In this post I shall translate the "Original Preface to the High King Guanyin Sutra" 高王觀世音真經 原序, which tells a rather dramatic story of religious practise, a monk seen in a dream, and escape from execution. It was previously posted as a twitter thread here, but with some editits, I repost it on my blog now.
For starters, if you want to read a translation of the sutra itself, see here: https://edwardwhite123.blogspot.com/2020/11/high-king-avalokitesvara-sutra.html
The preface to this sutra itself is found in the following 19thc. woodblock edition https://books.google.com/books?id=ZDRbAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP3#v=onepage&q&f=false
as well as a modern transcription on this blog https://m.xuite.net/blog/tum4vu6/twblog/122883551 also web.archive.org/web/2021030707…
As is oft the case with Chinese texts, there are small variations between the two texts; I will point them out as we go along.
1【高王觀世音真經 原序】 The original preface to the High King Guanyin sutra
昔五代時有高歡國王。為相州郡主。好殺
During the Five Dynasties period, there was the Prince of Gaokuan. He was the governor of the commandery of Xiangzhou. He liked killing.
2。適寶藏官‧孫敬德誤犯重法。囚禁[就死](1)。專持觀世音普門品經。日夜不歇
The controller of the treasury 適寶藏官 Sun Jingde was falsely accused of a high crime. He was imprisoned and sentenced to death In prison he chanted the "universal gate chapter "(2) day & night without ceasing
1)Words omitted by woodblock
2 The famous 25th Chapter of the Lotus Sutra, wherein the powers of Guanyin are expounded. - E.W.
3/ 忽夢見一憎曰。「汝持此經。不能免死。吾勸汝持誦‧高王觀世音真經※一千遍。當脫刑」。名敬德曰。「今在禁中。安得經典」。僧曰。「吾口受汝」。睡覺，敬德便無忘失。(1)虔心誦念得九百遍。
3/ One night, he suddenly dreamed of a monk, who said "Reciting this scripture [i.e. the Lotus sutra] will not deliver you from death. I counsel you to recite the high king Guanyin sutra 1000 times, thereupon you will be released from death" . Jingde said, “I am in prison; how May I get this scripture?” The monk replied "I shall transmit it to you orally". (Upon awakening) Jingde did not forget it. He then recited it sincerely, eventually accumulating 900 recitations.
(1) Woodblock has for the last sentence “睡覺驚，書便無妄失，志心誦念得九百遍。
“He awoke with a fright, but yet he did not forget the book; he then sincerely recited it, accumulating 900 recitations.
4/ 文案已成。事須呈押。王遂令赴市斬之。敬德畏懼。問監史市之遠近。監史曰。「問※何之故？」敬德曰。「時夜夢一僧。令持觀音經千遍。當得免死。今尚欠一百遍。請求緩行！」。隨路急念滿數。 The documents were completed and sealed; The king ordered [Jingde] to be taken to the market and be beheaded. Jingde fearfully asked the gaoler "how far is the market from here?”. The gaoler replied "why do you ask me that?" Jingde answered. “Last night I dreamt of a monk, who ordered me to recite the Guanyin scripture 1000 times. By doing so I would be delivered from death. I have only 100 recitations to go; Sir, I beg you to travel slowly!" On the road to the market, he hurriedly completed the last 100 recitations.
5/ [監史從之](1)至市監史乃宣敕斬之。身首不損。刀折三段。
When he reached the market The gaoler received the order to behead him. His head and body did not separate, and the knife split into 3 pieces
(1) words omitted by internet
6/ 呈王。王駭議題問曰。「汝使何幻術。令得如此！」※
The king of wu, in a great fright said "what sorcery is this? I order you to tell me how did you get this power?:
7/ 敬德曰。「實無幻術。因在獄中畏死。持誦觀世音普門品經。忽夢見一僧。教誦高王觀世音一千遍。獲福如是。」
Jingde replied "This is no sorcery! I was jailed and in fear of death, and so I recited the universal gate chapter. I then dreamt of a monk who taught me to recite the high king Guanyin sutra 1000 times to protect my fate.
8/ 王謂敬德曰。「汝勝於我。與佛何異」。
The king told Jingde. “You have surpassed me! Indeed, your relationship with the Buddha is most extraordinary.”
9/ 王喚典獄者。書是經。令諸罪人與死者。各持誦千遍。斬之取※驗悉應。
The king ordered the jailor to write down this scripture, He then ordered all those condemned to death to recite the scripture 1000 times. When they were brought to be executed to test the scripture’s effects, it proved effective every time.
10/ 王乃敕下。令民普誦。用證福果。世遂傳稱高王觀世音經云。 The emperor pardoned all of them, and ordered the people to recite this scripture, (and thus create roots of goodness). Thereafter this scripture called the "High king Guanyin sutra."
11/ 蓋感應之理。誠至斯孚謹述其緣起并載其徵應俾齋心向善者。有所勸云[耳](1).
Such is the principle of Ganying (action-response). With great sincerity this truthful description has been recorded, and has been displayed as a truthful account to encourage the hearts of those who would cultivate purity. Let those who have the power to do so, spread it to those who can [hear it]
(1) *Omitted by woodblock
(I am somewhat unsure about the translation of the last sentence; if anyone can suggest a better translation I would be most glad)
~ Analysis ~
The reference to "The knife split into three pieces" is actually a reference to the Universal Gate Chapter of the lotus sutra: As translated by Fo Guang Shan (p 47)
或遭王难苦 临刑欲寿终 念彼观音力 刀寻段段坏
"Or if persecuted by the royal court,
Facing death by execution;
Keep in mind Avalokitesvara’s powers,
And the executioner’s blade will break into pieces."
The circumstances of this sutra are also worth mentioning here. The lotus sutra, as you may recall, is a translation from the Sanskrit, which came from India, a nation distant and removed from China...
What this tale forcefully shows, is that far from buddhism and its buddhisatvas being alien to the Chinese people, these same figures are, on the contrary willing to help, and indeed directly contact, the people of China.
Indeed, one could go so far as to say that the tale inverts the expected hierarchy of scriptural authority: The Lotus Sutra, transmitted in the distant past by the historical Buddha, is less explicitly stated to be less effective than this scripture that was revealed directly to a real person in a real time and place by a Bodhisattva-- and indeed, proved to work in exactly the same manner as the celebrated Lotus sutra itself.
Such tales like this doubtless contributed greatly to the popularisation and acceptance of Buddhism in China.
Note, however, it is precisely because of this property that some buddhists now reject the scripture as an authentic scripture: See this post for more;
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