The Tang Emperor observed good karma

The Poem says:

 

A hundred years flow past like water's stream,
A life's great work, a bubble on the foam.
Yesterday's face bore peach bloom's rosy gleam,
Today, white snowflakes crown the head like loam.
White ants' battalions shattered – all a dream;
The cuckoo's plaintive cry calls longing home.
Since ancient times, good deeds prolong one's span,
Heaven itself blesses the virtuous man, though none may scan.

 

Now, Tang Taizong, following Judge Cui and Marshal Zhu, having escaped the clutches of his creditors and foes, journeyed for a long time until they arrived at the place of the "Six Paths of Reincarnation." There he saw beings soaring on clouds draped in rainbow robes, and those receiving titles wearing golden fish pendants. Monks, nuns, Taoists, laypeople, wild beasts, flying birds, and all manner of evil spirits surged tumultuously towards the wheel of reincarnation below, each entering their destined path.

 

The Tang Emperor asked, "What is the meaning of this?"
Judge Cui replied, "Your Majesty, enlightened in heart and perceiving true nature, must remember this and transmit it to the living in the world of light. This is called the Six Paths of Reincarnation:

 

• Those who perform good deeds ascend to the Immortal Path.

   

• Those who are utterly loyal are reborn into the Noble Path.

   

• Those who practice filial piety are reborn into the Fortunate Path.

   

• Those who are just and fair are reborn into the Human Path.

   

• Those who accumulate virtue are reborn into the Wealthy Path.

   

• The wicked and poisonous sink into the Ghostly Path."

   

Hearing this, the Tang Emperor nodded and sighed, "Excellent! Truly excellent! Performing good deeds indeed brings no calamity! A good heart is ever earnest; the path of goodness opens wide. Do not let evil thoughts arise; they surely bring deceit and strife. Speak not of no retribution; gods and ghosts have their arrangements."

 

Judge Cui escorted the Tang Emperor right up to the gate of the Noble Rebirth Path. Bowing, he called out to the Tang Emperor, "Your Majesty, this is the place of emergence. This humble judge bids farewell and requests Marshal Zhu to escort you one stage further."
The Tang Emperor thanked him, saying, "I have troubled you, Sir, to travel so far."
Judge Cui said, "When Your Majesty returns to the world of light, you must by all means perform a Land and Water Mass to deliver the souls of the unclaimed wronged dead. Do not forget this. Only when there are no voices of grievance in the underworld can the world of light enjoy the blessings of peace. In all places where there is wrongdoing, you can reform it one by one. Widely instruct the people to do good, and you will surely ensure your descendants flourish and your realm endures secure."

 

The Tang Emperor assented to each instruction. He took leave of Judge Cui and, following Marshal Zhu, entered the gate together. Inside, the Marshal saw a fine sea-trotting horse, fully saddled and bridled. He urgently requested the Tang Emperor to mount. The Marshal supported him on both sides. The horse sped like an arrow and soon arrived at the banks of the Wei River. There, they saw a pair of golden carp frolicking and leaping in the waves on the water's surface.

 

The Tang Emperor was delighted at the sight and reined in his horse, unable to tear himself away from watching.
The Marshal said, "Your Majesty, urge your horse onward! We must hurry to enter the city before the appointed time passes."
But the Tang Emperor, absorbed in watching, refused to advance. The Marshal seized him by the foot and shouted, "Why do you not go? What are you waiting for?" With a splash, he pushed the Emperor off the horse into the Wei River. Thus, he escaped the underworld and returned directly to the world of the living.

 

Meanwhile, at the court of the Tang dynasty, civil and military officials like Xu Maogong, Qin Shubao, Hu Jingde, Duan Zhixian, Ma Sanbao, Cheng Yaojin, Gao Shilian, Yu Shinan, Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Xiao Yu, Fu Yi, Zhang Daoyuan, Zhang Shiheng, Wang Gui, and others, all guarding the Eastern Palace Crown Prince, the Empress, concubines, palace maids, and attendants, were gathered in the White Tiger Hall, lamenting in mourning. On one side, they discussed drafting an edict of mourning to proclaim to the world, intending to support the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne.

