Han Yu: “Memorial on the Buddha’s Bones”

( 819 ) Commentary by Robert W. Foster, Berea College

“During the reign of Emperor Ming of Han . . . the law of the Buddha began to make its appearance. Emperor Ming reigned for only 18 years. Thereafter chaos and destruction continued, and reign periods were short-lived.” - Paragraph 3
“Buddha worship is for the purpose of bringing good fortune, but it only results in more misfortune. In view of this, it is evident that the Buddha is not worth worshiping.” - Paragraph 3
“The Buddha was originally a man of the barbarians who did not speak the language of the Middle Kingdom [China] and was dressed in clothes of a different cut from ours. Neither did he cite the edifying discourses of the ancient sovereigns, nor did he don their proper attire. He was ignorant of the sense of duty between sovereign and subject, and the affections between father and son.” - Paragraph 10
“I pray that [Your Majesty] will have the relic delivered to the government agency concerned, which will dispose of it in water or fire so as to permanently destroy its roots. If [Your Majesty] puts to rest doubts under Heaven and stops once and for all [Buddhism] from deluding posterity, all under Heaven will be aware of the achievement by you the great sage, which is hundreds of millions of times greater than that of ordinary people.” - Paragraph 12

Stones inscribed with the writings of Confucius, Temple of Confucius, Beijing (Library of Congress)

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