釋氏稽古略 4.277

4.277

Lin Lingsu was a man of Wenzhou, skilled in talismanic arts supplemented by the thunder-rites. At first he wandered unhappily between Su, Hao, and the Huai and Si rivers, begging for food at various monasteries, but the monks despised him. Coming to Chuzhou (modern Huai'an Route), he brawled with the monk Huishi and litigated before the authorities. At that time, the vice-prefect Shi Zhong liked his quick eloquence and lively talent, secured his release, lodged him in his hostel, and questioned him about breathing techniques, alchemy, and the arts of soaring ascension. Arriving at this seventh year of Zhenghe, in the first month, Zhong brought him to the capital to call upon Chancellor Cai Jing. Jing arranged an audience with the Emperor. Lin made grandiose claims, saying: "In heaven there is the Shenxiao Wangqing Palace, ruled by the Sovereign of Long Life. His younger brother, the Sovereign of Azure Splendour, are both sons of the Jade Emperor. Subordinate to them are more than eight hundred officials, including the Left Chancellor Immortal Lord and the Transgressions-Recording Immortal Scribe Chu Hui." He claimed the Emperor was the Sovereign of Long Life, Cai Jing was the Left Chancellor Immortal Lord, and Lingsu himself was Chu Hui. The Emperor joyfully believed him, bestowed on Lin the title Feathered Guest of the Golden Gate, and built the Tongzhen Palace for him to reside in. The Emperor titled himself Emperor Lord of the Way, Head of the Teaching. In the second month, an edict was issued to convert the Tianning Temples throughout the empire into Shenxiao Wangqing Wanshou Temples; where there were no temples, Buddhist monasteries were substituted. Statues of the Great Emperor Lord of Long Life and the Great Emperor Lord of Azure Splendour were also installed, the Baolu Palace was erected, and a Daoist Studies examination was established. In the first year of Xuanhe, the Emperor received an auspicious sign. In the winter, the eleventh month, Lin Lingsu was banished back to Wenzhou, where he died. Chan Master Foshou Lingyuan of Mount Huanglong in Longxing Prefecture was named Weiqing. He attained the Dharma in the chamber of Huitang. Arriving at this autumn, on the eighteenth day of the ninth month, he entered quiescence. The master was a dharma heir of Chan Master Huitang Baojue Xin. Those who inherited the master's Dharma, such as Huigu, Defeng, and Shoushi, were all eminent disciples. At that time, Layman Yichuan Xu Shichuan, Zhu Shiying, and Hong Jufu all followed him to inquire into the Way.