The text of the 1663 inscription, memorializing the rebuilding of the synagogue after the 1642 flood.
Now, as to the establishment of the
religion of Israel.
Its origin came from distant past.
Started with Adam
Was the 19th generation from Pangu clan
Continued to Noah.
Continued with Abraham.
Lohan (Abraham) realized the purpose of the
union between Heaven and man.
He rectified himself
to establish the Source of the Decree.
He knew that Tian Dao (Elohi) was
“without sound and without smell,”
touched upon the subtle and mysterious,
created life, “transformed and nourished”
all in its proper sequence.
Did not make idols.
Was not deceived by sorcery.
only honored with prayers,
Made people “exert their minds”
to unite with Heaven
So the heart saw nothing but Dao.
After several transmissions
The sage patriarch Moses was born.
He was blessed by Heaven
Sharply different (from others)
And excelled all of them.
He searched Dao with a sincere heart
Put aside his lustful desires
Forgot sleep and food
Received the Scriptures on Mount Sinai.
He did not build a hut
He did not use fake lodging
As the Book of Rites (Liji) said:
“Do not (raise) an alter
Do not (dig) a pit
Just sweep the earth
And make a sacrifice
Bright in its simplicity.”
The sage fasted and was utterly sincere
In silence, he connected with the heart of Di (Elohim)
Amidst shapes, sounds and all confusion
He alone could elucidate
the source of the mystery.
And so he authored the Scriptures in 53 sections.
It was the easiest and the simplest
It could be known, could be mastered,
Taught people to be good,
Warned people against evil.
Filial piety, brotherhood, loyalty and faithfulness
were sources of the heart.
Benevolence, righteous, ritual, and wisdom
were sources of (human) nature, and
(that) of heave, earth and all creatures.
Laws, customs, relationship, and regulations
were the rules of the Scriptures.
Activity, passivity, work, rest,
daily drinks and foods
were the topics of the Scriptures.
But its greatest (topic)
were prayers and sacrifice.
Those who prayed
Discarded the extravagant and modelled the truth.
They were able to cause those who did not pray
to return to praying.
Before praying
One fasted and bathed
Discarded his lustful desires
Purified his “natural rulers” (mind)
Adjusted the clothes and cap
Respectfully looked up
then (prayed) the Morning Prayer.
Since there was no day that
Heaven was not among people
Therefore three times every day,
morning, noon, and evening (one) prayed.
That was just when man was to see Heaven.
“To attain His brilliance and awe;
To honor Dao, to honor virtue;
To exert His devotion and sincerity.”
Day in and day out.
As the (Book of) Poetry said:
“Going up, going down
He is on the ground
Day in and day out
He is with us here.”
This is to be compatible.
During praying what connected
with the written scriptures
was loudly praising it,
and the prayer was evident.
(when) silently blessing it,
the prayer was secret.
He advanced, and stepped forward
Looked up, and it was in the front.
He retreated, and stepped backwards
All of a sudden and it was behind.
He (turned) left, as it were on the left.
He (turned) right, as it were on the right.
He dared not to be bored or tired
He dared not to be indifferent or reckless
He “must be watchful when alone”
And watched with awe the brilliant morning.
The Book of Poetry said:
“Careful and reverent
to assail the Shangdi (Elohim).”
This is called to be compatible.
One practiced (prayer) by (going)
Forward, backward, ascended and descended.
Kneeling among those who prayed
Absolutely followed the rituals,
Did not exchange words
Did not turn to look around
Did not attend to private affairs.
Going up he entered the reading of the Dao
The Book of Rites (Liji) said:
“The mind has no careless thoughts
must conform to the Dao
hands and legs have no careless moves
must conform to the ritual (li)”
Dao was within those who prayed like this.
Those who offered sacrifice,
They put forth their utmost sincerity
To respond respectfully to the kindness
of heaven and earth.
In the spring everything came to life.
Used cress and pondweed to sacrifice
and recompense living things for their conduct.