 

At that moment, Wei Zheng, standing nearby, said, "Gentlemen, stop! Impossible! Absolutely impossible! If we alarm the prefectures and counties, unforeseen trouble may arise. Let us wait one more day; I am certain our Sovereign will return to life."

 

From below, Xu Jingzong stepped forward and said, "Minister Wei speaks utter nonsense. Since ancient times it is said, 'Spilled water cannot be gathered up; the departed do not return.' How can you still speak such empty words, confusing people's hearts? What reasoning is this?"
Wei Zheng replied, "To be frank with you, Master Xu, this humble official received instruction in immortal arts from childhood; my calculations are most accurate. I guarantee His Majesty is not dead."

 

As they were speaking, they heard a series of loud shouts from within the coffin: "Drowned me! Drowned me!" This terrified the civil and military officials, making their hearts pound, and caused the Empress and concubines to tremble with fear. Their faces turned as yellow as mulberry leaves after autumn; their waists became as limp as tender willow twigs before spring. The Crown Prince's legs went weak; he could hardly hold the mourning staff to perform the rites of grief. The attendants' souls took flight; how could they don the mourning caps and observe the filial rites? Concubines stumbled; palace maids staggered. The concubines stumbling were like withered hibiscus blown over by a fierce wind; the palace maids staggering resembled delicate lotuses battered askew by a sudden downpour. The assembled ministers were horror-struck, their bones soft and sinews numb. Trembling with fear, they stood dumbstruck. The White Tiger Hall seemed like a bridge with its beam broken; the mourning platform resembled a collapsed temple.

 

At this moment, all the palace maids had fled. Who dared approach the bier to support the coffin? Fortunately, the upright Xu Maogong, the fiercely principled Minister Wei Zheng, the courageous Qin Qiong (Shubao), and the recklessly bold Jingde stepped forward. Supporting the coffin, they called out, "Your Majesty, what troubles your heart? Tell us. Do not haunt us and startle your family!"
Wei Zheng said, "It is not haunting. This is His Majesty returning to life! Quickly, fetch tools!" They opened the coffin lid and indeed saw Taizong sitting inside, still crying, "Drowned me! Who saved me?"

 

Maogong and the others helped him up, saying, "Your Majesty, revive yourself! Do not fear. Your servants are all here protecting you."
Only then did the Tang Emperor open his eyes and say, "We suffered bitterly just now. Having barely escaped the evil ghosts of the underworld, We then suffered the disaster of drowning in the river."
The ministers said, "Your Majesty, set your heart at ease, do not fear. What flood disaster?"
The Tang Emperor said, "We were riding our horse, just reaching the banks of the Wei River, when We saw a pair of fish sporting. Marshal Zhu, with treacherous intent, pushed Us off the horse into the river, where We nearly drowned."
Wei Zheng said, "Your Majesty, the ghostly aura has not yet dissipated." He urgently ordered the Imperial Hospital to prepare a soul-calming, spirit-stabilizing decoction and arranged for congee. After taking it once or twice, His Majesty finally regained his fundamental state and awareness. Calculating, the Tang Emperor had been dead for three days and nights before returning to the world of the living as its ruler.

 

The Poem says:

 

Eternal hills and streams know change's reign,
Through generations, triumph, loss remain.
Strange tales of Zhou, Qin, Han, and Jin abound,
But who like Tang's King rose from death's dark ground?

 

As the sky was already dark that day, the ministers requested the King to retire to rest, and they dispersed. The next morning, they shed their mourning garments and changed into colorful court robes. Dressed in red robes and black hats, adorned with purple sashes and golden insignia, they waited outside the court gate to be summoned.

 

Having taken the soul-calming, spirit-stabilizing medicine and several bowls of congee, Taizong was helped into his bedchamber by his ministers. He slept soundly all night, conserving his energy, and only rose at dawn, shaking off sleep and resuming his majestic bearing. See how he was attired:

 

On his head, a 'Pierce-the-Heavens' crown;
On his body, a robe of imperial brown.
At his waist, a Lantian jade belt, blue and green;
On his feet, boots 'Found-the-Realm', trouble-free and keen.
His bearing majestic, outshining the court;
His might awe-inspiring, his rule now re-wrought.
A splendid, righteous Great Tang King, serene,
Revived from death, Lord Li, the living sovereign!

