A statement of thanks for allowing Hongding to be filled into the post of superintendent of monks謝許宏鼎充僧正狀
Gyewon Pilgyeongjip (A Plowing of the Brush in the Cassia Garden) 桂苑筆耕集 · Choe Chiwon · 886 (Tang, 6th year of the Zhonghe era · Silla, 12th year of King Heongang) · 1 passages · 138 Chinese characters · reading time 0.6 min
Gyewon Pilgyeongjip (A Plowing of the Brush in the Cassia Garden) Book 4 — Memorials to the Throne A collection Choe Chiwon made by choosing out of the writings of his four years in the headquarters of Gao Pian, military commissioner of Huainan under the Tang, binding them into twenty volumes and presenting them to King Heongang of Silla in 886. It holds 366 pieces — memorials and reports sent up to the emperor, the proclamation denouncing Huang Chao, letters to the several military commissioners, orders and dispatches issued to those under him, Daoist and Buddhist texts for services, funeral offerings, records written for the outer wall of Chengdu and for a painting of Annam, and the reports and poems he sent up to Gao Pian. Here is the first report, which begins "I am a man of Silla," and the proclamation against Huang Chao with its line, "Not only do all the men of the world think to kill you openly; the ghosts under the earth have already discussed cutting you down in secret." The last volume holds the poems he made on the voyage home to the country he had left at twelve. It is the oldest collection by a Korean that survives, and when Hong Seokju and Seo Yugu printed it with movable type in 1834 they called it "the root and the beginning of the writing of our Eastern Country." Their two prefaces are translated with it.
1Rejoicing that the three teachings go forward together
For the monk named above, your servant earlier drew up a statement and reported it, asking that he be filled into the post of superintendent of monks within this circuit, and then granted the purple robe. Having received the imperial rescript with respect, your servant finds that you have consented. Your servant humbly considers that Hongding has long been diligent in his chanting, so that he at once drew up a recommendation saying he could aid the causes of the ten stages, and all at once he has received the favor of the ninth heaven. The commander in chief has had his request granted and rejoices that the three teachings go forward together. The companions of the Law shout for joy and are startled, as though a Buddha had come forth. Your servant only hopes that he will hold his merit forever and repay your compassion above. If he cannot wash away what disaster remains in the burning house, then how will he be fit for the splendid paddy-field robe? Surely he will be able to light the torch of wisdom in secret and help to put out the baleful vapors. Your servant is bound by his duties in this frontier command and cannot offer thanks at the traveling court. Your servant cannot bear the fullness of his gratitude, his awe and his burning care. With respect he presents this statement of thanks and reports it. Respectfully submitted.