高僧傳 13.77

13.77

Shi Fayuan's original surname was Zhong, and his personal name was Wuli. His ancestors were from Changshe in Yingchuan. In his grandfather's generation, they fled disorders and moved their residence to Changcheng in Wuxing. Fayuan once served as the supervisor of the Meigen smelter. A certain Shi Shenmin came to replace him. Previously, the official documents had not been audited, so Shenmin ended up taking the blame entirely on his own. Fayuan thereupon appealed, asking to share the guilt. An imperial decree spared Shenmin from death and appointed Fayuan magistrate of Xindao. His family had originally served the spirits, and he himself practiced drumming and dancing; he mastered the marvels of worldly miscellaneous arts, as well as divination by milfoil, hexagram lines, and physiognomy. He once looked into a mirror at his own face and said, "Before long, I shall see the Son of Heaven." Thereupon he went out to the capital and stayed at Shen Bridge, making his living as a common physiognomist. When Zong Que and Shen Qing were still of humble status, they once asked Fayuan to read their features. Fayuan said, "Lord Zong should become inspector of three provinces; Lord Shen will reach the highest rank among the Three Excellencies." In this manner, he read the features of many people in succession and predicted immediate events, proving accurate on numerous occasions. This was eventually heard by Emperor Taizu of Song. When Taizu met him, he took a prisoner from the Dongye foundry and a slave of handsome appearance, dressed them in official robes and caps, and ordered Fayuan to physiognomize them. Fayuan pointed at the prisoner and said, "You face many perils and disasters; upon descending the steps you should be put in chains." He said to the slave, "You are a person of base status; have you merely been temporarily spared?" The Emperor marveled at him and forthwith ordered him to reside in the Rear Hall, placing him in charge of secret arts of yin and yang. A short time later, he submitted a memorial requesting to leave lay life (pravrajyā). Only after three requests was it granted, and he became a disciple of the Venerable Yuan of Upper Dinglin. When Emperor Xiaowu ascended the imperial throne, Zong Que was sent out to garrison Guangzhou. He took Fayuan with him, venerating him as his master of the five precepts. It happened that the Prince of Qiao plotted rebellion and sent urgent dispatches across Lingnan. Que consulted Fayuan, who said, "If I follow you, people will be killed by mistake. Now Venus offends the Southern Dipper; by principle, a chief minister ought to be killed. You should quickly change your plans, and you are certain to achieve great merit." It turned out just as Fayuan had said. When Que was transferred to become inspector of Yuzhou, he again took Fayuan along. And when the Prince of Jingling, Dan, raised an insurrection, Fayuan's remonstrance was also like this. Later, Fayuan and the inspector jointly wished to shorten the legs of the monks' beds, ordering them to conform to the regulation of eight finger-breadths. At that time, the śramaṇa Sengdao was preeminent west of the Jiang. He considered that Fayuan was improperly rectifying his monks, and his expression showed considerable dissatisfaction. This was subsequently reported to Emperor Xiaowu, who forthwith ordered Fayuan to return to the capital. The Emperor asked Fayuan why he falsely claimed to eat only vegetables. Fayuan replied, "It has been more than ten years since I began eating only vegetables." The Emperor ordered the Palace Attendant Shen Youzhi to force meat upon him. Fayuan broke his two front teeth, yet did not alter his resolve. The Emperor was exceedingly furious, ordered him defrocked, and appointed him General of Wide Military Might, stationing him on duty at the Hualin Buddha Hall. Although Fayuan's outer form was like that of a layman, his mind dwelt in dhyāna and the precepts, never once failing in his integrity. After a short while the Emperor died, and the Empress Dowager Zhaotai ordered that he be allowed to return to the monastic path.