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卷九十七 列傳第五十七 夷蠻

Volume 97 Biographies 57: Yi Man

Chapter 97 of 宋書 · Book of Song
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Chapter 97
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1
西西
The peoples of the southern and southwestern frontier lay for the most part south and southwest of Jiaozhou, on islands in the open sea. Some were separated by three to five thousand li, others by as much as twenty or thirty thousand li. They reached one another by ship under sail, and the exact courses and distances could not be fully charted. When foreign peoples gave figures in li, those numbers were not reliable measures.
2
使 使 使
Among the southern peoples was the state of Linyi. In the second year of Yongchu (421), during the reign of Emperor Gaozu, King Fanyang Mai of Linyi sent envoys with tribute, and the court at once granted him titles and office. At the opening of the Yuanjia era under Emperor Wen, Linyi raided Rinan, Jiude, and neighboring commanderies. Jiaozhou inspector Du Hongwen mustered forces to campaign against them, but when he learned that his replacement was on the way, he abandoned the effort. In the seventh year (430), Yang Mai sent envoys explaining that he was at odds with Jiaozhou and asking for imperial clemency. The next year Linyi sent more than a hundred warships against Jiude, entering Sihui harbor. Inspector Ruan Mizhi dispatched the company commander Xiang Daosheng with three thousand troops; they besieged Qu Su but could not take it and had to pull back. When Linyi planned to invade Jiaozhou, it asked Funan for troops, but the king of Funan refused. In the tenth year (433), Yang Mai memorialized the throne with regional gifts and asked to be put in charge of Jiaozhou. The court answered that the distance was too great and declined. In the twelfth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and eighteenth years envoys came again with tribute, but raids continued unabated and the gifts themselves were shabby.
3
忿使 使
Infuriated by Linyi's defiance, Emperor Wen in the twenty-third year (446) ordered the Dragon Soaring General and Jiaozhou inspector Tan Hezhi to campaign against them, with Grand Marshal's staff officer Zong Que, General Who Inspires Awe, placed under his command. Hezhi appointed his staff major Xiao Jingxian to lead the van, while Zong Que served as his second-in-command. When Yang Mai learned that a punitive expedition was coming, he sent a memorial offering to restore the Rinan households he had carried off and to present the kingdom's treasures. Emperor Wen instructed Hezhi: "If Yang Mai proves sincere, you may accept his surrender." That second month the army reached Zhuwu garrison. Hezhi sent staff registrar and Rinan administrator Jiang Zhongji, together with former senior clerk for banditry Jiao Hongmin and the imperial messengers Bi Yuan and Gao Jingnu, to proclaim the court's gracious intent. Yang Mai seized Zhongji, Jingnu, and twenty-six others, sent Hongmin back with a reply, professed submission outwardly, and tightened his defenses all the more. Jingxian then marched on Qu Su. Yang Mai sent his great commander Fan Fulong to hold the city in force and hurried additional land and river troops to its relief. Jingxian routed the relief force, threw his best troops into the assault, and in the fifth month took the city. Fan Fulong was beheaded, and the booty in gold, silver, and other goods was beyond reckoning. Following up the victory, they took Linyi itself. Yang Mai and his son fled for their lives. The exotic treasures seized were marvels the court had never before named. The emperor commended his commanders and proclaimed: "Linyi, trusting in its remote and difficult terrain, has long escaped imperial punishment. The Dragon Soaring General and Jiaozhou inspector Tan Hezhi has shown outstanding loyalty and resolution, sound strategy, and practical ability. Ordered to campaign, he drove his army ten thousand li; discipline held firm; civil and military officers gave their all; he kept himself pure in public service and led from the front. Thus he won glory beyond the seas and brought distant peoples to heel. He is to be further honored and appointed to attend the inner court as Gentleman-Attendant at the Yellow Gate, while retaining his posts as Colonel of the Yue Cavalry and Acting General Who Establishes Martiality. The Dragon Soaring major Xiao Jingxian aided the commander with conspicuous energy and skill, led the van, and destroyed the enemy stronghold. He is sure to overawe the frontier peoples and win the hearts of the populace. He is appointed Bearer of the Staff, Supervisor of Military Affairs in Jiaozhou and Guangzhou for the Yulin and Ningpu commanderies, General Who Establishes Might, and Inspector of Jiaozhou." The Dragon Soaring major Tong Linzhi and Jiuzhen administrator Fu Weizu fell in battle; both were posthumously made Palace Attendants.
4
使 使
In the second year of Xiaojian (455), under Emperor Xiaowu, Linyi again sent its chief clerk Fan Longba with tribute. Longba was made General Who Displays Martiality. In the second year of Daming (458), King Fanshencheng of Linyi sent his chief clerk Fan Liu with a memorial offering gold and silver vessels, scented cloth, and other goods. In the first year of Taiyu (472), under Emperor Ming, envoys came again with regional gifts.
5
西 [1]
Earlier, while Tan Hezhi was being recalled to Yuzhang, the Yuzhang native Hu Danshi and others rose in revolt. He suppressed them and, on the strength of his Linyi campaign as well, was enfeoffed as Viscount of Yundu with a fief of four hundred households. Hezhi was a native of Jinxiang in Gaoping commandery and the son of Tan Ping. In the twenty-seventh year of Yuanjia (450), he moved from Left Commandant of the Crown Prince's Guard to become staff major to the heir apparent's Pacifying Army, General Who Assists the State, and administrator of Pengcheng. When the deposed crown prince Liu Shao murdered his father and seized the throne, Hezhi was appointed General of the Right of the Center and inspector of Yongzhou. [1] When the future Emperor Xiaowu marched north against the usurper, Hezhi was promoted to General Who Assists the State and put in charge of Yongzhou's garrison, but he fled south instead. After Xiaowu succeeded, Hezhi was made General of the Right Guard. In the second year of Xiaojian (455) he was appointed General Who Assists the State and inspector of Yuzhou but declined the post, returning instead to the Right Guard with the additional title of Attendant Cavalier at Large. The following year he was sent out as inspector of Southern Yanzhou. He was dismissed and placed under house arrest for habitual drunkenness, taking bribes, and bringing a woman from prison into his private quarters. He died the same year and was posthumously made General of the Left with the posthumous title Viscount Xiang.
6
使
The hill country of Guangzhou was home to Li and Liao peoples in great variety and numbers. Generation after generation they raided the lowlands, and the region had long groaned under their attacks. During the Daming era under Emperor Xiaowu, Chen Tan, a great chieftain of Hepu, submitted to the court and was made Dragon Soaring General. In the fourth year (460) Chen Tan asked that imperial troops subdue those who had not yet submitted. He was appointed administrator of Gaoxing while retaining his general's rank. The court sent the former Zhuti administrator Fei Shen and the Dragon Soaring general Wu Qi south with an army, also to open the route to Zhuya. They accomplished nothing, murdered Chen Tan, and rebelled. Shen was thrown into prison and died there. The kingdom of Funan sent tribute in the eleventh, twelfth, and fifteenth years of Yuanjia (434–438), when King Jayavarman dispatched envoys to Emperor Wen.
