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CHINESE SUPERSTITIONS - University of Oregon

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— 436 —<br />

111. Fourth and Fifth Chinese Patriarchs.<br />

Tao-sin ^ f= Hung-jen % 3g,.<br />

1°. Tao-sin jg ff (A.D. 580-651), is held to be the fourth <strong>of</strong><br />

the Buddhist patriarchs <strong>of</strong> China (1). He was a native <strong>of</strong> Ho-nei<br />

jpj pq, and had for father Sze-ma ff] ,^,. Being- an unusually clever<br />

boy, he delighted in reading Buddhist books, and at the age<br />

<strong>of</strong> 14<br />

presented himself to Seng-ts'an f§- ^, begging him to be accepted<br />

as disciple (2). At that time, a violent persecution assailed Buddhist<br />

monks and nuns. Fu-yik ^ i£j (3), historiographer to Kao-tsu "jtj<br />

jjj§, first emperor <strong>of</strong> the T'ang J|f dynasty,<br />

resolved to abolish<br />

Buddhism and Taoism within the land, and petitioned the emperor<br />

to issue an edict ordering<br />

all monks and nuns to return to secular<br />

life. "Hell was made for such fanatics, exclaimed the famous<br />

teacher Tsing-wan pjf ^g, joining at the same time his hands, and<br />

looking up<br />

to heaven"'.<br />

Tao-sin $k f§, upon meeting Seng-ts'an \$ J|£,<br />

addressed him<br />

as follows: "I beg you to show me kindness, and deliver me from<br />

my chains".—"Who bound you, inquired the teacher?" — "Nobody<br />

has bound me, replied Tao-sin $ fg". — "If nobody has bound<br />

you, why do you beg me to release you?" This reply was a flash<br />

<strong>of</strong> wisdom that penetrated deeply into the mind <strong>of</strong> Tac-sin jjff fg.<br />

He became forthwith the disciple <strong>of</strong> Seng-ls'an fQ- ||S,<br />

the Law from his lips for 9 years (4).<br />

and heard<br />

(1) Giles. Chinese Biographical Dictionary, p. 716. — Johnston. Buddhist<br />

China, p. 87.<br />

p. 71(3.<br />

(2) This was in A.D. 594. Giles. Chinese Biographical Dictionary.<br />

(3) Fu-yih *($ 5j£ (A.D. 554-639) impeached Buddhism <strong>of</strong> being a foreign<br />

religion, breaking all ties between father and son, and contributing nothing<br />

to the public funds. The result was that severe restrictions were placed for<br />

a short time upon the teaching <strong>of</strong> this religion. M r Gowan. Imperial History<br />

<strong>of</strong> China, p. 290. — Giles. Chinese Biographical Dictionary, p. 236.<br />

(4) Giles. Chinese Biographical Dictionary, p. 716 (Tao-sin).

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