 

The Tang Emperor ascended the Golden Luan Throne Hall and gathered the civil and military officials in two ranks. After the mountain-shaking cries of homage, they formed ranks according to grade. Then an edict was proclaimed: "Let those with matters to report step forward; if none, the court is dismissed."

 

From the eastern rank stepped forward Xu Maogong, Wei Zheng, Wang Gui, Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, Yuan Tiangang, Li Chunfeng, Xu Jingzong, and others. From the western rank stepped forward Yin Kaishan, Liu Hongji, Ma Sanbao, Duan Zhixian, Cheng Yaojin, Qin Shubao, Hu Jingde, Xue Rengui, and others. Together they came forward, prostrating themselves before the white jade steps, and addressed the throne: "Your Majesty, that dream you had during your previous court session – how is it that you awoke only after so long?"

 

Taizong replied, "The other day, upon receiving Wei Zheng's letter, We felt Our soul leave the hall. We saw only the Imperial Forest Guard requesting Us to go hunting. As We proceeded, both men and horses vanished. Then We saw Our late father, the former Emperor, and Our deceased brothers quarreling. While We were finding this difficult to resolve, a man in a black hat and dark robe appeared. It was Judge Cui Jue. He shouted Our brothers into retreat, and We handed him Wei Zheng's letter. While he was reading it, We saw a black-clad attendant holding banners who led Us inside to the Hall of Darkness, where We conversed with the Ten Kings of the Underworld. He mentioned the false accusation by the Jing River Dragon about Us promising rescue but then killing him. We recounted the earlier events in full. He said the case had already been tried before the Three Tribunals and urgently ordered the Register of Death and Life to be fetched to examine Our allotted lifespan. Judge Cui presented the register. After reading it, King Yama said, 'We, the solitary king, see you have thirty-three years of Heaven's Mandate. You have only passed thirteen. You still have twenty years of allotted life.' He immediately ordered Marshal Zhu and Judge Cui to escort Us back. We took leave of the Ten Kings, promising to send them melons and fruits in gratitude. After leaving the Hall of Darkness, We saw in the underworld multitudes beyond counting – those disloyal and unfilial, those violating propriety and righteousness, those wasting the five grains, those deceiving openly and secretly, those using false measures, those adulterous, thieving, fraudulent, lecherous, and deceitful – suffering the torments of grinding, burning, pounding, and filing, enduring the tortures of boiling, hanging, and flaying. We could not see them all. Then We passed through the City of Wrongful Death, filled with countless wronged souls. They were all the spirits of rebels from the sixty-four regions of turmoil and the seventy-two bands of outlaws, blocking Our path forward. Fortunately, Judge Cui acted as guarantor, borrowing a treasury of gold and silver from an old man surnamed Xiang in Henan to buy off the ghosts, allowing Us to proceed. Judge Cui instructed Us that upon returning to the world of the living, We must by all means perform a Land and Water Mass to deliver the unclaimed, solitary souls. He repeated this instruction earnestly at our parting. After emerging from beneath the Six Paths of Reincarnation, Marshal Zhu requested Us to mount a horse. We sped along like flying until We reached the banks of the Wei River. There We saw a pair of fish sporting on the water's surface. Just as We were delighting in the sight, he seized Our foot and pushed Us into the water. Only then did We regain Our soul."

 

Hearing this, all the ministers congratulated him without exception. Subsequently, this account was compiled and disseminated. Officials from all prefectures and counties submitted memorials of celebration, which need not be detailed here.

 

Now, Taizong also issued an edict pardoning criminals throughout the land and reviewed the serious offenders in the prisons. The examining official reported over four hundred condemned criminals sentenced to hanging or beheading from the Ministry of Justice. Taizong pardoned them to return home. They were to bid farewell to their parents and brothers and entrust their property to relatives, nephews, and sons, pledging to return to the Ministry of Justice on the same day next year to receive their due punishment. The prisoners thanked his grace and withdrew. He also issued a proclamation for the relief of orphans. Furthermore, he discovered there were three thousand elderly and young palace maids in the palace and issued an edict to have them married off to soldiers. From then on, both inside and outside the court, all was well. There is a poem as testimony:

 

Great Tang's King, whose grace profound
Surpassed sage kings, enriched the land all round.
Four hundred death-row prisoners left the gaol;
Three thousand wronged maids left palace walls.
Officials praised his longevity high;
Court ministers hailed the dragon nigh.
A single thought of goodness Heaven blesses;
Fortune shields his line through seventeen successions.

