Famen Temple (51): Han Yu's Memorial on Advising Against the Welcoming of Buddha's Relics

Emperor Xianzong of Tang, Li Chun, reigned from 806 to 820 AD. Xianzong reduced redundant staff, established rituals, reopened the military examinations, exploited the contradictions between the regional military governors to successively pacify them, and developed production and rectified the malpractices of the times, leading to a temporary revival of the Tang Dynasty. He also hoped to use Buddhism to consolidate his rule, and was a great patron of Buddhism. In the twelfth month of the thirteenth year of the Yuanhe era, Xianzong issued an edict to dispatch envoys to lead monks to Famen Temple to welcome and venerate the Buddha's relics. In the spring of the fourteenth year (819 AD), the Buddha's relics arrived in the capital. After staying in the forbidden area for three days, they were sent to various temples in Chang'an for veneration. This event is detailed in historical texts such as 'Old Book of Tang: Annals of Emperor Xianzong' and 'Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance'. This welcoming of the Buddha's relics differed from previous occasions in several ways: Firstly, Xianzong, wishing for the Buddha's blessings on the revival of the empire and for his own ill health, was very devout during the welcoming ceremony, personally 'holding the Buddha's lamp'. Secondly, the 'Old Book of Tang' refers to the pagoda at Famen Temple as the 'Protector of the Nation' true body treasure pagoda. This change in terminology was not an addition by historians, but originated from the royal family's appellation, indicating that in the emperor's mind, the Buddha's finger relic at Famen Temple was equivalent to a national treasure, and promoting Buddhism was akin to 'protecting the nation'. Thirdly, the most famous incident during this period was the historical event of 'Han Yu's Memorial Advising Against the Buddha' (Figure 1). Han Yu (768-824 AD), the leader of the eight great masters of the Tang and Song dynasties, was a famous literary figure, thinker, philosopher, and was known as 'Han Changli' and 'Master Changli'. During the reigns of Emperor Dezong to Emperor Xianzong, he held positions such as imperial censor, national academy scholar, secretary in the imperial secretariat, and deputy minister of justice. Seeing the frenzy of Buddhism in Chang'an, where 'nobles and commoners rushed to make offerings, fearing to be the last, and the common people abandoned their work and went bankrupt, burning the tops of their heads and arms in offering', he was deeply concerned and, regardless of personal danger, resolutely presented a memorial advising against it. After reading the memorial, Xianzong was furious and wanted to execute Han Yu with the most severe punishment. Pei Du, Cui Qun, and others strongly advised against it, but Xianzong remained angry. People were shocked and lamented, and even the royal relatives thought the punishment for Han Yu was too severe and pleaded on his behalf. Xianzong then demoted him to be the governor of Chaozhou. (See also part 39 of this series) On his way to exile, Han Yu reached Lantian Pass, 50 kilometers southeast of Chang'an, and facing his nephew who had come to see him off, he wrote the timeless masterpiece 'Left Transfer to Lantian Pass to Show to Nephew Sun Xiang': 'A single morning's report reaches the ninth heaven, by evening demoted to Chaozhou, eight thousand li away. Wishing to rid the holy dynasty of its ills, willing to spend my declining years in care. Where is my home across the Qin mountains shrouded in clouds? Snow blocks Lantian Pass, the horse cannot advance. Knowing you have come from afar must have a purpose, take care to gather my bones by the miasmic river's edge.' 'Han Yu's Memorial Advising Against the Buddha' and his experience highlight the intensified conflict between Buddhism and Confucianism, with the emperor clearly taking a stand, not only as a believer but also as a 'protector of the Dharma'. After Xianzong, the reigns of Emperors Muzong, Jingzong, and Wenzong continued to honor Buddhism, without changing the established policy. —Compiled from Han Jinkes 'Famen Temple Underground Palace' and other related materials