Majesty's consideration."

When the stele arrived, the authorities constructed a separate pavilion for it in the northeast corner in front of the Buddha hall. The structure featured double arches and layered brackets, with cloud-shaped crossbeams and ornate rafters. Golden flowers shimmered from below, and precious bells gleamed above. The water-collecting plates atop the columns were identical to those on spirit pagodas.

Emperor Taizong excelled in standard, seal, grass, and running scripts, and was especially skilled in "flying white." His stele inscription was written in running script, and he used the "flying white" technique to write the four characters "Xian Qing Yuan Nian" — all reaching divine perfection. Thousands of people came to view it each day. Civil and military officials of the third rank and above petitioned to have it traced and copied, and permission was granted.

Since the end of the age of knotted cords, writing emerged to take its place. The two seal scripts differ in form; standard and grass scripts differ in style. There are hanging-needle and hanging-dew strokes, cloud-like and undulating waves, inscribed stone regulations, eight-part and running styles. The ancients each had their strengths and weaknesses; none could excel in all forms. For example, Emperor Yuan of Han was praised for his skill in standard script, Emperor Wu of Wei excelled in grass and running scripts, Zhong Yao was proficient in three styles, Wang Zhong was masterful in eight-part script, Liu Shao and Zhang Hong gained fame for their "flying white," and Boying and Ziyu became renowned as "grass script sages." Only Zhonglang and the Right Army (Wang Xizhi) came close to mastering many forms, but even they could not achieve perfection in all. This is why Wei Wenxiu, upon seeing the calligraphy of the Two Wangs, said, "The two Wangs may indeed be called capable, but they do not truly understand calligraphy."

If we speak of a heavenly blade sharp and outstanding, vigorous and bold, combining the many forms of ancient worthies, fully embodying the many skills of past masters — the spring sun of brushwork, the rarest tune in the art of writing — such praise truly belongs to our emperor.

Because of the Master's limited exposure to study in his youth, he traveled west, crossing icy mountains and snowy peaks, which led to a chronic cold ailment. When it flared up, it oppressed his heart, repeatedly causing great suffering. For several years, he managed to control it with medication, keeping it stable. This past summer, in the fifth month, he tried to cool down due to the heat, which triggered his old illness, nearly bringing him to the brink. Monastics and laypeople alike were deeply worried. The Central Secretariat reported this to the imperial court, and an imperial decree ordered the imperial physician Jiang Xiaozhang and the acupuncturist Shangguan Cong to personally attend to him—all medicines were to be sent from the palace. Messengers from the northern palace gates came several times daily to check his condition and relay updates. Even his sleeping quarters were arranged by the highest-ranking palace officials. Such was the care he received, surpassing even a loving father's devotion to his only son. Jiang Xiaozhang and his team provided medical care day and night without leaving his side. After five days, he began to recover, bringing peace of mind to all within and beyond the monastery.