 

After releasing the palace maids and pardoning the condemned prisoners, Taizong also issued a royal proclamation, disseminating it throughout the realm. The proclamation stated:

 

"Vast is Heaven and Earth;
Sun and Moon illuminate clearly.
Boundless is the cosmos;
Heaven and Earth tolerate no treacherous faction.
Those who scheme and use deceitful arts
Find retribution in this very life.
Those who practice goodness, seeking little,
Gain blessings – speak not of the next life.
A thousand clever stratagems
Are not equal to being an upright person.
Ten thousand kinds of violent bandits
Cannot compare to frugality and acceptance.
If the heart practices charity,
Why strive to study sutras?
If the intent seeks to harm others,
Vainly reading Tathagata's canon!"

 

From this time on, there was not one person under heaven who did not practice goodness. On one side, he issued a notice seeking worthy men to deliver melons and fruits to the underworld. On the other side, he took a treasury of gold and silver from the Precious Storehouse and dispatched Duke E, Hu Jingde, to Kaifeng Prefecture in Henan to find Xiang Liang and repay the debt.

 

The notice had been posted for several days when a worthy man, answering the summons to deliver melons and fruits, came forward. Originally from Junzhou Prefecture, his surname was Liu, given name Quan. His family possessed immense wealth. However, because his wife, Li Cuilian, had taken a gold hairpin from her head at their doorstep to give to a monk, Liu Quan had scolded her several times, accusing her of not observing wifely propriety by leaving the women's quarters without permission. Unable to bear the humiliation, Mistress Li hanged herself, leaving behind a young son and daughter who wept day and night. Unable to bear the sight, Liu Quan, in desperation, resolved to abandon his life, forsake his family fortune, and leave his children, willingly offering his death to deliver the melons. He took down the royal notice and came to see the Tang Emperor.

 

The King issued a decree instructing him to go to the Golden Pavilion Lodge. There, he placed a pair of southern melons on his head, tucked spirit money into his sleeves, and held poison in his mouth. Liu Quan indeed took the poison and died. His single soul-spirit, carrying the melons and fruits, swiftly arrived at the Gate of Ghosts.

 

The ghostly gatekeepers shouted, "Who are you, daring to come here?"
Liu Quan replied, "I am specially dispatched by the Great Tang Emperor Taizong to present melons and fruits for the Ten Kings to enjoy."
The gatekeepers gladly escorted him in. Liu Quan went straight to the Hall of Darkness, saw the King of Hell, and presented the melons and fruits, saying, "By the decree of the Tang King, I come from afar to offer melons and fruits in gratitude for the Ten Kings' gracious pardon."
The King of Hell was greatly pleased. "Truly a trustworthy and virtuous Emperor Taizong!" He accepted the melons and fruits and then asked the name and origin of the melon-bearer.
Liu Quan said, "This humble man is a commoner from Junzhou city, Liu Quan by name. Because my wife, Mistress Li, hanged herself, leaving our children with no one to care for them, I willingly abandoned home and children, sacrificing my life to serve my country, specifically to present tribute melons and fruits to my King in thanks for the great grace of Your Majesties."

 

Hearing this, the Ten Kings ordered an immediate investigation into Liu Quan's wife, Mistress Li. The ghostly attendants swiftly brought her before the Hall of Darkness, where husband and wife were reunited. After recounting the past events and thanking the Ten Kings for their grace, the King of Hell checked the Register of Life and Death. It showed that both husband and wife had the allotted lifespan to ascend to immortality. He urgently dispatched ghostly attendants to send them back.

 

The ghostly attendants reported, "Li Cuilian has been in the underworld for a long time; her corpse no longer exists. To what shall her soul attach itself?"
The King of Hell said, "The Tang Emperor's younger sister, Princess Yu Ying, is fated to die young now. You may borrow her corpse for her soul to return to life." The ghostly attendants, receiving the order, immediately restored the souls of Liu Quan and his wife. Leading them out of the underworld, they rode the ghostly winds straight to the great country of Chang'an. They pushed Liu Quan's soul back into his body at the Golden Pavilion Lodge. They took Cuilian's soul into the inner palace compound. There, they saw Princess Yu Ying strolling leisurely on the green moss under the flowered shade. The ghostly attendant charged straight into her, knocking her to the ground, seized her living soul, and pushed Cuilian's soul into Yu Ying's body. The ghostly attendant then returned to the underworld, and no more of him.

