Nowadays Chinese leaders mentioned Yinyuan 隱元 frequently. In a conference on maritime Silk Road, former Chinese foreign minister Li Zhaoxing 李肇星 delivered a keynote speech and at the end he cited a saying of Master Yinyuan as one of the three "witty remarks." Here is what he said:
The second one I recalled from my visit to Kyoto many years ago. In the Manpuku-ji Temple, there is a couplet written by the Fujian born high priest Yinyuan Longqi (Ingen Ryuki in Japanese) that reads, "there isn't a door that separates the believers and non-believers, and one can always move forward uninterrupted as long as one pursues the correct path".
The Chinese version cited the original as "法门无内外，大道无遮拦.” However, I checked Obakusan no ren to gaku 黄檗山の聯と額， this should be written by the sixth abbot Qiandai Xing'an 千呆性侒 (Note: "Dai" is also pronounced as "ai". It was often written as "敱") at the back of the front gate 山門. The full version should be
大道沒遮攔 進步直登兜率天
法門無內外 翻身拶如旃檀林
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| Obakusan no ren to gaku, page 15 |
Here is the full English translation of Li's talk from the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of People's Republic of China. Chinese version is also pasted below from a Chinese website.
Building the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st Century with Open Mind and Bold Courage
—Address by Mr. Li Zhaoxing, Former Foreign Minister and Chairman of China Public Diplomacy Association at the International Symposium on Maritime Silk Road of the 21st Century
2015/02/12
12 February 2015 Quanzhou, Fujian Province
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my great pleasure to come to this renowned historical and cultural city of Quanzhou to participate in the International Symposium on Maritime Silk Road of the 21st Century, and I would like to take this opportunity to extend my warmest congratulations for this event on behalf of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and China Public Diplomacy Association.
I grew up in a small coastal village in Shandong province. The middle school I went to actually built its students dormitories on the beach. I remember seawater flooding under my bed during the high tide and when it fell away, the floor was covered with sea mud. There were also days when we would take a dip in the water, or play by the beach, or simply sit there and watch the tides. I think for those of us who have grown up near the coast, we all share an emotional bond with the sea and deeply admire its greatness. As our common home, the blue waters unite us altogether.
This symposium takes place at a great moment, because the Belt and Road initiative, and particularly the development of the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st Century, are very instrumental in promoting the development of the ocean economy and maritime cooperation among participating countries.
In less than a year and a half since the Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the Belt and Road initiative, China together with its partners are already delivering fruitful results. China has made substantive progress in policy planning and mechanism building. Through a series domestic and international conferences, different local regions, the academia, business community, cultural sector, and overseas Chinese communities have all been mobilized to contribute to the initiative. People have expressed high appreciations for the Silk Road Spirit and the proposal of Economic Cooperation Corridor among major economies. Over 50 states and the EU, ASEAN, SCO, UN ESCAP and other international organizations have responded positively the initiative. China has signed the Belt and Road cooperation agreements with Kazakhstan and other states, achieving breakthroughs with partner countries on projects and programs ranging from transport infrastructure to industrial development, and to people-to-people exchange. In addition, the Silk Road Fund has been successfully launched, and 26 states have signed up as charter members to establish the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
In many ways, the Chinese government and people coming from multiple sectors have all played an active part in promoting these progresses. However, these achievements wouldn't have been possible without the support and participation of the governments and people of our partners. When President Xi Jinping worked here in Fujian Province in 1988, he proposed a campaign called "chorus on economic development", borrowing wisdom from the Chinese proverb that says, "when many people help add the firewood, the flame would rise high". Great things can happen when friends and partners combine efforts towards the same goal. The Belt and Road initiative is proposed by China, but it's not a "patent" exclusively owned by China. On the contrary, we see it as a symphony and team performance instead of a solo or one-man show. And I am very pleased to see that "One Belt, One Road" has grown to become the shared efforts and aspiration of all populace along its path.
Recently, I have been asked by a number of friends from abroad about the relationship between the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st Century. They asked me why we put the two together and which one ranks higher in our priority: the Belt or the Road? In my view, since the ancient times, the Silk Road has always been developing both on the continent and at sea. In some sense, camels and sailing boats have epitomized the trade and cultural exchanges across the Eurasia continent and beyond into the vast oceans. The routes we have pioneered overland and across the seas complemented each other in coexistence. Today, the Belt and the Road are like the two wings of Asia. To fly high, we need both wings to be powerful. Therefore, we attach equal importance to the Belt and the Road so that the two would reinforce each other. Situated on the crossroads of the Asia Pacific and the European economies, it is essential that countries in the South and West Asia grow land and maritime cooperation in sync. We believe that all partners along the routes of the Belt and Road, whether coastal countries or landlocked ones, could make unique contributions to promoting connectivity and international trade, and as equal contributors to and beneficiaries of this initiative, we should all enjoy the rights to participate in the international maritime cooperation.
