釋鑑稽古略續集 3.35

3.35

In autumn, the imperially composed Buddhist melodies were completed, and Buddhist scriptures were also carved for distribution. On the twelfth day of the ninth month, the Buddhist melodies were imperial bestowed upon Da Bao'en Monastery. On that very night, relics in the pagoda of that monastery manifested light like precious pearls. On the thirteenth day, rays of five-coloured light and auspicious clouds appeared, upholding the sun; wondrous appearances of a thousand buddhas, Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, and arhats fully gathered together. Subsequently, Buddhist scriptures and Buddhist melodies were distributed in Huai'an, and round lights of five colours appeared again, with variegated clouds filling the sky, within which appeared bodhisattvas, arhats, heavenly flowers, precious pagodas, dragons, phoenixes, lions, and elephants; moreover, red birds and white cranes wheeled and soared about. Subsequently, Minister Lü Zhen and Censor-in-chief Wang Zhang were ordered to carry the songs of the names of all the Buddhas, World-Honoured Ones, Tathāgatas, bodhisattvas, and venerable ones to Shaanxi and Henan for distribution; the divine spirits responded in harmony, repeatedly manifesting auspicious signs of clouds, halo lights, and precious pagodas. The civil and military officials presented memorials of congratulations, and the Emperor was greatly pleased. Because of this, the palace eunuchs valued the Buddhist monks all the more, establishing Buddhist monasteries to pray for blessings all throughout the inner and outer areas of the two capitals.