 

Now, the serving maids in the palace courtyard, seeing Yu Ying fall dead, rushed to the Golden Luan Hall and reported to the three Palaces of the Empress, "The Princess Consort has fallen and died!"
The Empress, greatly alarmed, reported it to Taizong. Hearing this, Taizong nodded and sighed, "Indeed, this confirms what was said. We once asked the Ten Kings of Hell, 'Are the old and the young well?' He replied, 'All are well, only We fear the Imperial Sister's life may be short.' Indeed, his words proved true." All the palace people came in sorrow to look under the flowered shade. They saw the Princess faintly breathing. The Tang King said, "Do not weep! Do not weep! Do not startle her." He stepped forward, lifted her head with his imperial hand, and called, "Imperial Sister, revive! Revive!"

 

The Princess suddenly turned over, crying, "Husband, walk slowly! Wait for me!"
Taizong said, "Imperial Sister, it is We, your brother, and your sister-in-law, here."
The Princess lifted her head, opened her eyes, and looked around. "Who are you people, daring to pull me?" she demanded.
Taizong said, "We are your Imperial Brother and Imperial Sister-in-law."
The Princess said, "Where would I get an Imperial Brother or Sister-in-law? My maiden surname is Li! My childhood name is Li Cuilian! My husband is Liu Quan! We are both from Junzhou Prefecture. Because three months ago, I took a gold hairpin from my head at the doorstep to give to a monk, my husband scolded me for leaving the inner quarters without permission, disobeying wifely duty. He cursed me several times. I choked with anger and hanged myself with a white silk sash, leaving behind a son and daughter who weep day and night. Now, because my husband was specially sent by the Tang Emperor to deliver melons and fruits to the underworld, the King of Hell took pity and sent us both back. He was walking ahead; I was late and couldn't catch up. I tripped and fell. You people are rude! Not knowing my name, how dare you pull me!"

 

Hearing this, Taizong said to the palace attendants, "It seems Our Imperial Sister fell and knocked her senses awry. She is raving." He issued an edict ordering the Imperial Hospital to prepare medicinal broth and had Yu Ying helped into the palace.

 

While the Tang King was still in the throne hall, an official on duty suddenly memorialized, "Long live the Emperor! The melon and fruit bearer, Liu Quan, has returned to life and awaits your decree outside the court gate."
The Tang King, greatly astonished, urgently ordered Liu Quan to be summoned inside. Liu Quan prostrated himself on the vermilion steps.
Taizong asked, "How went the matter of the melons and fruits?"
Liu Quan replied, "Your subject carried the melons and fruits straight to the Gate of Ghosts. Escorted to the Hall of Darkness, I met the Ten Kings of Hell and presented the melons and fruits, fully conveying Your Majesty's earnest expressions of gratitude. King Yama was extremely pleased and repeatedly paid respects to Your Majesty, saying, 'Truly a trustworthy and virtuous Emperor Taizong!'"
The Tang King said, "What did you see in the underworld?"
Liu Quan said, "Your subject did not travel far and saw little. I only heard King Yama ask for my native place and name. I recounted how I had abandoned home and children because my wife hanged herself and wished to come to present melons. He urgently dispatched ghostly attendants to bring my wife before the Hall of Darkness where we met. On one side, he also checked the Register of Life and Death, which said both my wife and I had the lifespan to ascend to immortality. He then sent ghostly attendants to return us. I walked ahead; my wife followed behind. Fortunately, we regained our lives. But I do not know to where my wife's soul has gone."

 

The Tang King, startled, asked, "Did King Yama say anything about your wife?"
Liu Quan said, "King Yama did not say anything about her. I only heard a ghostly attendant say, 'Li Cuilian has been in the underworld a long time; her corpse no longer exists.' King Yama said, 'The Tang Imperial Sister, Li Yu Ying, is fated to die young now. Let Cuilian borrow Yu Ying's corpse to return to life.' I do not know where this Imperial Sister lives or what her home is. I have not yet had time to search for her."