In the middle of autumn, everything offered was ripened.
Use fruits to sacrifice
and recompense accomplished things for their conduct.
Everything could be offered.
(they) were not mixed
(they) were not blended
As it said:
“The great broth is not mixed.”
It must be handled with the utmost
sincerity and faithfulness.
The Book of Rites (Liji) said:
Outwardly, with the utmost rigor of things
Inwardly, with the utmost rigor of the will”
This was called the same.
In the winter and summer
We got seasonal food
to sacrifice to the (deceased) forefathers,
and during the sacrifice
performed according to the rites.
If in the balcony, looked at the alcove
If under the balcony, looked up.
At the end of the sacrifice
All enjoyed the divine blessing
And what was left was given away.
Dao was within those who sacrifice like this.
Those who (practiced) smaller (matters)
Like fasting.
Those who fasted purified (their) ambitions.
Those who did it for seven days
they alone attained the purity
of (their) virtues.
On fasting days,
Did not make allowance for food.
Desired for people to rest
And saved on activities
To preserve sincerity
And expelled deceit
With clear goodness
Returned to the beginning.
The Book of Changes (Yijing) said:
“On the seventh day comes return.”
Upon the return one realized
the heart of heaven and earth.
Still were afraid that people confused it
with self desire and
were shallow with the principles of Dao.
Therefore at the end of autumn
(Israelites) closed the house for one day
to purify and cultivate.
Drinks and food were absolutely rejected
to nourish its natural truth
Scholars stopped reading.
Farmers stopped plowing.
Merchants stopped marketing.
Travelers stopped on the road.
Emotions were forgotten.
Knowledge put aside.
Focused the mind and nourished the nature
to cultivate the return to good.
All people were silent.
At the end of the day
Desires were eliminated and principles expanded.
The Book of Changes (Yijing) said:
“Kings of antiquity closed the passes
At the time of the solstice;
Merchants and strangers did not go about.
And the ruler did not go through the province.”
This is called to be compatible.
Caps, marriage, death and funerals
Were similar to the Chinese rites.
Widower, widow, orphans and childless,
nothing was greater than charity.
The laws of the Scriptures
instructed the details and
were hard to explain.
But when the sage patriarch compiled
the duties in the Scriptures
he was robust, pure at the core
without selfish principles.
Dao followed “the luster in perfection”
Like “a bright sun hanging in the air.”
There was no one person who could not see the Dao
There was no one person who did not
know to honor the Scriptures.
The Scriptures were written in characters
although ancient in origin and different in pronunciation.
But when it came to the principles of the Six Classics
They were always similar.
The religion originated in Tianzhu
At the time of the Zhou (Dynasty)
It was transmitted to China.
A temple was built in Daliang.
Throughout its history in the
Han, Tang, Song, and Ming
several times it had gone through changes.
But members of the religion
revered and never wavered.
Like (in matters of) the appropriateness
of what people drink, eat and wear
they did not dare to deviate even for a moment.
Andula started to build the temple,
in the first year of Lungxing (during the reign of)
Emperor Xiao of the Song Dynasty.
Wusida rebuilt it in the 16th year of
zhi zhen of the Yuan Dynasty.
(Then) Lirong, Liliang, Gaojian, and Gaorui
in the fifth year of Tianxun of the Ming,
(because) the waters of Yellow River flooded,
contributed funds for restoration and rebuilding,
In the temple, 13 copies of the Daojing were stored
And 10 volumes of each of the square
And miscellaneous Scriptures.
Member of the religion daily became more numerous.
They were all concerned with respecting
the Laws of the Heavens
and honor the principles of the ancestors.
And they dared not “let it fall like a meteorite.”
At the end of the Ming in the year of ren wu,
the 15th year of Zongzhen,
Bandit Zhuang rebelled.
Three times he laid siege to Bian.
The people of Bian defended it without precedent.
The fiercest the attack was,
The more stubborn the defense was.
Reviewing it after more than six months
The rebels’ plans had failed.
