English
English version: Later, it was gradually reduced to two and a half cubits (approximately 1.25 meters); then two inches (approximately 6.6 centimeters) were added on top, making it three tiers; after that, Śakra Devānām Indra (the ruler of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven and a protector deity in Buddhism) added an inverted bowl-shaped structure (like an overturned pot) on top of the altar to cover the relics (Buddha's remains); Mahābrahmā (the lord of the Brahmā realm) then placed a priceless jewel on top of the inverted bowl shape to venerate the relics. This makes a five-tiered structure, symbolizing the fivefold Dharmakāya (the body of the Dharma, representing the five aspects of Buddhahood: morality, concentration, wisdom, liberation, and the knowledge and vision of liberation: the first tier is one cubit high, the second tier is two and a half cubits high; the third tier is two inches high, which is three parts; Śakra added the inverted bowl, which is the fourth tier; Brahmā added the jewel, which is the fifth tier. The five aspects are complete). When the Buddha was initially in the world, after the ordination platform was established in Jetavana Monastery (also known as Anāthapiṇḍika's Monastery, an important place for the Buddha's teachings during his lifetime), the jewel donated by Mahābrahmā was as large as a five-sheng bottle (a unit of volume), and those with great merit saw it shining with light illuminating eight hundred yojanas (an ancient Indian unit of distance, approximately 11-16 kilometers per yojana); those with little merit saw it as a mass of ink. During the Buddha's lifetime, the jewel was always present at the ordination platform, and when the Buddha entered Parinirvana (passed away), the jewel also disappeared. When the Venerable Mahākāśyapa (one of the Buddha's ten great disciples) was compiling the scriptures, the jewel reappeared, and after Ānanda (one of the Buddha's ten great disciples) entered Parinirvana, the jewel departed again. Later, Mahābrahmā replaced the jewel with a bright pearl to venerate the relics, and a precious lotus flower was used to support the pearl, with nine dragons made to support the base of the lotus flower. Śakra Devānām Indra also offered two jewels to venerate the relics, using golden lotus flowers to support the base, with golden pillars set underneath, and lions placed under the pillars; these two jewels, after the compilation was completed, each disappeared. Śakra's two jewels are now in the Garden of Joy in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven, venerating the Prajñāpāramitā (meaning 'the perfection of wisdom'). Now, when ordination platforms are established in various places, since there are no jewels to offer, two bright lamps are made according to one's ability. They are made of stone or wood and are always placed in front of the ordination platform, higher than the upper tier, so that the light shines far and wide, illuminating both above and below. The ordination platform is paved with stones as the ground, and whenever there is an ordination ceremony, a high seat is placed separately in the southwest corner for the Bhikṣus (ordained monks) to ascend; if ascending the high seat is difficult, then Mahābrahmā transformed into iron-stemmed silver dragons and silver lotus flowers on the west side of the western steps on the south side, which could open and close and rotate, with the lotus petals connected, facing the railings, and corresponding to the height of the high seat, so that those ascending would not stumble. Since Jetavana Monastery has been abandoned, this trace has also disappeared, but those who build ordination platforms in the future can follow this practice. Recently, in September of the second year of the Qianfeng era, the great Bodhi of Central India --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