Compared with the Silk Road overland, the Maritime Silk Road shares similarities but also has its unique characters. It has its own set of advantages, potentials, as well as difficulties and challenges. Going forward, I believe the success of the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st Century would require effective efforts to coordinate our cooperation. To make that happen, we must equip ourselves with an open mind as broad as that of an ocean and muster courage strong enough to brave winds and waves.
Why the open-mind? Like the vastness of the ocean comes from its accepting of thousands of rivers, to ensure constant progress under this initiative, China will continue, as we've always done, to earnestly heed the opinions and advice and fully consider the interests and concerns of all our partners. We will remain committed to open regionalism, and will refrain from closed blocs and arrangements targeted at the third party. We will seek to cooperate with other regional initiatives and mechanisms, and would welcome countries outside the region to actively participate in appropriate ways. In the future, the Belt and Road will foster large numbers of economic and people-to-people cooperation projects. We look forward to the valuable contribution from international organizations, multinational corporations, financial institutions, and non-governmental organizations.
Why the courage? As we navigate through the adjustment after the international financial crisis, we must seize the opportunities of rapidly growing global ocean economy, and establish pivots and corridors for maritime economic cooperation. To achieve the goal, we will intensify efforts to promote maritime transportation, resources development, environment protection, scientific research, tourism, archaeology, and port economic zone development. China will strive to strengthen strategic consensus and mutual trust. Our priorities will be focused on economic and people-to-people projects, and we will first proceed on initiatives that are within our capabilities and of easier external conditions, handle contradictions and differences in proper and peaceful ways, so as to avoid the disruptions of controversial issues in our cooperation.
In my home province Shandong, there is a saying that speaks of fishermen's know-how: cast the net up front of the boat, and sail the vessel up against the wind. Indeed, in the face of winds and waves, what matters most is to find out the wind direction so that we can sail with its strength. In the face of sunken reeves, what matters most is to make right choices on each case: some reeves can be safely crossed during high tides, yet some must require a detour. I have met friends from other countries who have been very candid in telling me that while they believe a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road would do good, they also worry that it might cause maritime disputes, security issues, and turf fights among major powers. In response, I often tell them that the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road is a cooperation blueprint shared by all Eurasian countries. In this 21st century, we must get rid of the Cold War mentality, commit ourselves to a new type of international relations featuring cooperation and win-win, and press ahead ocean cooperation with more confidence, openness, and trust. The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road is a fine example of China's neighborhood foreign policy concept of "closeness, sincerity, shared prosperity, and inclusiveness". There is no hidden strategic agenda to use this initiative as a means to gain sphere of influence, still less to violate other's sovereignty. That said, China will continue to firmly uphold its maritime rights and interests, safeguard global and regional maritime order, and work earnestly to provide public goods and ensure a harmonious ocean environment.
During the 4th APEC Ocean-Related Ministerial Meeting, which was held last August in Xiamen, not far from here, ministers adopted the Xiamen Declaration, calling for the establishment of new partnership for Asia-Pacific ocean cooperation that is more comprehensive, sustainable, inclusive, and mutually beneficial. In my view, coordinated cooperation stands as the most effective way to realize such partnership at three levels.
First, coordination across time. The Maritime Silk Road has its historical legacy that can be traced back to more that two millennia ago when the Chinese, Hindus, and Arabs exchanged goods through maritime sailing. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties (960-1368 AD), Quanzhou had become the largest oriental port, on a par with Alexandria of Egypt. Ten days ago, India launched the "Visit India Year 2015" campaign in Beijing. In his congratulatory video message, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "for several thousand years, India and China have together built inseparable bonds. When the ancient Chinese monk Xuan Zang paid his pilgrimage to India for Buddhist scriptures, he had been to my home state Gujarat. Upon his return, he had gone back to Xi'An, the hometown of the Chinese President Xi Jinping." Home to ancient civilizations, China and India have contributed enormously to the world in the past. In the 21st century for Asia, China and India will continue to join hands and contribute to the world development. To make the 21st Century Silk Road a success, we must tap into the our historical and cultural legacies, carry forward the spirit of peaceful cooperation, openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning, mutual benefit and win-win, and boost the confidence of the Asian people in pioneering maritime exploration, development, and cooperation.
