佛祖統紀 43.39

43.39

Earlier, Emperor Shizong of the Later Zhou abolished Longxing Temple and turned it into an official granary. At the beginning of our dynasty, the monks of the temple beat drums to request its restoration, continuing without end up to this time. The Emperor sent an envoy holding a sword to interrogate them, saying, 'It has been a granary for a long time under the previous dynasty. Why do you trouble and defile the heavenly court?' Moreover, he secretly instructed [the envoy] to behead them if they showed fear. The monk's words were composed as he said, 'The previous dynasty was unprincipled, destroying statues and demolishing temples. We solely rely on today's sagely brilliance to revive and restore it. Why would a poor monk fear death?' The inner envoy reported this to the Emperor. The Emperor sighed in great admiration and issued an edict to restore it as a temple (*Leiyuan*).