As a government official, Han Yu perceived that the government's finances were in crisis while the emperor lavishly prepared to host the Buddha's remains, in preparation for which lower-ranking officials and the common people "went unclothed, depleted their savings, and even sacrificed life and limb."
作為一個政府官員的韓愈，見政府財政出現危機，而帝王又大事鋪張奉迎佛指。滿朝百官與民間百姓不惜「解衣散財，斷臂鬻身。」