提寺沙门释迦蜜多罗尊者，长年人也，九十九夏来向五台，致敬文殊师利。今上礼遇，令使人将送，既还来郊南，见此戒坛，大随喜云：“天竺诸寺皆有戒坛。”又述乌仗那国东石戒坛之事，此则东西虽远，坛礼相接矣。其坛相状，下之二重以石砌累，如须弥山王形，上下安色道。四面坛身并列龛窟，窟内安诸神王。其两重基上并施石钩栏，栏之柱下，师子神王间以列之。两层四角立高石柱出于坛上，柱外置四天王像，既在露地，并镌石为之，使久固也。四角栏上，石金翅鸟衔龙于上，表比丘既受戒已，常思惑业而制除也。戒坛周围布列神影者，表护持久固之相也。斯并大圣之羽仪，生善之弘道，备舒图传，具列仪容，各有名号，义难隐伏，事须标榜其名，显置其状，则使见者发心，识幽明之协护矣！ 今案：梁高祖敕释宝唱著《神鬼录》，凡有三卷。故其序略云：“自如来出世，至教博远，天龙鬼神莫不回向，故能奉侍三尊，拥护四部。”凡诸鬼神各有依住，故依地之神名曰坚牢，乃至寺塔山林河海风雨，如《长阿含经》，并依止所往而守卫之(今以坛图一面，三方隐映诸神侧背，难可图形。于图经中，依方列相，或露或覆，时立时坐，后有造者，依经置之)。今前列护佛塔神名，多出《华严》、《灌顶》、 现代汉语译本：提寺的沙门释迦蜜多罗尊者（Śākyamitra），是一位年长的僧人，九十九个夏季都来到五台山，向文殊师利菩萨（Mañjuśrī）致敬。如今皇上礼遇他，派人护送他，返回时路过郊南，看到了这个戒坛，非常欢喜地说：‘天竺（India）的各个寺庙都有戒坛。’他还讲述了乌仗那国（Udyāna）东部的石制戒坛的事情，这说明东西方虽然遥远，但戒坛的礼仪是相通的。戒坛的形制是，下面两层用石头砌筑，像须弥山王（Sumeru）的形状，上下都装饰着彩色的线条。四面坛身都排列着龛窟，窟内安放着诸神王。两层基座上都设置了石制钩栏，栏杆的柱子下面，间隔地排列着狮子和神王。两层四角都竖立着高高的石柱，高出戒坛之上，石柱外安置着四大天王像，因为是在露天，所以都用石头雕刻，使其长久稳固。四个角的栏杆上，有石制金翅鸟（Garuda）衔着龙，象征着比丘（bhikkhu）受戒之后，要经常思考烦恼和业障并加以消除。戒坛周围布置排列着神灵的形象，象征着护持长久稳固。这些都是大圣的仪仗，是产生善念、弘扬佛法的途径，详细地绘制成图，具体地列出仪容，各有各的名号，意义难以隐藏，事情需要标明其名称，显现其形状，这样就能使见到的人发起善心，认识到幽冥之中的神灵也在共同护卫！ 现在查阅梁高祖（Emperor Wu of Liang）敕令释宝唱（Shi Baochang）撰写的《神鬼录》，共有三卷。其中的序言大概是这样说的：‘自从如来（Tathāgata）出世以来，佛法教义博大深远，天龙（Nāga）鬼神没有不归向佛法的，所以能够奉侍三宝（Three Jewels），拥护四部众（Fourfold Sangha）。’各种鬼神各有依附的住所，所以依附于土地的神被称为坚牢地神（Prithvi），乃至寺庙、佛塔、山林、河流、海洋、风雨，都像《长阿含经》（Dīrgha Āgama）所说的那样，依据所依止的地方而进行守卫（现在戒坛图的一面，三方隐约显现诸神的侧面和背面，难以绘制成图形。在图经中，依据方位排列形象，有的显露，有的遮盖，有时站立，有时坐着，以后有建造者，可以依据经典来设置）。现在前面列出护卫佛塔的神的名称，大多出自《华严经》（Avataṃsaka Sūtra）、《灌顶经》（Abhiṣeka Sūtra）等经典。
English
English version: The venerable Śākyamitra, a Śramaṇa (ascetic) of the Ti Temple, was an elderly man who had come to Mount Wutai for ninety-nine summers to pay homage to Mañjuśrī (Bodhisattva of Wisdom). Now, the Emperor treated him with courtesy, sending people to escort him. On his return, passing by the southern outskirts, he saw this ordination platform (戒坛, jiè tán) and exclaimed with great joy, 'All the temples in India have ordination platforms.' He also recounted the story of the stone ordination platform in the eastern part of Udyāna (ancient kingdom), indicating that although the East and West are far apart, the rituals of the ordination platform are connected. The structure of the ordination platform is such that the lower two layers are built with stones, resembling the shape of Mount Sumeru (mythical mountain at the center of the universe), with colored lines decorating the upper and lower parts. The four sides of the platform are lined with niches, inside which are placed various divine kings. Stone railings are installed on both layers of the base, with lions and divine kings arranged alternately below the pillars of the railings. Tall stone pillars are erected at the four corners of the two layers, extending above the platform. Outside the pillars are placed the statues of the Four Heavenly Kings (四大天王, Sì Dà Tiānwáng), which are carved from stone to ensure their durability since they are in the open air. On the railings at the