高僧傳 6.11

6.11

Also, in former times, when Tao Kan of Xunyang was in garrison at Guangzhou, a fisherman saw a divine radiance in the sea, shining brilliantly every evening and growing ever brighter over ten days. Wondering at this, he reported it to Kan. Kan went to examine it closely and found it to be an image of King Aśoka. He immediately took it back and sent it to Hanxi Temple in Wuchang. The temple abbot, the monk Sengzhen, once traveled to Xiakou and dreamed at night that the temple had caught fire, but the hall housing this image was surrounded solely by dragon-spirits. When Zhen woke up, he galloped back to the temple; the temple was completely burnt to ashes, and only the image hall remained. Later, when Kan moved his garrison, he dispatched envoys to welcome and receive the image, considering it to possess awe-inspiring spiritual power. Several tens of men lifted it to the water, but when it was placed on the boat, the boat capsized and sank. The envoys were terrified and returned it, ultimately failing to obtain it. From his youth, Kan had displayed martial valor and had always been lacking in faith. Therefore, in the region of Jing and Chu, a popular ballad was made about him, saying:
'Tao is merely a hero of the sword;
the image is marked by the spirit.
One soars into the clouds, the other roosts in the mud;
how distant and far apart they are!
It may be brought about by sincerity;
it can hardly be summoned by force.'