7
西使
Among the southwestern peoples was the state of Heluoduo. In the seventh year of Yuanjia (430) it sent envoys with a memorial that read:
8
滿 殿 調
We have heard that the sage sovereign honors the Three Treasures, raises stupas and temples, and fills the land with them. Your cities are majestic and pure, your crossroads broad and level. Terraces and halls stand in ranks like mountain ranges, refined and splendid as a palace of heaven. When the sacred king goes abroad, the four armies are complete and countless attendants guard him. Men and women of the capital dress in splendor; the markets overflow with goods and treasure; your laws are just, and none plunder one another. Students gather everywhere; the three vehicles advance together; the true Dharma spreads like clouds and rain. The four seas are open and all nations meet; the Yangzi flows pure, deep, and wide, sustaining every living thing; yin and yang are in harmony and no plague walks the land. Who else possesses such glory? Great Song at Yangdu—your sacred king is without equal, ruling the upper realm. You are filled with compassion, nurturing all beings as a parent; you bear insult with equanimity and make no distinction between friend and foe; you relieve the poor and keep nothing in store; your light reaches everywhere like the sun; all rejoice in you as under a clear moon. Your ministers are worthy; your officials upright; all serve the throne with undivided loyalty.
9
使 使
I bow before the emperor, who is my true sovereign. I am Jiankai, king of Heluoduo. I bow my head at your feet and beg Your Majesty to know that this devotion is of long standing, not a sudden whim. Mountains and seas lie between us, and I could not come myself; I send these envoys to lay my loyal heart before you. The two men I send are named Birin and Botian; I charge them to come before the Son of Heaven. I am humble and obscure—who would know my mind? I send these two men to speak for me. If this plea succeeds, I shall count myself alive though I die. Your great realm extends its protection far abroad; I am but one frontier guardian on its edge. All who dwell in your realm enjoy your kindness; extend that grace to us as to your own servants. My kingdom was once populous and strong and suffered no bullying from its neighbors; now we grow weak and neighboring states press in on every side. I beg the sacred king to shelter us from afar and to let merchants travel freely without hindrance. If you take pity on us, send your envoys back in good time so that these kingdoms will not despise us, and so that your renown may spread abroad—for today is the day to succor the weak. The two men I now send share my inmost heart; whatever they report is honest and may be believed. I ask that you instruct Guangzhou to send ships back regularly and forbid anyone along the route to rob or plunder them. Grant us hereafter the right to send tribute envoys every year. I now offer these humble gifts and beg you graciously to receive them.
10
使
The state of Heluodan ruled Java. In the seventh year of Yuanjia (430) it sent envoys with diamond finger-rings, red parrots, white cotton cloth from India, ancient shell currency from Lambaka, and other goods. In the tenth year (433) King Vishnuvarman of Heluodan sent a memorial that read:
11
殿
To the Ever-Victorious Son of Heaven: the Buddhas, World-Honored Ones, abide in peace; possessed of the three penetrations and six superknowledges, they are the path for the world—the Tathagata, worthy of offerings, perfectly enlightened. Their relics remain; stupas and images adorn your realm like Mount Sumeru. Villages and towns lie in ordered rings; your walls and halls are like the palace of Trayastrimsha Heaven—lofty palaces and solemn towers. The four armies stand complete and subdue every foe; the land is rich and at ease, free from every ill. Following your forefathers, you rule by righteous law; your people are good and prosper in all they do. North of the snowy mountains snowmelt pours forth; a hundred streams swell, pure of the eight flavors, winding round till they reach the sea—and every creature drinks its fill. Among all lands you are supreme—this is China, Great Song at Yangdu. You inherit the work of the Ever-Victorious King; your virtue accords with Heaven, your kindness shades the four seas; your wisdom is complete and your transforming power obeys none. Though human, you are heaven-born to guard the world—a treasury of merit, great compassion saving all—and you are my lord, the Ever-Victorious Son of Heaven. Therefore I bow my whole body in deepest reverence. King Vishnuvarman of Heluodan bows his head and sends greeting.
12
Later his son seized the throne from him. In the thirteenth year (436) he sent another memorial:
13
[2] 殿
At the feet of the Great-Auspice Son of Heaven: you are free of lust, anger, and delusion; you pity all beings; your good thoughts are complete. Dragons of heaven and spirits honor and serve you. The World-Honored One's majestic radiance shines upon you like the moon in water, like the sun at dawn; the white tuft between your brows [2] illumines the ten directions, white as snow, bright as the moon, pure as a flower. Your bearing is sublime; heaven's dragons and spirits bow before you. The treasure of the true Dharma and the monks in pure conduct adorn your realm; your people flourish in peace and joy. Your walls rise high as Mount Gandhara; many brave warriors guard your city; your towers are solemn and your streets level. Your people wear every kind of robe like the garments of heaven. Among all kingdoms yours is the most sublime and blessed. At Yangzhou—the Carefree Heaven Lord—you pity all beings and give your people peace and joy. Your discipline is pure, your compassion deep and wide; you rule by righteous law and honor the Three Treasures. Your fame has reached the farthest lands; all have heard of you. Your people rejoice to behold you as at the new moon; like Brahma, lord of the world, all men and gods bow before you. I, Bamo of Heluodan, bow with my head at your feet as though you stood before me; I prostrate my body on the ground like the steps of your hall; I honor you as I would the World-Honored One, my head on the earth, my body bent in greeting.
14
忿 使 使
I had the good fortune to inherit my father's realm—then a wicked son rose against me and I lost my kingdom. Now I turn with all my heart to the Son of Heaven to preserve my life. I send Birin to greet you, great lord. I wished to come myself to lay my case before you, but I fear the sea and its storms and cannot reach you. That I still live is thanks to Birin's loyal devotion—a debt I can scarcely repay. This was your great realm's ally; a wicked son has seized it and driven me out. I burn with resentment and mean to take revenge. I beg you, great lord, to let Birin purchase armor, weapons, robes, coats, and horses, and to see that he returns safely and soon. I once sent Jyotishipala and received your generous gifts, but the wicked son seized them all. I write so that you may know. I now offer these humble gifts and beg you to accept them.
15
使 使
Afterward Heluodan sent envoys again. In the twenty-sixth year (449) Emperor Wen proclaimed: "The three states Heluodan, Panhuang, and Panta have repeatedly crossed the distant seas with sincere submission and tribute. Their distant loyalty deserves reward; let them all be granted titles and office." Envoys were dispatched with patents of appointment: "You who admire righteousness and submit in sincerity, showing loyalty from the far frontier—where imperial grace reaches, even the remotest shall be honored. We therefore bestow these canonical titles upon you. Receive this solemn charge with reverence and hold your offices firm—can you do otherwise?" In the twenty-ninth year (452) it again sent its chief clerk Panhe Shami with regional gifts.