four corners, stone Garudas (mythical bird-like creature) hold dragons in their mouths, symbolizing that after a Bhikkhu (ordained monk) receives the precepts, he should constantly contemplate afflictions and karmic obstacles and eliminate them. The arrangement of divine figures around the ordination platform symbolizes the protection of lasting stability. These are all the emblems of the great sage, the means of generating goodness and propagating the Dharma. Detailed drawings are made, and the appearances are listed in detail, each with its own name. The meaning is difficult to conceal, and the matter requires marking its name and displaying its form, so that those who see it may develop good intentions and recognize the joint protection of the visible and invisible realms! Now, according to the *Record of Gods and Spirits* (神鬼錄, Shén Guǐ Lù) written by Shi Baochang (释宝唱) under the decree of Emperor Wu of Liang (梁高祖), there are three volumes. The preface roughly says: 'Since the Tathāgata (如来, Thus Come One) appeared in the world, the teachings of the Dharma have been vast and far-reaching, and the Nāgas (龙, mythical serpent-like beings) and spirits have all turned towards the Dharma, so they are able to serve the Three Jewels (三宝, Sān Bǎo) and protect the Fourfold Sangha (四部众, Sì Bù Zhòng).' Various ghosts and spirits each have their own dwelling places, so the spirit that relies on the earth is called Prithvi (坚牢地神, Jiānláo Dìshén), and even temples, pagodas, mountains, forests, rivers, seas, wind, and rain, as stated in the *Dīrgha Āgama* (长阿含经, Cháng Āhán Jīng), guard according to the place they rely on (now, one side of the ordination platform diagram shows the sides and backs of the gods faintly, making it difficult to draw. In the illustrated sutra, the images are arranged according to the directions, some exposed, some covered, sometimes standing, sometimes sitting. Later builders can set them up according to the sutras). Now, the names of the gods who protect the pagoda are mostly from the *Avataṃsaka Sūtra* (华严经, Huáyán Jīng), *Abhiṣeka Sūtra* (灌顶经, Guàndǐng Jīng), and other scriptures. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chinese
《孔雀王》、《贤愚》、《大集》、《大智论》等，以繁文故，于此总而叙之。神名跋阇罗波尼(梁言金刚)。神名婆里旱(河但反，梁言力士)。初坚固光曜神、二日光曜神、三须弥华神、四净云音神、五阿修罗王神(取修罗为名，非修罗也)、六胜光明神、七树音声神、八师子王神(如上，已解)、九淳厚光藏神、十珠髻华光神。右十二金刚力士神王，依《杂阿含经》。金刚神持金刚杵，猛火炽然，经律中亦说：“八金刚神，列侍四面。”又云：“五百金刚，常侍卫佛”。如《华严经》：“诸金刚神与微尘数力士俱，久发誓愿，侍卫如来，住持遗法。” 今据文求相，不言戒坛，然此戒坛即佛塔也，以安舍利。灵骨瘗中，非塔如何？迷名固执者不足言评。重为提示，原夫“塔”字，此方字书乃是物声，本非西土之号。若依梵本，瘗佛骨所，名曰“塔婆”。此略下“婆”，单呼上“塔”。所以经中，或名“偷婆”、“窣堵波”等。依如唐言“方坟”，冢也！古者墓而不坟，坟谓加土于其上也。如律中：“如来知地下有迦叶佛舍利，以土增之。”斯即塔婆之相状矣！今戒坛安佛舍利，层基标别，四列神影守护显号，固其然乎！前十二神常守护佛塔。 下层下据地，坛有五阶，阶列二神，故有十也！以下层 现代汉语译本 《孔雀王》、《贤愚》、《大集》、《大智论》等经典，因为文字繁琐，所以在这里一并叙述。神名跋阇罗波尼（梁朝时译为金刚）。神名婆里旱（发音为河但反，梁朝时译为力士）。最初是坚固光曜神、第二是日光曜神、第三是须弥华神、第四是净云音神、第五是阿修罗王神（借用阿修罗的名字，但并非真正的阿修罗）、第六是胜光明神、第七是树音声神、第八是师子王神（如上文已解释）、第九是淳厚光藏神、第十是珠髻华光神。以上这十二位金刚力士神王，是依据《杂阿含经》记载的。金刚神手持金刚杵，猛烈的火焰燃烧着，经律中也说：‘八位金刚神，排列在四面侍卫。’又说：‘五百金刚，常常侍卫着佛。’如《华严经》所说：‘诸位金刚神与无数的力士一起，长久以来发誓愿，侍卫如来，住持遗留下来的佛法。’ 现在根据文字来推求真相，虽然没有提到戒坛，然而这戒坛就是佛塔，用来安放舍利。灵骨埋藏在其中，如果不是塔又是什么呢？执迷于名称的人不值得评论。再次提示，原本‘塔’字，在中国的字书中只是一个物体的声音，本来不是西方的称呼。如果按照梵文原本，埋藏佛骨的地方，名叫‘塔婆’(Stupa)。这里省略了‘婆’字，只称‘塔’。所以在经书中，或者叫做‘偷婆’(Stupa)、‘窣堵波’(Stupa)等。按照唐朝的说法就是‘方坟’，也就是坟墓！古时候埋葬死人没有坟，坟是指在墓上加土。如律中说：‘如来知道地下有迦叶佛(Kasyapa Buddha)的舍利，用土增高它。’这就是塔婆(Stupa)的形状了！现在戒坛安放佛舍利，用多层地基来标示区别，四面排列神像守护并显示名号，本来就应该是这样！前面的十二位神常常守护佛塔。 下层是根据地面而建，坛有五层阶梯，每层阶梯排列两位神，所以共有十位神！以下层...