卷三傳五華嚴寺妙智尼

妙智。本姓曹。河內人也。稟性柔明陶心大化。執持禁範如護明珠。心勤忍辱與物無忤。雖有毀惱必以和顏。下帷窮年終日無悶。精達法相。物共宗之。禪堂初建。齊武皇帝敕請妙智講勝鬘淨名開題。及講帝數親臨。詔問無方。智連環剖析初無遺滯。帝屢稱善。四眾雅服。齊竟陵文宣王疆界鍾山集葬名德。年六十四。建武二年卒葬于定林寺。南齊侍中瑯琊王倫妻江氏為著石讚文序立于墓左耳

3.5 (Tsai no.41) Miao-chih

The nun Miao-chih (Marvellous Sagacity) (432-495) of Flower Garland Convent

Miao-chih's secular surname was Ts'ao, and her family was originally from Ho-nei [north of the Yellow River and the old northern capital of Lo-yang].

Of gentle and intelligent disposition, she formed her mind in accordance with the Great Conversion of Buddhism. She kept the monastic rules as carefully as though she were guarding bright pearls. Untiring in patience, she displayed no irritability with regard to worldly matters. Although faced with vexations, she never had other than a pleasant countenance. Withdrawn from the world for a lifetime of study, she was nevertheless happy the whole day. She thoroughly penetrated the Buddhist teaching about the characteristics of existence, and the world honored her.

When the meditation hall was first built, Emperor Wu (440-483493) of the Ch'i dynasty by imperial order requested Miao-chih to lecture on the Shrīmālā and the Vimalakīrti. As she began and carried out the lectures, several times the emperor personally attended, asking questions without limit. Miao-chih made connections and distinctions, from the first neither losing a point nor being stumped. The emperor praised her again and again, and the four groups [monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen] very respectfully acknowledged her learning.

Wen-hsüan (460-494), the Ch'i prince of Ching-ling [and second son of Emperor Wu], marked off some land on Bell Mountain as a cemetery in which to bury those of renowned virtue.

Miao-chih died at the age of sixty-four in the second year of the chien-wu reign period (495) and was buried on the south side of Grove of Concentration Monastery on Bell Mountain. Madame Chiang, wife of Palace Attendant Wang Lun (d. 494-498) of Lang-yeh, composed the eulogy that was inscribed on the stone tablet set up on the left side of the grave mound.