 

Hearing this memorial, the Tang King was filled with joy. Addressing the many officials, he said, "When We took leave of King Yama, We inquired about palace affairs. He said the old and young were all well, only fearing the Imperial Sister's life might be short. Just now, Our Imperial Sister Yu Ying fell dead under the flowered shade. We hurried to help her up and watch; she revived after a short while, crying, 'Husband, walk slowly! Wait for me!' We thought she was raving from her fall. Questioning her further, what she said was identical to Liu Quan's account."

 

Wei Zheng memorialized, "The Imperial Sister's life was briefly cut short. Shortly after reviving, she spoke thus. This is indeed the matter of Liu Quan's wife borrowing a corpse to return to life. Such things do happen. Please summon the Princess to see what she has to say."
The Tang King said, "We have just ordered the Imperial Hospital to bring medicine. We do not know how she fares." He ordered consorts to enter the palace to invite her.

 

Inside, the Princess was shouting wildly, "What medicine am I to take? This is not my home! My home has cool-tiled roofs, not like this jaundiced, sickly house with its gaudy, fox-spirit door panels! Let me out! Let me out!" As she was shouting, four or five female officials and two or three eunuchs supported her and brought her straight to the throne hall.

 

The Tang King said, "Do you recognize your husband?"
Yu Ying said, "What nonsense! We have been husband and wife since childhood, bound by our hair! We bore sons and daughters together! How could I not recognize him?" The Tang King ordered the eunuchs to help her down. The Princess descended the precious steps and went straight to the foot of the white jade steps. Seeing Liu Quan, she grabbed him and said, "Husband! Where are you going? Why didn't you wait for me! I fell down, and those unreasonable people surrounded me, shouting! What is the meaning of this?"

 

Liu Quan, hearing her words were his wife's, yet seeing the face was not his wife's, dared not recognize her. The Tang King said, "Truly, 'When mountains crumble and earth splits, witnesses appear; But catching the living to replace the dead is rare!' What a virtuous sovereign!" He immediately bestowed upon Liu Quan all the trousseau, clothes, and jewelry of the Imperial Sister, just like a dowry. He also granted him an imperial decree exempting him from corvée labor forever, ordering him to take the Imperial Sister and return home. The husband and wife couple thanked his grace before the steps and joyfully returned to their homeland.

 

There is a poem as testimony:

 

Human birth, human death, by former fate are bound;
Short or long, each has allotted years profound.
Liu Quan brought melons, returned to light's domain;
Li Cuilian borrowed flesh, to live again.

 

The couple took leave of the King and went straight to Junzhou city. Finding their former home and children all well, the husband and wife spread the news of their virtuous outcome. Of this we say no more.

 

Now we tell of Duke Yuchi (Gong) taking the treasury of gold and silver to Kaifeng Prefecture in Henan to seek out Xiang Liang. It turned out he made a living selling water. With his wife, Zhang-shi, they sold black bowls and earthenware vessels at their doorstep for a living. Whatever small profit they earned, they considered sufficient only for their daily expenses. Whatever surplus they had, they constantly gave to monks and bestowed in charity, buying spirit gold and silver paper ingots to burn and store in the underworld treasury. Hence, they had this virtuous fruit accruing to them. In the world of light, he was a poor man devoted to goodness; in that world, he was an elder piled high with gold and jade.

 

Duke Yuchi brought the gold and silver to their door, terrifying Xiang Liang and his wife out of their wits. Furthermore, officials from the local prefecture arrived, and carriages and horses crowded outside their thatched cottage. The old couple stood dumb as wooden chickens, kneeling on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly.
Duke Yuchi said, "Old man, please rise. Though I am an imperial envoy, I bring my King's gold and silver to return to you."
Trembling, the old man replied, "This humble one has not lent out any gold or silver. How dare I accept this unaccounted wealth?"
Duke Yuchi said, "I have also learned you are a poor man. It is because you gave to monks and bestowed charity, using all you had to buy spirit gold and silver paper ingots to burn and store in the underworld treasury. In the underworld, you have accumulated money. Our Great Tang Emperor Taizong died for three days, then returned to life. While in the underworld, he borrowed a treasury of gold and silver from you. Now, we return it to you in full. Please receive it item by item so I may return to report."