16
使 使 使 使 [3]使[4]
The kingdom of Panhuang: in the twenty-sixth year of Yuanjia (449) King Shilipanluobamo sent envoys with forty-one kinds of tribute. Emperor Wen invested him as King of Panhuang with a patent reading: "You who govern the frontier and lead your people to court—imperial grace spreads everywhere, even to the darkest corners. It is fitting to issue this canonical patent and grant you this honorable charge. Obey the rites and preserve your realm to the end—can you do otherwise?" In the twenty-eighth year (451) tribute came again. In the third year of Xiaojian (456), under Emperor Xiaowu, it again sent its chief clerk Zhuna Panzhi with a memorial and gifts. Zhunapanzhi was made General Who Quells Might. In the third year of Daming (459) it presented red and white parrots. In the eighth year of Daming (464) and the second year of Taishi (466), under Emperor Ming, tribute envoys came again. Emperor Ming appointed its chief clerk Zhuxuliluoda and its former chief clerk Zhuna Panzhi, General Who Quells Might, both as Dragon Soaring Generals. The kingdom of Panta: in the twenty-sixth year of Yuanjia (449) King Shilibulingjiabamo sent envoys with tribute. Emperor Wen invested him as King of Pada with a patent reading: "You who look to our civilization with sincere hearts, eager for our teachings—imperial grace reaches even the remote frontier, and wild lands submit; we therefore bestow this splendid patent to honor your righteous loyalty. Obey the statutes and preserve your blessed realm to the end—can you do otherwise?" In the twenty-sixth and twenty-eighth years (449, 451) envoys came again with tribute. The kingdom of Shepoboda:[3] in the twelfth year of Yuanjia (435) King Shilipodatuohalobamo sent envoys with a memorial reading:[4]
17
宿 殿 使使
To the Great Lord of Song, Most Auspicious Son of Heaven: I bow to the All-Knowing One at peace—the Teacher of gods and men who conquered the four demons, attained perfect enlightenment, turned the wheel of the Dharma, saved all beings, completed his teaching, and entered nirvana; whose relics spread across the land, raising countless jeweled stupas towering like Mount Sumeru; whose scriptures shine like the sun; and whose countless pure monks stand like stars in the heavens. Your realm is vast, your people innumerable; your palaces and cities rival the halls of heaven. You are known as the Most Auspicious Son of Heaven of Great Song, the great state of Yangzhou; you dwell secure within it, inheriting the sages of old and ruling the four seas—all within Jambudvipa bow to you. As all drink from these waters and receive their blessing, though I am far away I too share in your grace; though the great sea divides us, I remain your loyal subject in spirit. Look upon my sincere devotion and in mercy accept me. If you grant my request, I will send envoys within the year; whatever you require, I shall supply on your command. I pray you will trust and accept me, without doubting my intent. I now send chief envoy Fotuopoduo and deputy envoy Gedi to convey my humble devotion, bowing before you, Most Auspicious Son of Heaven. I pray you will trust what Poduo reports, and grant every request I make. I offer these modest gifts as tokens of my humble devotion.
18
[5]
The kingdom of Sri Lanka: in the fifth year of Yuanjia (428),[5] King Kshatriya Mahanam submitted a memorial reading:
19
I respectfully address the enlightened ruler of Great Song: though mountains and seas stand between us, news still passes between our realms. Though I cannot see you in person, I know your virtue reaches as high and wide as heaven and earth, your wisdom shines like sun and moon; beyond the four seas none resists you. Princes of every realm send envoys bearing tribute in earnest submission. Some sail three years or march a thousand days—drawn by your power and goodness, none stays away. Since the time of my forefathers we have governed through virtue rather than force, honoring the Three Treasures, bringing the Way to the world, rejoicing in others' goodness as our own, and wishing together with Your Majesty to spread the true Dharma and save those hardest to convert. We therefore send four monks and two lay disciples bearing an ivory altar image as pledge of our faith; when our envoys return, we ask that you send word in reply.
20
使
In the twelfth year (435) envoys came again with tribute.
21
使
Kapili in India: in the fifth year of Yuanjia (428) King Yue'ai sent envoys with a memorial reading:
22
殿滿
From afar I have heard of your realm: set between rivers and sea, ringed by mountains, endowed with every excellence, pure and splendid as a divine city—your palaces rise in majesty, your streets lie level, your people abound in joy and ease. When the sage king travels abroad, the four seas attend him. Wise, benevolent, harming no living thing, he draws every nation to homage; his kingdom's wealth is boundless as the sea. Your subjects follow the true Law; the Great King, benevolent and sage, teaches them through the Way, showering mercy on all beings without stint. The Emperor keeps pure precepts beyond compare; his supreme Dharma vessel rescues the drowning. Ministers and officials serve in contentment; the heavens protect him, myriad spirits attend him, demons are subdued—all submit to his rule. Your majesty stands upright as the rising sun; your benevolence spreads like rain from great clouds. Sages inherit your cause as sun and moon in the sky—among the true realms of the Dharma, yours is supreme.
23
My kingdom lies on the Kapili River, reaching eastward to the sea. Its walls on every side are built of purple stone; the god Shiluo protects us, keeping the land secure and at peace. Kings have ruled in unbroken succession; our people for the most part practice goodness. Foreign lands gather here to follow the Way. In every monastery the images are wrought of the seven treasures, with splendid offerings as in the time of former kings. I myself keep the precepts and violate none of the Law. My name is Yue'ai; I have renounced my worldly royal lineage.
24
使 使使使 便 使使使
I pray only that the Great King's sacred person enjoys health and harmony, and that all his ministers and officials live in peace. I now submit this kingdom—all its officials, its people, its mountains, rivers, and treasures—to you in complete allegiance, bowing in full devotion at your feet. Mountains and seas lie between us, preventing my coming to court; in deepest reverence I send envoys to receive your commands. The envoy's father is named Tianmosida; the chief envoy is Nitada—a man always good, loyal, and trustworthy, whom I therefore send to testify to my sincerity. Whatever rare treasures you require, I shall send them. This land shall be your kingdom; your laws and wise governance I shall adopt in full. May envoys of our two realms travel back and forth without end. When these envoys return, I ask that you send one of your own to proclaim your sacred will in full. I pray this earnest devotion will not be sent away unanswered. This is my plea; I ask your compassion.
25
使使
He offered a diamond finger ring, molila gold rings and other treasures, and one red and one white parrot. In the second year of Taishi (466), under Emperor Ming, envoys came again with tribute; chief envoys Zhufuda and Zhuamituo were both made Generals Who Establish Might.
26
使 使
In the eighteenth year of Yuanjia (441) King Nalinnalobamo of Sumoli sent envoys with tribute. In the second year of Xiaojian (455), under Emperor Xiaowu, King Shiboluanalintuo of Jintuoli sent his chief clerk Zhuliutuo and others with gold, silver, and precious vessels. In the first year of Yuanhui (473), under Emperor Houfei, Poli sent tribute envoys. All these kingdoms practiced Buddhism.
27
[6]退 [7]
Buddhism entered China under Emperor Ming of the Later Han and gradually spread. From emperors to commoners, all turned to it. Scriptures accumulated in vast numbers, their teachings profound and far-reaching, until Buddhism stood as a distinct tradition. In the twelfth year of Yuanjia (435) Danyang prefect Xiao Muzhi memorialized: "Buddhism has flourished in China for four dynasties; images, pagodas, and temples number in the thousands—they can anchor the faithful[6] and draw others to devotion. Yet lately devotion has grown shallow; people no longer prize sincere faith, but compete in extravagance. Old temples crumble unattended while everyone races to build new ones, each trying to outdo the rest. They squander timber, bamboo, copper, and silk without limit on temples that do nothing for the gods but weigh heavily on the people. Such excess construction should be restrained; without checks the waste will never stop. [7] I ask that from now on anyone wishing to cast bronze images must report to the central administration; Construction of pagodas, temples, and monasteries must first be announced to the local chief official, who shall report through the commandery to the province; Work may begin only after approval is received. Anyone who builds without permission shall be punished under the statute for defying imperial edicts; bronze images, properties, and orchards shall be confiscated." The emperor approved. Monks were also screened; several hundred were defrocked.
28
使
In the second year of Daming (458), under Emperor Xiaowu, the monk Tanbiao conspired with the Qiang tribesman Gao Ge to rebel. The emperor then issued an edict: "Buddhism has fallen into decay; monks are a confused lot, failing to uphold the faith while harboring fugitives. Treachery mounts, outrages multiply, morals are corrupted, and both men and gods are offended. Let local authorities conduct a thorough purge; future violators shall be severely punished." Many regulations followed; all monks except those of ascetic virtue were forced to return to lay life. Yet temple nuns continued to enter the palace and consort with imperial women, and the policy could not be enforced.
