Complete Notes on the Song Dynasty - (Second Edition) (8)

Author: Zhu Yian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features:
Returning to Suzhou, he began to inherit the imperial decree to establish the Craftsmanship Bureau and oversee the transportation of timber, stone, and colored materials. Proceeding to Xiu State, he repeatedly defeated the enemy forces, chasing them to Ban Yuan Cave, where over 200,000 rebels remained, engaging in fierce battle with the imperial army before being defeated. They retreated into deep rock formations, creating three hidden caves, leaving the generals unaware of their location. At that time, Prince Han Shizhong served as a subordinate general under Wang Yuan. He secretly traversed the ravines and valleys, inquiring from local women about a hidden path. He then bravely advanced, overcoming numerous dangers and fighting his way into the cave, killing dozens of rebels before capturing La and leading him out. Subsequently, he seized La’s family, seals, and followers like Fang Fei, causing the entire faction to collapse. Over the course of his rebellion, hundreds of thousands of lives were lost, leaving Jiangnan devastated, reduced to less than one-tenth of its former prosperity. By the time of the Southern Song’s retreat south, the expenses were overwhelming, and the empire was on the brink of collapse. Had it not been for La’s chaos, the regions of Jianghuai and the two Zhejiang provinces would have been prosperous, potentially providing resources for recovery after the retreat. Who knows? Alas, La’s destruction is truly lamentable! Yet who was responsible for this? Bo Zhaiweng’s records of banditry were still unknown at the time, so Prince Han is omitted here. Moreover, many officials remained in power, and the La faction’s clandestine schemes were too vast to be fully documented. I have therefore presented this account to warn future officials governing the people.
The practice of eating vegetables and practicing magic was strictly forbidden. Those who violated the law, even if their families were unaware, would be exiled to distant lands, with half their property confiscated and the rest seized by the state. However, in recent times, more people have engaged in this practice, spreading from Fujian to Wenzhou and then to the two Zhejiang provinces. During the chaos of Fang La’s rebellion in Muzhou, his followers incited unrest across the land. They advocated abstaining from meat and alcohol, rejecting the worship of gods, ancestors, or guests, and practicing simple burials. Fang La, however, wore fine attire, and his followers seated two men beside the corpse. One asked, "Did you wear a hat when you came?" The answer was, "No." So he removed the hat. Next, he asked about clothing, and the clothing was also removed, until nothing remained. Then he asked, "What did you bring with you?" The reply was, "A bundle of clothes." So he wrapped the corpse in a cloth bag, claiming it would bring wealth in the future. The ignorant, unaware of the benefits of abstaining from meat, alcohol, and lavish burials, could accumulate wealth through these practices. Additionally, when someone joined the sect, the poor were often supported by the group, gradually improving their lives. Passersby, whether known or unknown, were all treated as family, sharing resources without hesitation, a practice known as "harmonious unity." They used this to lure others into the sect. The leader was called the "Demon King," and the female leader the "Demon Queen," each with their own methods of persuasion. They required followers to burn incense with 49 coins at the Demon King’s temple, while the Demon Queen collected the money to present to the Demon King regularly, claiming to earn immense wealth. They also recited the Diamond Sutra, taking "seeing me with form is the path of evil" to mean they should reject gods and Buddha, instead worshipping the sun and moon as the true Buddha. Their teachings were absurd, often distorting scriptures like "All this Dharma is equal, without high or low," by linking the word "no" to the preceding sentence. They generally explained scriptures in this way, distorting them for the masses. They called the Demon King "Ma," referring to the leader as "Mahuang," possibly a variation of the Demon King’s name. When initiating followers, they made them swear oaths of great severity. Yet, they revered Zhang Jiao as their ancestor, though even after Zhang Jiao’s death, they dared not mention his name.
It was said that He Zhizhong, while serving as an official in Taizhou, encountered those practicing magic, but after lengthy investigations, no evidence was found. Some claimed that a person from Longquan in Huizhou, where many were involved in the sect, could discern the truth and pursue the investigation thoroughly. When interrogating suspects, he asked about numerous items, identifying all but one—a ram’s horn—without mentioning it. This led to the arrest of the culprits. Practices like rejecting ancestors and proper burials had already harmed social customs, but they also preached that life was suffering and that killing could alleviate it, calling it "saving people." The more people they saved, the closer they were to becoming Buddha. As their followers grew, they rose in chaos, increasingly indulging in violence, causing great harm. They particularly detested Buddhism, likely because it opposed their practice of killing. However, due to strict prohibitions, few reported the crimes. When investigations led to widespread arrests, families were confiscated and exiled, treated as if they had died. Officials, fearing the sect’s power, often avoided crackdowns, inadvertently allowing it to grow.
P237-238