 

The Xiang Liang couple only kowtowed towards heaven, not daring to accept. "If this humble one accepts this gold and silver, we will die quickly! Although we burned paper to store it, that belongs to the realm of shades. Moreover, where is the proof that the Lord Emperor borrowed gold and silver in that world? We absolutely dare not accept."
Duke Yuchi said, "His Majesty said that Judge Cui acted as guarantor for borrowing your things. You may receive it."
Xiang Liang said, "Even if it meant death, we dare not accept it."

 

Seeing their persistent refusal, Duke Yuchi had no choice but to draft a memorial and dispatch a messenger to report. Taizong, seeing the memorial and learning Xiang Liang refused the gold and silver, said, "This is indeed a virtuous and benevolent elder!" He immediately issued an edict ordering Hu Jingde to use the gold and silver to repair monasteries for him, build a living shrine, and invite monks to perform good deeds, thereby repaying him. When the decree arrived, Jingde bowed towards the capital in gratitude. The decree was proclaimed, and all knew of it. He then used the gold and silver to buy a plot of land within the city, unencumbered by military or civilian claims, about fifty acres in area. Work commenced there to build a monastery named "Imperially Built Prime Minister's Temple." To the left were the living shrines of Xiang Liang and his wife, with a stone tablet inscribed "Supervised by Duke Yuchi Gong." This is the present-day Great Xiangguo Temple.

 

When the work was completed and reported, Taizong was very pleased. He then gathered many officials and issued a notice seeking monks to convene a Land and Water Mass to deliver the orphaned souls of the underworld. The notice spread throughout the realm, ordering officials everywhere to recommend eminent monks of the Way to come to Chang'an for the assembly. Within less than a month, monks from across the land had gathered. The Tang King issued a decree ordering the Deputy Director of the Grand Astrologer, Fu Yi, to select eminent monks to perform the Buddhist rites.

 

Hearing the decree, Fu Yi immediately submitted a memorial to halt the construction of pagodas (stupas), arguing there was no Buddha. The memorial stated:

 

"The methods of the Western Regions lack sovereign and subject, father and son. Using the Three Evil Paths and Six Realms of Rebirth, they delude the foolish, pursuing past sins and peering at future blessings. They chant Sanskrit words seeking to evade [responsibility]. Moreover, life, death, longevity, and premature death originate in nature; punishments, virtues, authority, and blessings depend on the sovereign. Now I hear vulgar followers falsely claim all derives from the Buddha. Since the Five Emperors and Three Kings, there has been no Buddha-dharma. Sovereigns were enlightened, ministers loyal; reigns were long-lasting. Only with Han Mingdi did the establishment of Hu神灵 (Barbarian Deities) begin. Yet, it was only the Sangha monks of the Western Regions transmitting their own teaching. Truly, it is barbarians violating the Middle Kingdom, unworthy of belief."

 

Hearing this, Taizong threw the memorial to his ministers for discussion. The Chancellor, Xiao Yu, stepped forward, bowed his head to the ground, and memorialized:

 

"Buddhism flourished through successive dynasties, promoting goodness and suppressing evil, aiding the state from the shadows. In principle, it should not be abolished. The Buddha is a sage. To oppose the sage is lawlessness. I request severe punishment be established."

 

Fu Yi and Xiao Yu debated. Fu Yi argued that ritual propriety is rooted in serving parents and sovereign, yet the Buddha turned his back on kin to leave home, opposing the Son of Heaven as a commoner and contradicting his inherited body's obligations. "Xiao Yu was not born from a hollow mulberry tree [i.e., has parents], yet he follows a fatherless teaching. Truly, 'He who is not filial has no parents'!" Xiao Yu merely pressed his palms together and said, "The establishment of Hell is precisely for such people."