29
使 使 [8][9]
Earlier in the Jin, Yu Bing first proposed that monks bow to the emperor; Huan Xuan later revived the idea—but neither succeeded. In the sixth year of Daming (462), Emperor Xiaowu had officials memorialize: "Deep halls and lofty seats are not meant merely for grandeur; bowing and prostration serve not only as marks of respect—they uphold the four bonds and order the realm. Though Confucianism, Legalism, Naming, and Mohism part into schools, all agree on honoring kin and reverencing superiors. Buddhism alone, coming from beyond the western frontier, departs from the classics. Its teachings are remote, its doctrines difficult for ordinary people. Its core has grown obscure, its subtle words lost; literalism hides the Way, and lately it spreads only the more. Monks now overstep propriety, standing proud before noble kin, forgetting their place and the deeper purpose of civilizing rule. Buddhism teaches humility and loyal devotion—monks bow to elders, not the reverse.[8] Even Maudgalyayana bowed to his seniors.[9] How then can monks kneel to one another yet refuse to bow to parents, or prostrate before elders yet stand stiff before the emperor? Proposals at Xiankang and Yuanxing failed through partisan obstruction. Now that the dynasty shines bright and all look to the throne, yet within the capital live subjects who refuse to bow, and before the imperial seat stand guests who resist ritual—is this how to unify conduct and set a clear example? We propose that when monks are received in audience they should show full reverence according to custom—thus court order will be preserved on every side." The emperor approved. At the start of Emperor Qianfei's reign the old practice was restored.
30
使
When Emperor Xiaowu's beloved Consort Yin died, he built a temple in her honor. Her son Ziluan had been enfeoffed as Prince of Xin'an, so the temple took that name. Emperor Qianfei killed Ziluan, then demolished Xin'an Temple and expelled its monks; soon after he destroyed Zhongxing, Tianbao, and other temples as well. Emperor Ming, having quelled the rebellion, issued an order: "My predecessor built the Zhongxing and Xin'an temples to endure for generations and spread the flourishing teaching. Under recent tyranny their images were destroyed and their monks scattered—a cause for deep sorrow. Their profound teachings can still support the moral order. Recall the former monks to their temples and send craftsmen to restore them as needed."
31
[10] 便
A renowned monk of the Liu Song was Daosheng. Daosheng was from Pengcheng. His father served as magistrate of Guangqi. [10] He left home to become a disciple of the monk Fada. From childhood he was brilliant; by fifteen he could expound the sutras. As an adult he developed distinctive views and formulated the doctrine of sudden enlightenment, which won wide admiration. He died on Mount Lu in the eleventh year of Yuanjia (434). The monk Huilin composed his elegy.
32
Huilin was from Qin County in Qin Commandery, of the Liu clan. He entered monastic life young at Yecheng Temple, excelled in both Buddhist and secular learning, and won the favor of Prince Yizhen of Luling. He wrote the Treatise on Equilibrium and Goodness, which begins:
33
西
A master of White Learning held that China's sages had governed for generations with vast virtue and all-encompassing wisdom, leaving no principle of heaven or man unexplored—their Way hid nothing, their teaching omitted nothing. How could they be inferior to foreign creeds? A priest of Black Learning scorned this, saying it illumined neither the underworld nor the afterlife—that though it prized emptiness of mind, it could not empty worldly affairs, and fell short of the depth of the Western Regions. White Learning then asked precisely where it fell short.
34
祿 覿 西 使 便 便
White asked: "Is the emptiness taught by the Buddha the same as or different from Lao Zi's emptiness?" Black answered: "Different. The Buddha treats things as empty and merges emptiness with things into one. Lao Zi holds both being and non-being; for him emptiness and being differ. How can they be the same? White asked: "If the Buddha empties things, are things truly empty?" Black replied: "Yes. Emptiness upon emptiness—nothing remains but emptiness itself. White asked: "Heaven, earth, and man endure throughout the cosmos; all creatures teem upon the land—which of these is empty? Black replied: "It empties only their inherent existence, without denying their conventional forms. Timbers are joined to raise a hall, yet no single "sleeping chamber" exists apart from the whole; hairs are piled until they would gird a tree, yet no sandalwood trunk is there. Nothing that lives endures a breath; even Mount Tai is not eternally firm. All things rise and fall without fixity; causes and conditions have no sovereign lord. Emptiness applies to intrinsic nature, not to practical use—and I hold your objection to be in error. White asked: "The ultimate reality you describe—is emptiness really like this? Black answered: "It is. White pressed on: "The flux of change is plain before our eyes—is this not what every eye sees and every ear hears alike? Yet you would climb the Dharma seat to expound it, and dismiss rival teachings as shallow—I see no profundity in that. Black replied: "This truth seems close at hand, yet pursued in earnest it recedes beyond reach. The heart must cherish what is empty; affairs must be grounded in what is real. Empty what is truly real, cast off what is merely false, and the snares of craving cannot remain. If craving is gone and one still will not take the Dharma seat, I see no way we could ever understand each other. White said: "Split a hair and the tree is 'empty'—yet no □ branching shade remains; dismantle the timbers and the room is 'empty'—yet its carved beams lose none of their beauty. Proclaim impermanence and you only deepen the longing for shade; preach such one-sided zeal and you only sharpen the dread of the passing day. Brocade gleams through many hues; stew finds its flavor in salt and plum. The Marquis of Qi chased the Shuangjiu bird's song; the King of Yan knew no art of long life. I fear your talk of harmony and your doctrine of fragility only feed the appetites they claim to cure, and cannot uproot the passions of love and rivalry. Black answered: "This truth lies beyond anything Huaxia has known—the classics and histories cannot touch it. White replied: "China already overflows with such sayings—that mountains grow high from humble stones, that rivers and trees grow great from small beginnings, that boats vanish into ravines and fire passes from torch to torch, that hard-white and Tang-market sophistries abound. They are not the deepest truth, and so are not made the foundation of teaching. You claim to cast off passion and burden and make an empty heart your Way—yet when you dissect things case by case, is that not still within fingertip's reach? Black said: "The teaching of Zhou and Confucius extends only to this one life. It knows nothing of the boundless karma of lives to come. Goodness brings blessing no further than one's descendants; evil brings punishment no further than later generations. Reward stops at rank and emolument; punishment ends in poverty and disgrace. Beyond what eye and ear can reach, all is darkness—how lamentable. Shakyamuni seals off the karma of countless lives and breaks through the heaviest barriers. He refines the mind within a square inch, yet his light outfills the cosmos. With one compassionate deliverance he transforms all beings beyond counting. Describe hell and people fear their sins; preach heaven and all rejoice in its blessings. Point to nirvana as the long homecoming; mount the Dharma-body and survey the far reaches. His divine transformations leave nothing untouched; his grace extends everywhere. Sages of old soared in ages past; the awakened of later times rise without end. How can one trapped in a well know the dwelling of the truly great? White said: "You can certainly enlarge your rhetoric. Yet when tested, divine light shows not even an inch of radiance; miraculous change reveals not the slightest trace. The devout see no face of salvation; the earnest student gains no proof of transcending the void. You speak of measureless life—who has met a man of a hundred years? You praise the diamond's hardness—where is this imperishable substance to be seen? When words fail the test of affairs, one should seek what the speaker truly meant and set aside the doctrine he merely used to say it. To demand heaven as the price of virtue—is that better than embracing righteousness and walking the Way? To fear hell as