高僧傳 9.32

9.32

Shi Hu once took a daytime nap and dreamed that a flock of sheep carrying fish came from the northeast. Upon awakening, he inquired of Fotudeng. Fotudeng said: 'It is an ill omen; will the Xianbei not take possession of the Central Plains!' The Murong clan indeed later established their capital there. Fotudeng also once ascended the Central Hall together with Shi Hu. Fotudeng suddenly said in alarm: 'Disaster, disaster! A fire is about to break out in You Province!' He then took wine and sprinkled it. After a long while, he smiled and said: 'The rescue has been effected.' Shi Hu sent someone to inspect You Province, and they reported: 'On that day, fire broke out from all four gates; a black cloud came from the southwest, and a sudden downpour extinguished it; the rain also smelled strongly of wine.' In the fourteenth year of Shi Hu's Jianwu era, in the seventh month, Shi Xuan and Shi Tao were plotting to kill one another. Xuan went to the monastery at that time and sat together with Fotudeng; a single bell of the stūpa sounded on its own. Fotudeng said to Xuan: 'Do you understand the sound of the bell? The bell says: "Hu child drops down."' Xuan's countenance changed and he said: 'What sort of words are these?' Fotudeng dissembled, saying: 'An old barbarian practicing the Way, unable to live in the mountains in silence, wearing double cushions and fine clothes—is this not "dropping down"?' Shi Tao arrived afterward. Fotudeng gazed at him intently for a long time. Tao was frightened and questioned Fotudeng, who said: 'I merely wonder at the stench of blood about your lordship, which is why I looked at you.' In the eighth month, Fotudeng had ten disciples maintain a fast in a separate chamber. At the time Fotudeng briefly entered the Eastern Chamber. Shi Hu and Queen Du paid their respects to Fotudeng. Fotudeng said: 'There are bandits under the flanks! Within ten days, between the stūpa to the west and this hall to the east, there will be bloodshed. Be careful not to travel eastward.' Queen Du said: 'Is the upādhyāya senile? Where are there any bandits?' Fotudeng immediately changed his words, saying: 'All that is received by the six sense organs are bandits. The old should naturally be senile, provided that the young are not muddled; then all will be well.' He spoke in allegories, no longer speaking explicitly. Two days later, Xuan indeed sent men to murder Tao in a Buddhist temple, intending to carry out high treason while Shi Hu attended the funeral. Because Shi Hu had been forewarned by Fotudeng, he escaped danger. When Xuan's plot was exposed and he was arrested, Fotudeng admonished Shi Hu, saying: 'Since he is Your Majesty's son, why inflict such a severe disaster? If Your Majesty can contain your anger and extend mercy, you will still have more than sixty years. If you must execute him, Xuan will become a comet sweeping down over the palace of Ye.' Shi Hu did not follow his advice; he pierced Xuan's chin with an iron chain, dragged him onto a pyre, and burned him. He arrested more than three hundred of Xuan's officials and subordinates, had them all torn apart by chariots and dismembered, and cast their remains into the Zhang River. Fotudeng then instructed his disciples to discontinue the fast in the separate chamber.