Second, coordination across space. The development of port cities constitutes an integral part of multiple international economic cooperation corridors, including the new Eurasian Continental Bridge, China-Mongolia-Russia, China-Central Asia-West Asia, and China-Indo China Peninsula corridors. On the other hand, the hinterland development and its transportation networks are also essential in supporting and sustaining major port cities and areas. We hope that the Belt and Road initiative will help realize the free flow of land and maritime economic factors, promote cultural exchange and mix between coastal and inland regions, and facilitate the development of safe and efficient land-and-sea major transportation channels, bringing forth common prosperity for both the coastal and inland population.
Third, coordination across borders. It is high time that we coordinated many of our national development strategies and plans. Coordination across the border does not mean that one country would have the power to decide for others or would let others to decide for oneself. Rather, we should find common ground and areas of cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, and work together to plan and facilitate joint projects of cooperation. For instance, Indonesia's development strategy to become a marine power, particularly its marine highway program put forward by President Joko Widodo, fits perfectly well with the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, making ocean cooperation a new growth engine for the bilateral ties between China and Indonesia.
And then, the most foudamental element for effective coordination is our people. We should always put our people first and find ways to deepen mutual understanding and friendship among our peoples. My colleague, Ambassador Wang Yusheng, has deep feelings for the people of Sri Lanka. Previously, he has worked there for over a decade. His wife passed away there. Not long ago, at an advanced age of 84, he once again returned to Sri Lanka for a symposium. He delivered his remarks on the Maritime Silk Road in the Sinhala language and has been warmly received by the audience. When he paid a visit to his late wife in the cemetery, his tears came down, but there is no bitter regrets. Very often I tell people that the Maritime Silk Road is not something newly coined out of nothing, but a legacy that carries the efforts and aspirations of several generations of diplomats and people from various sectors.
During the Silk Road Youth Touring Program organized by the Chinese Foreign Ministry last year, we have brought some foreign students studying in Nanjing to Silk Road historic sites around Jiangsu and Zhejiang Province. An Indonesian student said afterwards, although Zheng He has the world's largest naval fleet back then, he brought to the people in Southeast Asia peace, goods, and friendship. Having seen the treasure ship with his own eyes, he is more convinced that China will continue to follow the path of peaceful development. Moving ahead, we need more young people to experience, understand, and devote to the undertaking of the Maritime Silk Road.
To end my speech today, I would like leave you three witty remarks. The first one comes from a national hero from Fujian Province, Lin Zexu. He has once written a famous poetic couplet that says, "the vastness of the ocean comes from its accepting of thousands of rivers, the resilience of thousands of cliffs comes from their absence of desire". The second one I recalled from my visit to Kyoto many years ago. In the Manpuku-ji Temple, there is a couplet written by the Fujian born high priest Yinyuan Longqi (Ingen Ryuki in Japanese) that reads, "there isn't a door that separates the believers and non-believers, and one can always move forward uninterrupted as long as one pursues the correct path". And the last but not the least, as the Chair of China Shakespeare Studies Association, I would also like to quote his words, "unite closely around you those time-tested friends". I believe these words would lend much wisdom to our discussions today and to the building of the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st Century in the time ahead.
Thank you!
Here is the Chinese version.
