高僧傳 13.15

13.15

釋僧亮，未知何人。少以戒行著名。欲造丈六金像，用銅不少，非細乞能辦。聞湘州界銅溪伍子胥廟多有銅器，而廟甚威嚴，無人敢近，亮聞而造焉。告刺史張邵，借健人百頭，大船十艘。邵曰：「廟既靈驗，犯者必斃。且有蠻人守護，詎可得耶？」亮曰：「若果福德，與檀越共。如其有咎，躬自當之。」邵即給人船，三日三夜，行至廟所。亮與手力一時俱進，未至廟屋二十許步，有兩銅鑊，容百餘斛，中有巨蛇長十餘丈，出遮行路。亮乃正儀執錫，呪願數十言，蛇忽然而隱。俄見一人，秉竹笏而出云聞：「法師道業非凡，營福事重，今特相隨喜。」於是令人輦取。廟銅既多，十不取一，而舫已滿。唯神床頭有一唾壺，中有一蝘蜓，長二尺許，乍出乍入。議者咸云神最愛此物，亮遂不取，於是而去，遇風水甚利。比群蠻相報，追逐不復能及。還都，鑄像既成，唯焰光未備。宋文帝為造金薄圓光，安置彭城寺。至宋太始中，明帝移像湘宮寺，今猶在焉。

Śramaṇa Sengliang, whose origins are unknown, was famous from his youth for his observance of the precepts. He wished to make a sixteen-foot metal image, but the copper required was considerable and could not be accomplished by small alms. Hearing that the temple of Wu Zixu by the Tongxi River within the borders of Xiangzhou had abundant bronze vessels, and that the shrine was exceedingly awe-inspiring and no one dared approach it, Liang heard of this and went there. He informed the regional inspector Zhang Shao, asking to borrow a hundred robust men and ten large boats. Shao said, "The shrine is full of spiritual efficacy, and violators are sure to perish. Moreover, indigenous tribesmen guard it; how could it be obtained?" Liang replied, "If merit and virtue are indeed attained, I shall share them with the dānapati. If there should be any blame, I shall bear it myself." Shao thereupon provided him with the men and boats. After three days and three nights, they reached the site of the shrine. Liang advanced together with the laborers all at once. Before they were some twenty paces from the shrine building, there were two bronze cauldrons holding more than a hundred hu each; inside them was a giant serpent more than a hundred feet long, which came out and blocked the path. Liang composed his deportment, held his monk's staff, and uttered several tens of words of praṇidhāna, whereupon the serpent vanished in an instant. Presently, a person was seen holding a bamboo tablet and coming out, saying, "I hear that the master's practice of the Way is extraordinary, and your undertaking of meritorious deeds is weighty; today I especially rejoice in your endeavor." Thereupon he had the men carry the vessels away. Since the bronze in the shrine was so abundant, not one in ten was taken, yet the barges were already full. Only at the head of the deity's couch was a spittoon, inside of which was a gecko some two feet long, emerging and returning by turns. All who discussed it said that the deity was fondest of this object, so Liang did not take it and thereupon departed, meeting with very favorable wind and waters. By the time the tribal groups gave word to one another, they pursued him but could no longer catch up. Returning to the capital, the casting of the image was completed, lacking only the halo of radiant flames. Emperor Wen of Song had a round aureole of gold leaf made for it, and it was installed at Pengcheng Temple. In the Taishi era of the Song, Emperor Ming moved the image to Xianggong Temple, where it still remains today.