續高僧傳 25.143

25.143

貞觀年中。遼西柳城靺鞨名帝示階者。年十八時逃入高麗。拾得二寸許銅像。不知何神明。安皮袋中。每有飲噉酒肉。拔出祭之。逢高麗捉獲。具說我是北邊靺鞨。不信謂是細作。斫之三刀不傷皮肉。疑是神人。問有何道術。答曰無也。唯供養神明而已。乃出示之。曰此我國中佛也。因說本末。看像背上有三刀痕。遂放之令往唐國。彼大有佛事。可諮問也。其人得信在懷深厭俗網。今在幽州出家。大聰明有儀止。巡講採聽。隨聞便解。有疑錄出。以問者皆深隱。遠思者難之。

During the Zhenguan era, a Mohe from Liucheng in Liaoxi named Dishijie, at the age of eighteen, fled into Koguryŏ. He found a bronze image about two inches high; not knowing what deity it was, he placed it in a leather pouch, and whenever he ate meat or drank wine, he pulled it out to offer a sacrifice to it. He was captured by the Koguryŏ people, and he explained in detail, 'I am a Mohe from the northern frontier.' They did not believe him, considering him a spy, and struck him three times with a blade, but neither skin nor flesh was injured. Suspecting he was a divine man, they asked what magical arts he possessed. He replied, 'None, except that I make offerings to a deity.' He then brought it out and showed it to them. They said, 'This is the Buddha of our country!' Thereupon they explained its origins, and looking at the back of the image, there were three blade marks. They then released him and told him to go to the Tang empire: 'There, Buddhist activities are abundant; you can consult and inquire there.' Having acquired faith in his heart, he deeply loathed the net of worldly life. He has now renounced the world in Youzhou; he is exceedingly intelligent and dignified in conduct. He makes the rounds of lectures to listen and absorb, comprehending whatever he hears immediately. When he has doubts, he writes them down, and his inquiries are all profound and esoteric, so that even deep thinkers find them difficult.