李肇星：以海纳百川胸怀 共建21世纪海上丝绸之路 (/ 1)
发布时间： 2015-02-12 14:50:09 | 来源： 中国网 | 作者： 佚名 | 责任编辑： 吴佳潼
2月12日，21世纪海上丝绸之路国际研讨会高峰论坛在福建泉州举办，外交部原部长、中国公共外交协会会长李肇星出席并讲话。中国网记者 郑亮 摄
以海纳百川的胸怀，以乘风破浪的勇气，共建21世纪海上丝绸之路
——在21世纪海上丝绸之路国际研讨会上的演讲
（2015年2月12日 福建泉州）
中国公共外交协会会长 李肇星
女士们、先生们、朋友们：
很高兴来到历史文化名城泉州，参加21世纪海上丝绸之路国际研讨会。我谨代表中国外交部和中国公共外交协会，对会议的召开表示热烈祝贺。
我从小生活在中国山东沿海的一个小村庄，上初中时，宿舍就建在海滩上，涨潮时，床底下都淌着海水，落潮时就是海泥。我们这些小孩在海里游泳，在海滩上拾海贝，坐在礁石上看潮起潮落。我相信，所有在海边长大的人都和我一样，对大海有着很强的崇敬感和亲近感。大海是我们共同的家园，是我们的精神纽带。
今天我们聚会于此，研讨“一带一路”特别是共建21世纪海上丝绸之路大计，对致力于发展海洋经济与推进海上合作的海上丝路沿线国家讲，是件大好事。
习近平主席提出“一带一路”倡议以来，不到一年半时间已取得丰硕成果。中方的规划和机制建设取得实质进展，在国内外成功举办一系列会议，丝路精神和几大经济合作走廊的构想深受好评，各地方、企业界、侨界、新闻界和文化学术界积极参与。“一带一路”沿线50多个国家、欧盟、东盟、上合组织、联合国亚太经社理事会等多个国际组织表示积极态度。中国与哈萨克斯坦等5国签署了“一带一路”合作协议，与沿线国家在交通基建、产业和人文等领域的一批项目取得突破。亚洲基础设施投资银行已有26个意向创始成员国，丝路基金顺利启动。
这些成果的取得，既缘于中国政府和各界人士积极和有效的推动，更缘于沿线国家和人民的关心、认同和参与。习近平主席1988年在福建工作的时候就提倡要搞“经济大合唱”，因为“众人拾柴火焰高”。任何一项伟大的事业，都需要朋友、需要伙伴，需要大家心往一处想，劲往一处使。“一带一路”是中国的倡议但不是中国的专利，是交响乐而不是独奏曲，是团体操而不是独角戏。时至今日，“一带一路”正成为沿线各国人民的共同愿景和共同行动。
经常有外国朋友问我，“丝绸之路经济带”和“21世纪海上丝绸之路”是什么关系，为什么要将两者合在一起，“一带”和“一路”哪个更重要、更优先？我是这样理解的，丝绸之路自古就有陆海两大方向，骆驼和帆船都是亚欧大陆及附近海洋商贸和文化交往的象征，陆、海丝绸之路是互补并行的关系。今天的“一带一路”是亚洲腾飞的两只翅膀，既然要展翅高飞，就得两只翅膀同样用力，“一带”和“一路”相辅相成，同等重要。“一带一路”一头连接亚太经济圈，一头连接欧洲经济圈，南亚和西亚是“一带”和“一路”的交汇之地，因此陆上与海上合作必须兼顾。“一带一路”的沿线国家，不管是沿海国家还是内陆国家，都在加强互联互通和发展国际贸易，都有参与国际海洋合作的权利，都应该是“一带”和“一路”的平等建设者和共同受益者。
海上丝绸之路较之陆上，有共性，也有特性；有优势和潜力，也有难度和挑战。要推进21世纪海上丝绸之路建设，我主张有海纳百川的胸襟，有乘风破浪的勇气，在对接合作上下功夫。
海纳百川，就是中国已经并将继续虚心听取沿线国家和人民的意见和建议，充分考虑各方合理的利益和关切。就是坚持开放的区域主义，不搞封闭性集团，不针对第三方，与其他区域合作倡议和机制建立合作关系，欢迎域内外国家以适当方式积极参与。未来“一带一路”建设会涉及很多经济和人文合作项目，欢迎国际组织、跨国公司、金融机构和非政府组织各尽所能。
乘风破浪，就是把握国际金融危机之后的调整期，顺应全球海洋经济蓬勃发展的潮流，建设海上合作支点与海上经济合作走廊，大力推进海洋运输、海上资源开发、海洋环保、海洋科研、海洋旅游、海洋考古以及临港经济区发展。就是增强各国海上合作的战略共识，增进战略互信，突出经济与人文合作，先做能做的事、容易做的事，避免争议问题影响合作大局。