the curb on conduct—is that better than following reason and setting the heart aright? One bows in worship to buy release from sin, not from reverent awe; one gives a single coin to claim a hundredfold return, not from unstinting generosity. Praise nirvana's bliss and you breed longing for ease; praise the marvel of the Dharma-body and you stir a taste for novelty. Near cravings are not stilled before far rewards are dangled. Though you say bodhisattvas are without desire, ordinary beings remain creatures of desire. You would rescue people worn down by strife, yet open forever a culture of gain and rivalry. Can spirit be clarified and the Way recovered by such means? Black replied: "Not so. Unless you hold out the desires of the next life, how can you counter the inertia of this one? Human nature cannot leap to the goal at once; one must lure it forward step by step. Relinquish this fleeting moment for that boundless reward—without sowing in spring, what harvest can autumn bring? Sit upright in the bottom of a well and still your thoughts—you will sink forever beneath the nine springs. White exclaimed: "How strange! How perverse is the course you pursue! The Way lies in freedom from desire, yet you would reach it through desire—like going north to find Ying or marching west to seek Yue, growing ever more lost in the dark north while forever stranded at the western sunset. Min and Chu lie immeasurably far—can they ever be reached? What you call gradual progress, I call daily diminishment. First let go of what is slight, then forget what weighs heavily, until profit and desire fall away day by day and purity arises of itself. How can the lesser demand the greater, the coarse trade for the subtle? In every motion, nothing stirs except for gain—and where gain leads, is there any end? Paint and lacquer dazzle the eye; timber and stone feed a lust for grandeur. Extravagance drains the wealth of the realm; useless projects displace the people's urgent needs. Building schemes become private patronage; preaching becomes the forging of sectarian power. Harsh asceticism wins a name for fierce devotion; defending the Dharma becomes a theater for domineering rivalry. How lamentable. Where, then, can the Way find a home? Zhou and Confucius cultivated custom and did not meddle with what lies beyond sight and hearing. Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi shaped the age by urging each person to keep to his natural place—nothing more. Black said: "The three wanderers drew on benevolence and righteousness; Robber Zhi drew on the five virtues. When the sages' legacy decays, is the rot confined to one camp alone? And among the followers of Huang-Lao, the fraud of talismanic writs and the deceit of water-rites are beyond counting. You are at ease with that and alarmed by this—playing in muddy water while turning from the clear deep. White replied: "Where there are traces, decay follows; where there are methods, fraud appears. That is why the sages set limits. What I lament is that greed has been made into practice and then into custom—that its corruption is not corrected but celebrated as virtue. As for the licentious and deluded, the age itself holds them in contempt; their line is already spent and not worth discussing. Black asked: "If the Buddha's teaching was meant only to redeem barbarian ways, does it have nothing to offer Huaxia? White answered: "Why should that be so? From the outset it opened a path worth following: cherish all life and renounce killing; give freely even to the people of Zhou; still the heart and leave aside the hunger for glory; great beings spread the resolve to save all. When benevolence, righteousness, and the deepest unity are already present, what higher thing remains to exalt? It is only a pity that its subtle intent has grown dim and its later followers have become a burden. Black said: "Your view of goodness is nearly the same as mine—yet would you limit all affairs to this life alone? White replied: "The realm beyond life is not wholly knowable through human affairs. Zhou and Confucius doubted but did not presume to decide; Shakyamuni decided but could not prove his case. We should set aside their conflicting outward claims and keep what each truly intended. Let me explain. Those led by benevolence and righteousness submit to reason and are transformed; those guided by reward and warning follow advantage and turn toward good. Sweet words arise where desire remains and fade once principle is understood; plain teaching suits those heaven has awakened and stills where greed and falsehood cease. Hence the talk of future lives: Daoists and Buddhists, having no alternative, veil the truth; the silence about the dark beyond: the Zhou and Confucius, in their own way, closed the gate. Seen this way, those who speak are not necessarily far from truth; those who know are not necessarily enlightened; those who do not know are not necessarily lost. Know only that the six paramitas may walk beside the five virtues, and that faith and obedience may stand together with compassion. Different roads may lead to the same end—but one need not cling to the first rut the wheel cut."
35
The treatise circulated widely. Older monks took it as an attack on Buddhism and sought to have him ostracized. Emperor Wen read the treatise and praised it. During the Yuanjia era Huilin entered the circle of power and was consulted on major state matters. Visitors flocked to his door and dozens of carriages often lined the street; gifts poured in from every quarter, and for a time his influence eclipsed all others. His commentaries on the Classic of Filial Piety, the "Free and Easy Wandering" chapter of the Zhuang Zi, and the Literary Discourses also circulated.
36
The monks Huiyan and Huiyi also lived at Dong'an Temple, men of refined learning and conduct esteemed by clergy and laity alike. At the time Dou Arena Temple was known for its Chan monks, and a saying circulated in the capital: "Dou Arena—a cave of meditation masters; Dong'an—a forest of doctrinal debate."
37
In the fourth year of Daming (460), Emperor Xiaowu held a vegetarian feast at Zhongxing Temple. A strange monk appeared whom no one recognized. Asked his name, he said he was Minghui and had come from Tian'an Temple—then vanished without warning. No temple by that name existed anywhere in the realm, so Zhongxing Temple was renamed Tian'an Temple. During the Daming era the foreign monk Mahayana, an ascetic of refined understanding, produced many new sutras in the capital; the Shravakabhumi Sutra was especially prized among Buddhist scholars.
38
使 使使 使使
The Eastern Yi kingdom of Goguryeo now occupied the territory of Han's Liaodong Commandery. In the ninth year of Yixi (413), King Gao Lian of Goguryeo sent Senior Clerk Gao Yi with a memorial and tribute of a sorrel-and-white horse. Lian was appointed Bearer of the Staff, Commander-in-Chief of Ying Province, General Who Conquers the East, King of Goguryeo, and Duke of Lelang. When Emperor Gaozu took the throne, he issued an edict: "Lian, Bearer of the Staff, Commander of Ying Province, General Who Conquers the East, King of Goguryeo, and Duke of Lelang, and Ying, Bearer of the Staff, Commander of Baekje, General Who Pacifies the East, and King of Baekje, have both upheld righteousness beyond the seas and faithfully sent tribute from afar. At this renewal of the dynasty they deserve the state's favor: Lian is promoted to Grand General Who Conquers the East, and Ying to Grand General Who Pacifies the East. Their titles as Bearer of the Staff, commander, king, and duke remain unchanged. In the third year of his reign Lian was further appointed Regular Attendant and given additional command over Ping Province. In the second year of Jingping (424), Lian sent Senior Clerk Ma Lou and others to court with local tribute. The emperor dispatched envoys with words of comfort: "The Emperor inquires of Lian, Bearer of the Staff, Regular Attendant, Commander of Ying and Ping provinces, Grand General Who Conquers the East, King of Goguryeo, and Duke of Lelang: you have inherited your post in the eastern marches and continued your predecessors' service. Your grace is manifest and your loyalty clear, crossing the Liaodong frontier and the sea to bring tribute to our court. I, lacking virtue, have undeservedly inherited the great throne. I ever recall the deeds of my predecessors and seek to extend their legacy. I now send the ushers Zhu Shaobo and Wang Shaozi to convey my message and express my regard. May you prosper, govern with benevolence, and long uphold your service, fulfilling the charge entrusted to you and my own wishes."