(They) diverted the waters of the
Yellow River to cause floods
Bian was drowned in water,
And when Bian drowned
the temple was destroyed.
And when the temple was destroyed,
The Scriptures were also lost,
Washed away in the waves
Floating in the middle of the stream.
Those people of the religion who
Ferried to the north were only over 200 families.
Wandering in the northern shore of the river
“the last breath” was revived.
Plans were made to obtain the
remnants of the Scriptures.
Gaoxuan, a member owith a gongshi degree,
Followed the order of his father Dongtou
to enter the temple to obtain the Scriptures.
He made the trip several times
He obtained several copies of the Daojing
And 26 copies of the miscellaneous scriptures.
Lizhen, the supervisor of the religion,
And manla Li chengxian were engaged
To examine and collate them.
Under the Great Qing Emperor Xunshi, in the
bin xu year, Chao Yingchen, with the
Office of Scrutiny, and a member with a jinshi degree,
Edited and arranged them in order.
The completed, compiled Scriptures (consisted of)
One Scroll and several sections of the
square scriptures and some 10 volumes of the
miscellaneous scriptures.
Once the repair were completed,
They were quite new.
They rented a large house to store them safely.
Members of the religion gathered, prayed,
and worshipped as in earlier days.
The place of the scriptures was not lost,
The place of the religion was to be transmitted forever.
Although members of the religion
Settled peacefully in the provincial capital,
but in the end, with the drowning
Of the temple at Bian, they were dissatisfied.
At that time Zhao Chengji, a
member and local commander of
Daliang Middle Route Army,
Lead the troops to defend Bian.
He repaired roads, completed the bridge over Liang (River),
called on people to return to their business.
He was afraid that with the temple destroyed
and the members of the religion scattered,
they would not return.
Moreover, he could not bear that
what the ancestors had built and preserved
for several hundred years
was suddenly destroyed in one day.
He dispatched officers and men
Day and night to patrol and defend it
Then his younger brother, Yingdou
entered Bian to take the examination.
They together, amidst the thorns
uprighted the old site.
Those people of Bian who returned to their own business,
their numbers increased daily.
Chengji urged members of the religion
to return to their business several times.
Lizhen and Zhao Yunzhong were
responsible for the remnants of the Scriptures
To be returned to Bian.
The time was already gui si year of
Xunzhi period.
Public meetings were held to contribute funds
to restore the temple.
Everybody was glad to pay their dues
They calculated the cost of labor
to erect the building.
Then (people like) Gaoxuan, a graduate with gongshi degree,
And scholars like Gao Weiping, Li Fatian,
Filed petitions with each local authority
asking for a permit.
Permission was granted.
To restore and repair The Pure and Truth Temple
according to the ancient monastery.
Then (people like) Zhao Chengji were first
to contribute their (government) salary.
Then (people like) Li Zhen and Zhao Yunzhong
Made extreme efforts to gather workers.
They dug out the Front Hall
From the sands of the Yellow River.
And so the Front Hall was erected.
Zhao Yingcheng, a graduate with jinshi degree, with the
General Surveillance of Changnan Circuit, Fujian:
When he returned, due to personal distress
he contributed from his personal salary
to build the three sections of the Rear Hall.
As to
The three sections of the Sage Ancestors Halls,
the three sections of the Ancestor Teaching Hall,
the three sections of the North Lecture hall,
the three sections of the South Lecture hall,
the three sections of the Large Gate,
the three sections of the Secondary Gate,
the three sections of the kitchen,
the one section of the Memorial Archway,
the nine sections of the Walking Hallways,
the Imperial Qing “wan wan sui” (tablet)
displayed in the middle of the Hall,
the seat of the Dragon pavilion,
the two seats of the square pavilions,
the two places for the incense burning,
and devotional residences,
the painting in vermilion and lacquering in black.
It was imposing and glamorous.
Some of the funds came from contributions made
by the members of the religion.
Some of the funds came from the private
purse of individuals.
When the scale of the temple was finally completed
compared to the former one,
it was even more perfect.