我们山东渔民有句谚语：“撒网要撒迎头网，开船要开顶风船”。有风浪不要紧，要紧是认清风向，借风行船。有暗礁不要紧，要紧的是认准暗礁，有的暗礁可以涨潮时大胆地走，有的暗礁则要绕着走。有的外国朋友很坦诚地讲，他们认为建设21世纪海上丝绸之路是件好事，但担心大国在海上争夺势力范围，担心与海上争端搅在一起，担心形形色色的海上安全问题。我想说的是，21世纪海上丝绸之路是亚欧国家共同参与的合作蓝图，21世纪的亚欧各国应该摒弃冷战思维，构建合作共赢的新型国家关系，以更加自信、开放、从容的姿态推进海上合作。中国倡导21世纪海上丝绸之路，与中国“亲、诚、惠、容”的周边外交理念是一致的，中国没有什么特别的地缘战略意图，不会借“一带一路”去搞势力范围或解决海上争端，不会做侵犯别国主权或强人所难的事。中国坚定维护属于自己的海洋权益，也坚定维护全球和地区海洋秩序，提供公共产品，建设和谐海洋。
去年8月，在距离泉州不远的厦门举行的亚太经合组织（APEC）第四届海洋部长会议通过《厦门宣言》，主张构建更全面、可持续、包容和互利的亚太海洋合作新型伙伴关系。要实现这样的伙伴关系，对接合作是最有效的方式。
对接首先是古今对接。海上丝绸之路古已有之，2000多年前中国人、印度人、阿拉伯人就驾驶海船互通有无。宋元时期，泉州成为“东方第一大港”，千帆竞逐，梯航万国，与埃及的亚历山大港齐名。十几天前，印度旅游年在中国北京举行，印度总理莫迪说，几千年来，印度和中国之间结成了不可分割的纽带。中国古代高僧玄奘到印度取经时曾经到过我的家乡古吉拉特邦，回到中国后，回到了习近平主席的家乡西安。印中两大古老文明曾经为世界奉献良多，21世纪是亚洲世纪，中国和印度将一如既往为整个世界作出贡献。21世纪海上丝绸之路建设，需要挖掘历史文化资源，增强亚洲人进取海洋、经营海洋、发展海上合作的自信心，继承和弘扬和平合作、开放包容、互学互鉴、互利共赢的精神。
第二是陆海对接。新亚欧大陆桥、中蒙俄、中国—中亚—西亚、中国—中南半岛等国际经济合作走廊建设，离不开沿海港口。海上重点港口建设，也离不开陆上腹地和交通线。希望通过“一带一路”建设，实现陆上和海上经济要素的自由流动，促进内陆和海洋文化的交融，建设通畅安全高效的陆海运输大通道，让沿海和内陆的人民实现共同富裕。
第三是各国发展战略的对接。很多国家都有自己的发展战略、发展规划，现在到了对接各国战略规划的时候了。对接不是你来规划我，也不是我来规划你，而是在尊重彼此规则的基础上，找出共同点与合作点，进而制订共同规划、推进合作项目。例如，印尼总统佐科提出建设海洋强国和“海上高速公路”，与21世纪海上丝绸之路倡议不谋而合，海洋合作正成为中国与印尼双边合作的新引擎。
对接最终要靠人来实现，要以人为本，靠人心相通。我的同事王嵎生大使，在斯里兰卡常驻十余年，夫人病逝于科伦坡，他对斯里兰卡人民感情笃深。前不久，他以84岁的高龄再赴斯里兰卡出席研讨会，用当地僧伽罗语致辞，就共建海上丝绸之路发表热情洋溢的讲话，赢得热烈反响。他在夫人的墓前献花，老泪纵横但无怨无悔。所以我讲，海上丝绸之路不是横空出世，而是几代外交官和社会各界人士的心愿和积淀。
去年，中国外交部组织了丝绸之路青年行活动，安排南京高校的外国留学生到江苏、浙江等地参观丝路古迹和新貌。印尼留学生讲，郑和拥有当时世界上最强大的船队，却用和平的方式带给东南亚人民友谊和商品。当他亲眼看到大宝船的样子之后，更信服今天的中国将走和平发展道路。所以我讲，海上丝绸之路要靠更多年轻人去亲身体验，投身到火热的建设事业中去。
中国福建籍的民族英雄林则徐写过一个著名的对联：“海纳百川，有容乃大。壁立千仞，无欲则刚。”我数年前访问京都，看到福建籍的隐元禅师在万福寺留下的对联，写到“法门无内外，大道无遮拦。”我是中国莎士比亚研究会的会长，记得莎士比亚还有句名言：“凡是经过考验的朋友，就应该把他们紧紧地团结在你的周围。”[1]我把这三句话送给大家，相信会对建设21世纪海上丝绸之路以及我们今天的讨论会有所启发。
谢谢大家！