39
[11] 使 使使 使
Earlier, the Xianbei ruler Murong Bao had governed Zhongshan until defeated by the Northern Wei and driven east to Huanglong. At the start of the Yixi era (405), Bao's brother Xi was killed by his general Feng Ba, who seized power and styled himself Prince of Yan. Because he ruled from Huanglong city, his realm was called the Huanglong kingdom. When Feng Ba died, his son Hong succeeded him.[11] The Northern Wei attacked repeatedly but could not bring him down. Throughout Emperor Wen's reign they sent tribute annually. In the twelfth year of Yuanjia (435) additional titles and appointments were conferred. In the fifteenth year (438) the Northern Wei attacked again. Hong was defeated and fled to Beifeng city in Goguryeo, where he petitioned the Liu Song court for rescue. Emperor Wen sent Wang Baiju and Zhao Cixing to escort him south and ordered Goguryeo to provide supplies for the journey. Lian, unwilling to let Hong reach the south, sent generals Sun Su and Gao Chou to ambush and kill him. Wang Baiju led his force of more than seven thousand men in a surprise attack, captured Sun Su alive, and killed Gao Chou and two others. Lian demanded that Wang Baiju and his men be handed over for having killed without authorization. The emperor, not wishing to offend a distant ally, had them imprisoned but then pardoned.
40
使 使
Lian continued to send envoys every year. In the sixteenth year (439), as Emperor Wen prepared a northern campaign, he ordered Lian to supply horses; Lian sent eight hundred. In the second year of Xiaojian (455), Lian sent Senior Clerk Dong Teng with a memorial of condolence on the second anniversary of the emperor's mourning and with local tribute. In the third year of Daming (459) he again sent birch arrows and stone arrowheads of Sushen make. In the seventh year (463) an edict declared: "Lian, Bearer of the Staff, Regular Attendant, Commander of Ping and Ying provinces, Grand General Who Conquers the East, King of Goguryeo, and Duke of Lelang, has through generations shown loyalty and righteousness as a frontier prince beyond the seas. Sincerely bound to our court and resolved to destroy our enemies, he communicates across the frontier and faithfully carries out the imperial will. He deserves further honor to mark his steadfast loyalty. He is appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry and Opener of the Office with the ceremonial rank of the Three Excellencies; his other titles remain unchanged. During the Taishi and Yuanhui eras under Emperors Ming and Houfei, tribute continued without interruption.
41
西
The kingdom of Baekje originally lay more than a thousand li east of Liaodong, alongside Goguryeo. Later Goguryeo seized part of Liaodong and Baekje part of Liaoxi. Baekje's seat was known as Jinping Commandery, Jinping County.
42
使 [12] 使 使 使西 使 使 西 使
In the twelfth year of Yixi (416), Yu Ying, King of Baekje, was appointed Bearer of the Staff, Commander of Baekje, General Who Pacifies the East, and King of Baekje. [12] When Emperor Gaozu took the throne, Yu Ying was promoted to Grand General Who Pacifies the East. In the second year of Jingping (424), Ying sent Senior Clerk Zhang Wei to court with tribute. In the second year of Yuanjia (425), Emperor Wen addressed him with an edict: "The Emperor sends greetings to Bearer of the Staff, Commander of Baekje, Grand General Who Pacifies the East, and King of Baekje. Through successive reigns your house has shown loyalty and submission, crossing the sea to prove its devotion. You have inherited the throne, taken up arms, and restored your ancestors' enterprise. Your zeal for righteousness is manifest and your heart utterly sincere. You have crossed the waters by raft to bring tribute and gifts. On succeeding to the throne you were entrusted with office as a frontier prince in the east. We urge you to govern well and not fall short of your forebears. We are sending the Concurrent Master of Ceremonies Luqiu Enzi and the Concurrent Deputy Master of Ceremonies Ding Jingzi to proclaim this edict, convey our consolation and commendation, and speak on Our behalf." Thereafter envoys were sent every year with memorials and regional tribute. In the seventh year (430), King Yu Pi of Baekje again resumed tribute. He was granted the titles held by Yu Ying. In the twenty-seventh year (449), Pi submitted a memorial with regional gifts. Through the court envoy Feng Yefu, prefect of Xihe, he privately petitioned for copies of the Yilin, Shizhan, and waist crossbows; Emperor Wen granted everything requested. When Pi died, his son Qing succeeded him. In the first year of Daming (457), Baekje sent envoys asking for formal appointments, and the court agreed. The next year Qing sent envoys with a memorial stating: "Through many reigns my kingdom has enjoyed exceptional favor. Worthy ministers, civil and military alike, have generation after generation received ranks from Your Majesty. Acting General Who Conquers the Champions and Right Worthy King Yu Ji and eleven others have served with such loyalty and diligence that they merit promotion. I humbly ask Your Majesty to show them compassion and grant them appointments. Yu Ji, Acting General Who Conquers the Champions and Right Worthy King, was appointed General Who Conquers the Champions. Yu Kun, Acting General Who Conquers Barbarians and Left Worthy King, and Yu Yun, Acting General Who Conquers Barbarians, were both promoted to full Generals Who Conquer Barbarians. Yu Du and Yu Yi, both Acting Generals Who Assist the State, were appointed full Generals Who Assist the State. Mu Jin and Yu Jue, both Acting Generals of the Flying Dragon, were appointed full Generals of the Flying Dragon. Yu Liu and Mi Gui, both Acting Generals Who Pacify the North, were appointed full Generals Who Pacify the North. Yu Xi and Yu Lou, both Acting Generals Who Establish Might, were appointed full Generals Who Establish Might. In the seventh year of Taishi (471), during the reign of Emperor Ming, Baekje again sent envoys with tribute.
43
使 使 西 使 使 使 使
The kingdom of Wa lay in the open sea southeast of Goguryeo and for generations faithfully paid tribute. In the second year of Yongchu (421), Emperor Gaozu issued an edict: "King San of Wa sends tribute from ten thousand li away. Such distant sincerity deserves recognition; let him be granted titles and office." In the second year of Yuanjia (425), San again sent the marshal Cao Da with a memorial and regional tribute. When San died, his younger brother Zhen succeeded and sent envoys with tribute. He styled himself Bearer of the Staff, Commander of the Six States of Wa, Baekje, Silla, Imna, Qinhan, and Mohan, General Who Pacifies the East, and King of Wa. He memorialized the throne asking for formal appointment, and the court named him General Who Pacifies the East and King of Wa. Zhen again asked that thirteen men including Wa Sui be formally appointed to the ranks of General Who Pacifies the West, General Who Conquers Barbarians, General Who Conquers the Champions, and General Who Assists the State; the court granted all the requests. In the twentieth year (443), King Ji of Wa sent envoys with tribute and was again confirmed as General Who Pacifies the East and King of Wa. In the twenty-eighth year (451) he was further granted the titles Bearer of the Staff and Commander of the Six States of Wa, Silla, Imna, Kara, Qinhan, and Mohan; his title of General Who Pacifies the East remained unchanged. The twenty-three military and prefectural appointments he had listed were also granted. When Ji died, the crown prince Xing sent envoys with tribute. In the sixth year of Daming (462), Emperor Xiaowu issued an edict: "Crown Prince Xing of Wa has borne loyalty through many reigns, guarded the frontier beyond the seas, received our civilization and kept his realm at peace, and faithfully maintained tribute. Having newly inherited this frontier charge, he should receive rank and title: let him be General Who Pacifies the East and King of Wa." When Xing died, his younger brother Wu succeeded and styled himself Bearer of the Staff, Commander of the Seven States of Wa, Baekje, Silla, Imna, Kara, Qinhan, and Mohan, Grand General Who Pacifies the East, and King of Wa.