 

Taizong summoned the Minister of the Imperial Stud, Zhang Daoyuan, and the Head of the Secretariat, Zhang Shiheng, asking about the efficacy of Buddhist rites in seeking blessings.
The two ministers replied, "Buddhism lies in purity, benevolence, and forbearance; its fruit is the rectification of the Buddha-void. Emperor Wu of Zhou ranked the Three Teachings. The Great Wisdom Chan Master praised the profound and distant; offerings made throughout the masses always manifested [results]. The Fifth Patriarch entered the womb; Bodhidharma manifested his form. Since ancient times, all have said the Three Teachings are supreme, venerable, and cannot be destroyed or abolished. We beg Your Majesty to discern wisely and judge clearly." Taizong was very pleased. "Your words accord with reason. Let any who further remonstrate on this be punished." He ordered Wei Zheng, Xiao Yu, and Zhang Daoyuan to invite various Buddhas and select one great virtuous practitioner to be the Altar Master to establish the sacred site. All bowed their heads in thanks and withdrew. From then on, a law was established: anyone who slandered monks or reviled the Buddha would have his arm cut off.

 

The next day, the three court ministers gathered the monks at the Mountain and River Altar and meticulously selected them one by one. Among them, they chose one eminent monk of great virtue. Do you know who he was?

 

Golden Cicada was his primal name;
Only for heeding not the Buddha's sermon,
Transmigrated he to dusty world, suffering trials,
Born to mortal realm, caught in the net.
Entering the womb, he met misfortune first;
Before his birth, a wicked band was nursed.
His father, Chen, of Haizhou, top scholar bright;
His grandfather, Chief of Staff, held courtly height.
His life-stars doomed him to the river's plight,
Adrift with waves, borne by the current's might.
On island, Golden Mount, great karma lay;
Monk Qian'an reared him from that fateful day.
At eighteen years, his mother he did find,
Sought his grandfather, to Chang'an assigned.
The Chief raised armies, mighty force deployed,
Hongzhou rebels crushed, the wicked destroyed.
Top scholar Guangrui escaped Heaven's snare;
Father and son met, joyful beyond compare.
Court honors offered, he refused the claim,
Seeking the monk's path, desiring the Way's fame.
Jiangliu, the Ancient Buddha-child, his name,
Dharma name Chen Xuanzang, known to fame.

 

That day, to the assembly, they recommended the Dharma Master Xuanzang. This man had been a monk since infancy; from leaving his mother's womb, he maintained a vegetarian diet and observed the precepts. His maternal grandfather was Yin Kaishan, Commander-in-Chief of a circuit at court. His father, Chen Guangrui, achieved the top scholar rank and was appointed Grand Scholar of the Wenyuan Hall. He had no love for glory and wealth, delighting only in cultivating stillness and extinction. His origins were noble, his virtue lofty. He was versed in a thousand sutras and ten thousand scriptures; there was none he did not comprehend. He knew all Buddha names and immortal chants. At that time, the three ministers led him before the throne. Brushing off dust and performing the dance of homage, they bowed and memorialized, "Your servants, Yu and others, by sacred decree, have selected one eminent monk named Chen Xuanzang."

 

Hearing the name, Taizong pondered for a long time and said, "Could this be Chen Guangrui's son, Xuanzang?"
Jiangliu'er (The River-Floater) kowtowed and said, "Your servant is indeed he."
Taizong, pleased, said, "Indeed, the selection is not mistaken. Truly a monk possessing virtue and a Chan heart. We bestow upon you the offices of Left Controller of Monks, Right Controller of Monks, and Great Expounder Controller of Monks for All Under Heaven." Xuanzang kowtowed in gratitude, receiving the Great Expounder official rank. He was also granted a five-colored, gold-woven cassock and a Vairocana crown. He was instructed to devoutly bow again to the enlightened monks, arrange the ranks of the śramaṇa (monastic community), draft the imperial decree, and proceed to the Huasheng Temple. There, he was to choose an auspicious day and hour to expound the sutric Dharma.

 

Xuanzang bowed again, received the decree, and departed. He went to the Huasheng Temple, gathered many monks, prepared meditation couches, adorned the merit-making site, and arranged the music. He selected a total of twelve hundred monks, both senior and junior, dividing them among upper, middle, and lower halls. All objects before the Buddhas were arranged in perfect order. The third day of the ninth month of that year was chosen as the auspicious time according to the Yellow Path calendar to commence the Land and Water Mass for forty-nine days. A memorial was submitted. Taizong, along with the imperial relatives, civil and military officials, all arrived at the appointed time to attend, offer incense, and listen to the lectures.

 

But we do not know how the sacred will prevailed; let us listen to the explanation in the next chapter.