Nothing more than reverently to rise
In the middle of the Hall
originally hidden were
thirteen scrolls of the Jing Dao.
All were engulfed in water.
Although several copies were salvaged
There was enough to compile and
sequence one scroll.
All came together to honor it.
And now it was respectfully entered in the
Middle of the Ark of the Respected Scriptures.
On its left and right were 12 volumes.
After the flood calamities
those were the ones that were gradually repaired.
The miscellaneous writings and the square scriptures
each members contributed for their restoration.
And the Great Advisor Zhao Yingcheng
made a record of the changes of the Holy Scriptures.
And his younger brother Yingdou, when he returned
he annotated the Dao, arranged it in 10 chapters.
The writing of the Scriptures thus prepared
And the contents thus clarified
It was clear and explained in plain,
Like the sun and the moon in the sky
Like the streams and rivers crossing the earth.
The Scriptures contained the truth
the interpreters, dared not consult
with “divided branches.”
The scriptures themselves were simple and easy;
the interpreters, dared not
complicate with complex and difficult.
From it, people knew
the principles between Prince and Minister,
the affection between father and son,
the order between elder and younger brothers
the trustfulness between friends,
and the distinction between husband and wife.
The origin was embedded in knowing that one can do good,
that everybody was capable of illuminating the
good (deeds) and return to the beginning.
This was the meaning of the rule of sage patriarchs
and the reason of honoring and respecting the Scriptures.
Although between then and now
Several thousands year had elapsed,
It seemed as if it was in one day.
Plans (were made) for after the convulsions of nature
Zhao Chengji and Yingdou
uprighted the foundation
starting with one end.
Zhao Yingzheng, Gao Denggui, and others
contributed funds to start the building
and completed the work.
They deserved praise for the temple.
Gaoxuan, Zhao Yingcheng had first edited
The Holy Scriptures;
Lizhen and others had repaired (them) later.
They deserved praise for the Scriptures.
As to the stone inscriptions,
the horizontal tablets and the vertical tablets
each was composed by local
and traveling officials in Henan (Province).
Zhao Chengji, a major in charge of the
Western Route Army, in Gu Yuan, Shanxi Province,
when he returned and looked at the magnificent view,
Heaved and sighed:
“It took several hundred years
to create (this) surpassing compound.
Today, I must return to see it thriving.
Then when the offspring will look at this one day
They will not see it the same way as
I see today or as the earlier generation (had seen it).”
Still being afraid that its longevity
would not be handed down,
he desired to engrave all of it in stone
so as it would not perish.
(He) asked to record with me.
I am a (native) of Bian and had known
the religion of Israel.
(I) had uninterrupted friendship with
Major Zhao chengji, and with the
Great Advisor, Zhao Yingcheng
and with the physican Aixian.
I was rather unable to separate between
the beginning and the end
to tell the details.
Therefore based on old records,
I expanded with supplements
so that people would know where the Dao came from.
Furthermore, looking at the restoration of
the temple and the Scriptures today,
the praise that all the people of the religion deserved
should not be forgotten.
That is to be recorded.
Specially promoted to Great Officer
of the Imperial Entertainment,
Second Classical Tutor of the Emperor,
First Title Tutor of the Crown Prince,
Former Minister at the Ministry of Punishment
And presently Minster with the Public Work
Liuchang compose the text.
The Imperial Envoy, with jinshi degree,
Provincial Commander in Chief, Literary Chancellor,
Assistant Provincial Judge in Yunan,
Li Guangzuo wrote the character in vermilion.
The Imperial Envoy, with jinshi degree,
Provincial Commander in Chief, Literary Chancellor,
Assistant Provincial Judge in Guangdong,
Hou Lianghan, wrote the deal characters at the top.
In the Great Qing Dynasty in gui mao year
The second year of the Gangxi period,
on an auspicious day in the middle month of summer,
In its first decade.
Wang Jiayu, a stone cutter from Wan, engraved the stone.
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