釋氏稽古略 2.128

2.128

The White-Footed Śramaṇa: His taboo name was Tanshi, also called Huishi. The 'Treatise on Buddhism and Daoism' in the Book of Wei states: 'The śramaṇa Huishi was a son of the Zhang clan of Qinghe. Shi initially studied under the Dharma master Kumārajīva. When Liu Yu of the Jin extinguished the Later Qin, Helian Qugai of the Xia again pursued and captured Chang'an. Both clergy and laity were buried alive or massacred, but when Shi met the blade, he remained unharmed. Qugai was furious; summoning Shi before him, he struck at him himself with his belt-dagger, yet again could not harm him. Terrified, he apologized and repented. The common people relied on Shi's power of compassion to escape various cruel torments. When Emperor Taiwu of the Wei subdued Helian Chang, White-Footed returned to Wei. Earlier, in the sixth year of the Taiping Zhenjun era of the Wei, Taiwu campaigned against the rebellion of Gai Wu and reached Chang'an. Seeing weapons in the Buddhist monasteries, Emperor Wu was enraged. Minister of Education Cui Hao thereupon urged Taiwu to execute all śramaṇas and destroy the scriptures and statues. In the eleventh year of Taiping Zhenjun, Cui Hao, relying on his own talent and strategy, compiled a national history, recording the ancestry of the Wei and displaying it along the thoroughfares, carving it on stone erected at the suburban altars. The northerners were universally outraged. Taiwu, furious that Hao had publicly exposed the state's vices, ordered the authorities to investigate the crimes of Hao and the editorial clerks; in total, one hundred and twenty-eight people were executed along with their five degrees of kin. At that time, White-Footed had an audience with Taiwu. Emperor Wu angrily ordered him beheaded, but he could not be harmed. Emperor Wu himself drew his dagger and slashed at him, yet again could not harm him. He threw him into the tiger cage, but the tigers were all subdued and bowed before him. Startled, Emperor Wu invited Shi up to the palace, apologized with remorse, and took refuge in him with reverence. Prior to this, Crown Prince Jingmu was perceptive and rigorous in administration. The Palace Attendant Zong Ai was treacherous and evil by nature, frequently breaking the law, and slandered the Crown Prince; the Crown Prince died of grief. Emperor Taiwu gradually came to realize this and mourned him ceaselessly. Zong Ai, fearing execution, assassinated Emperor Taiwu in the second month of the second year of Zhengping. The Masters of Writing Yuan He and Lu Lu led troops to execute Ai, and enthroned the Imperial Grandson Jun as emperor, changing the reign era (Book of Wei).' White-Footed walked barefoot through mud and filth without being soiled, hence his name (Biographies of Eminent Monks).