44
使 西 [13] 忿使 [14] 使
In the second year of Shengming (478), Wu sent envoys with a memorial stating: "My kingdom lies far away, a frontier realm beyond the seas. From our earliest ancestors we have worn armor and marched through mountains and rivers without rest. We have conquered fifty-five hairy-peoples' states to the east and brought sixty-six Yi domains of the west to submission; we have crossed the sea and pacified ninety-five states to the north. The royal way flourishes and our territory reaches the distant marches. Generation after generation we have paid homage at court, never missing a year. Though I am unworthy, I have inherited my forebears' charge and lead my people in homage to the celestial throne. Our route lies through Baekje; [13] we have prepared ships for the voyage. But Goguryeo, devoid of justice, seeks to swallow us whole. It raids our border people and slaughters without end, delaying our embassies again and again and breaking the good custom of tribute. Though we call it the road to court, sometimes it is open and sometimes barred. My late father Ji burned with hatred for this enemy, who had choked off the road to the Son of Heaven. With a million archers at his call and his righteous fury roused, he was on the verge of a great campaign when death suddenly took him and his brother—so the work nearly done was lost for want of one last basket of earth. I remain in mourning and have not taken up arms; hence we have paused, and victory is still unrealized. But now I mean to train armor and marshal troops to fulfill my father and brother's purpose. My loyal warriors, civil and military alike, will serve to the death; even with blades before them they will not turn back. If by Your Majesty's all-encompassing virtue this mighty foe can be crushed and the frontier troubles settled, we shall not fall short of the achievements of those who came before us. I have taken upon myself the acting rank of Opener of the Office with the Ceremonial of the Three Excellencies, and have provisionally granted the rest their titles [14] to reward loyalty and steadfast service." An edict confirmed Wu as Bearer of the Staff, Commander of the Six States of Wa, Silla, Imna, Kara, Qinhan, and Mohan, Grand General Who Pacifies the East, and King of Wa.
45
調 谿谿谿谿谿[15]谿
The barbarians of Jing and Yong provinces were descendants of Pan Hu. Their clans were divided and settled across many commanderies and counties. Jing Province maintained a Southern Barbarians office; Yong Province maintained a Pacifying Barbarians Commandant to oversee them. Early in the reign of Emperor Xiaowu the Southern Barbarians office was abolished and merged into the chief prefecture, while the Pacifying Barbarians command remained unchanged. Barbarians who submitted paid only a few hu of grain per household and owed no other levies; by contrast Song subjects faced crushing taxes and corvée. The poor could no longer endure it, and many fled into barbarian territory. The barbarians owed no corvée, and their strong men did not pay official grain tax either. They formed bands of hundreds or thousands. Where provincial and commandery forces were weak they turned to banditry. Their numbers grew until no one could say how many households they comprised. They lived mostly in rugged, inaccessible country. Those in Wuling along the Xiong, Man, Chen, You, and Wu streams [15] were called the Five Stream Barbarians. Barbarians in Yidu, Tianmen, Badong, Jianping, and the Han River north country likewise lived in deep mountains behind steep passes, where hardly any traveler went. From earlier dynasties they had repeatedly troubled the population.
46
[16]
In the second year of Jingping (424), the Yidu barbarian chieftain Shi Ning and one hundred twenty-three others came to court with tribute. In the sixth year of Yuanjia (429), fifty Jianping barbarians led by Zhang Yongzhi; in the seventh year, one hundred thirteen Yidu barbarians led by Tian Sheng—all came to court for audience. Later the Mian River barbarians rose in force and travel along the route nearly ceased. Zong Jiaozhi, magistrate of Liao Middle in Tianmen, imposed corvée and levies that were far too heavy; [16] the barbarians could not endure it. In the eighteenth year (441) the barbarians Tian Xiangqiu and others rebelled, overran Liao Middle, and carried off the populace. Jingzhou inspector the Prince of Hengyang, Yiji, sent the acting retainer Cao Sunnian to attack and rout them, taking more than five hundred captives alive. Jiaozhi was dismissed from office. In the twenty-fourth year (447), the Linju and Dangyang barbarians of Nan Commandery rebelled and seized the Linju magistrate Fu Songji. Jingzhou inspector the Prince of Nanqiao, Yixuan, sent the central army retainer Wang Chen to attack and defeat them.
47
使祿 便 [17]
Earlier, Yongzhou inspector Liu Daochan had been adept at winning over the barbarians. Those who had refused submission all came to obey, and he resettled many along level ground near the Mian River. When Daochan died the barbarians rebelled again. When Prince Xiaowu took up his post in Yongzhou, barbarian bands cut the roads; he attacked and routed them. The court sent the army commander Shen Qingzhi against them year after year; wherever he marched they were suppressed. The campaigns are recorded in Qingzhi's biography. In the first month of the twenty-eighth year (451), Long Mountain and Zhishui barbarians raided Niyang County. Nanyang prefect Zhu Tanshao sent troops against them but was defeated, with more than three hundred killed or wounded. Tanshao then sent two thousand men in pursuit, and the barbarians broke and fled. That same year barbarians along the Zhi River exploited the terrain to raid. Yongzhou inspector the Prince of Sui, Dan, sent envoys to address them: "You have seen how the Emperor's favor reaches even the farthest lands. Those who submit receive reward; those who resist are destroyed without remainder. The court now grants a general amnesty and offers renewal. Return to your old homes, live in peace, and resume your livelihoods. Let this be the moment you change your ways." Earlier the barbarian chieftain Lu Nuzi had seized Long Mountain and repeatedly troubled the frontier. Lu Gui was at Changshe; Nuzi went over to him. Gui spoke to the Northern Wei ruler, and Nuzi was made Prince of the Four Mountains. When Gui's son Shuang returned to Song service, Nuzi also sought to submit. The Prince of Sui again sent troops against the barbarians north of the Mian, storming the stockades at Zhuo Mountain, Rukou, and Shusong and then besieging Shengqian, Baiyi, and others. [17] The barbarians resisted with all their strength. Song cavalry in full armor flanked them with bowshot and broke them completely, taking two hundred heads, a thousand captives, and eighty head of cattle and horses.
48
During the Daming era, the Jianping barbarian chieftain Xiang Guanghou ravaged the Xia River country. Badong prefect Wang Ji and Jingzhou inspector Zhu Xiuzhi sent troops against him, and Guanghou fled to the Qing River. The Qing River lay more than a thousand li from Badong. At the time barbarians in Badong, Jianping, Yidu, and Tianmen were raiding, and registered households fled until barely one in a hundred remained. The devastation was worst under Emperors Ming and Shun. Campaign after campaign failed to stop them, and Jing Province was left drained and ruined.
49
[18]
During Daming the Guiyang barbarians rebelled and killed the Li magistrate Yan Zhenzhi; the Linhe barbarians rebelled and killed the Kaijian magistrate Xing Bo'er. [18] General Who Strengthens Martial Xiao Chongzhi was sent against them but took few captives at great cost and was punished.
50
西西
The barbarians of Yuzhou were descendants of Lord Lin. The stories of Pan Hu and Lord Lin are recorded in earlier histories. In Xiyang the Ba, Qi, Xi, Chiting, and Xigui rivers marked the territory of the Five Water Barbarians. They lived in steep ravines, their clans flourished, and for generations they raided as bandits. Their lands stretched from the Huai and Ru in the north to the Yangzi and Han in the south, covering several thousand li.
51
西 西 [19] 殿使[20]使
In the twenty-eighth year of Yuanjia (451), Xiyang barbarians killed Nanchuan magistrate Liu Tai along with his entire household. The next year more than two thousand Xincai barbarians overran Great Lei garrison, seized public and private vessels, and carried them all into the lake. Among the barbarians was the fugitive Sima Heishi, and together they plundered as bandits. Emperor Wen sent the crown prince's infantry commandant Shen Qingzhi at the head of armies from Jiang, Jing, Yong, and Yuzhou to suppress them. In the fourth year of Daming (460), Emperor Xiaowu again sent Qingzhi against the Xiyang barbarians. He won a great victory and returned. Sima Heishi had three chief followers. One named Zhi; Heishi was called "Grand Duke" and served as their strategist. One named Anyang, who styled himself Prince of Qiao; and one named Xuzhi, who styled himself Prince of Liang. The barbarian leader Wen Xiaoluo and others captured Xuzhi. [19] Shi Caifu, a barbarian chieftain, then seized control; Xiaoluo and the others in turn killed Caifu and five members of his family—six men in all. Yuzhou inspector Wang Xuanmo sent the palace gentleman Guo Yuanfeng to reassure the barbarians and order them to deliver the fugitives. They bound Zhi, Heishi, and Anyang and sent them to Xuanmo. [20] Emperor Xiaowu had them executed at Shouyang.
52
西 西 使
The Historian remarks: In Han times interpreters from the west traveled routes tens of thousands of li long, crossing Headache Mountain and the rope bridges of the deep gorges—journeys on which many set out alive and were brought back only as ashes. After the Jin court moved south, the Yellow and Long River country lay beyond reach; barbarians choked the roads, and the outer world seemed severed from heaven. Great Qin and India lay far beyond the western sea. Even in Han times envoys found the route arduous; yet goods still came, sometimes through Jiaozhi, borne on ships across open sea and carried far by the monsoon winds. Beyond them rose countless rugged peaks and innumerable peoples under strange names and titles. Mountain treasures and river jewels flowed from those lands—rhinoceros horn, kingfisher plumes, snake pearls, and fire cloth among marvels beyond counting. Every sage ruler coveted them, and so ships sailed in endless succession and merchant envoys came one after another. When southern tribute failed to arrive, Emperor Wen dispatched armies far abroad. The victory at Quanpu shook the eastern seas, and unknown treasures filled the imperial stores. The frontier peoples have always been a deep affliction. The Man and Bo were especially numerous, clinging to mountain fastnesses near the capital itself. Living cheek by jowl with Chinese subjects, they easily turned vicious; year by year they plundered and seized territory. From the middle of the Yuanjia era rebellion spread ever wider until it ensnared whole provinces and unsettled the realm. Then generals were sent forth to kill without restraint. From the country north of the Han and Yangzi to that south of Mount Lu they scourged mountains and valleys, exhausting armies and prisoners by the millions. Captives included children and the very old. Soldiers indulged their thirst for blood until war's cruelty was spent. It was said to settle old scores—but the retribution was appalling. As Zhang Huan said, "Blood flows across the fields; harmony is wounded and disaster follows." That is truly the word of a humane ruler.
53
Collation Notes
54
西
"Appointed Western Center Commandant and Inspector of Yong Province": in all editions "Yong" appears as "Ya." Zhang Senkai's collation note and Sun Xiao's Critical Study of the Book of Song both hold that "Yazhou" should read "Yongzhou." On examination, Zhang and Sun are right; the text has been corrected accordingly.
55
In the phrase "like the sun first rising, the white tuft between the brows," all editions omit the two characters for "rising" and "brow," and all read "white tuft" as "zi meng." Sun Xiao's Critical Study of the Book of Song notes that the Tianzhu memorial reads "like the sun first rising," so the lacuna here is probably the character for "rising" as well. The Liang Shu also records a memorial from Langyaxiu stating, "The white tuft between the brows, white as snow." Zi meng" is a corruption of "bai hao," and the lacuna should also contain the character for "brow." Sun's argument is accepted and the text has been corrected accordingly.
56
Shepoboda state: the Annals of Emperor Wen reads "Shepopoda state." The History of the Southern Dynasties reads "Shepoda state."
57
使
King Shilipodata Aluobamo sent envoys with a memorial—the name "Shilipodata Aluobamo" appears in the History of the Southern Dynasties as "Shilipodata Hetuoluobamo."
58
使
Fifth year of Yuanjia: the Annals of Emperor Wen records Lion State tribute in the seventh month of the seventh year of Yuanjia, but not in the fifth.
59
The phrase "advancing can bind the heart" reads "strike" for "bind" in all editions; emended according to Yuan Gui, fascicle 689.
60
"Flowing flight not ceasing" reads "way" for "flee" in all editions; emended according to the Comprehensive Mirror for the twelfth year of Yuanjia under Emperor Wen.
61
In "meeting people, then bowing," all editions insert "way" before "people"; the extra character is deleted per the Biographies of Eminent Monks.
62
"Treating lightly ritual toward the two parents" reads "body" for "ritual" in all editions; emended per the Comprehensive Mirror.
63
"Magistrate of Guangqi" reads "Guangwu" in all editions; emended per the History of the Southern Dynasties and the Biographies of Eminent Monks.
64
"Ba died and his son Hong succeeded": Feng Hong was Feng Ba's younger brother, as the Jin Annals record; "son" should read "younger brother"—likely Shen Yue repeated a rumor from neighboring states.
65
使
The appointment of Baekje king Yuying as Bearer of the Staff, commander of Baekje forces, and General Who Pacifies the East matches the History of the Southern Dynasties reading "Yuying." The Comprehensive Institutions, Frontier Defense section, reads Fuyu Tian; the note gives the pronunciation tuo-dian.
66
"The route passes through Baekje" reads "distant" for "pass through" in all editions; emended per the History of the Southern Dynasties and the Comprehensive Institutions.
67
"The rest all received provisional appointments" omits "each" in all editions; the character is restored per the History of the Southern Dynasties and the Comprehensive Institutions.
68
谿谿谿谿谿谿谿
The Wuling tribes include the Xiongxi, Minxi, Chenxi, Youxi, and Wuxi streams; the History of the Southern Dynasties reads "Martial Stream" for "Dance Stream."
69
Magistrate Zong Jiaozhi of Tianmen imposed crushing Yao levies; the History of the Southern Dynasties and the Comprehensive Institutions read "Song Jiaozhi."
70
They also besieged the stockades of Shengqian and Baiyi; the History of the Southern Dynasties reads "Douqian" for "Shengqian"—the ancient characters for sheng and dou are easily confused.
71
"Magistrate of Kaijian Xing Bo'er" reads "Guanjian" in all editions; emended per the provincial gazetteer. Xiangzhou's Linqing commandery included Kaijian county.
72
The barbarian chieftain Wen Xiaoluo captured Xuzhi; the History of the Southern Dynasties reads "Wen Shanluo."
73
The barbarians delivered Zhi, Heishi, and Anyang to Xuanmo; the History of the Southern Dynasties reads only "Zhi and Anyang, two men," which is probably correct. The text above names three followers of Sima Heishi: Zhi, Anyang, and Xuzhi. Since only two men are mentioned here, the Southern Dynasties reading "Zhi and Anyang" fits; the Book of Song wording would imply three. Moreover, Sima Heishi was their leader at the time; his name should not follow Zhi's—"Heishi" is likely a scribal interpolation.
74
"Overall commander of the Four Mountains military affairs" reads "person" for "affairs" in all editions; emended per the History of the Southern Dynasties.
75
The execution of Jinxi administrator Yan Zhizhi and Prince Zixun's registrar Shen Guangzu appears as "Shen Guangmingzu" in all editions. Sun Xiao's Critical Study of the Book of Song notes that Shen Yue's autobiographical preface names registrar Shen Guangzu of Prince Zixun, so the extra character "ming" here is spurious.
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