續高僧傳 25.63

25.63

Jia Yi was of unknown origin. At the beginning of the Renshou era of the Sui, he traveled around Anlu; his spoken jests and appearances and disappearances surpassed prophetic talismans. His appearance and clothing changed, sometimes monastic and sometimes lay. Later, he once divided his body among various counties; only when this was investigated and verified did people come to revere his virtue. His behavior was eccentric, and he was mocked by the undiscerning. There was a śramaṇa of Fangdeng Monastery named Huigao, whose scholarship and conduct were comprehensive and broad. Yi happened to visit him, and gave him fifty sheets of paper, saying, "By means of this, the Dharma Master will obtain release." At first, no one understood the reason. Later, a dispute arose, and Gao was brought into custody. The officials interrogated him; he drew up his arguments in reply, and when the paper was exhausted, the case was concluded, exactly as Yi had said. The omens he pointed out were consistently like this. Finally, he went to a household and said, "I have heard that you have a daughter, and I wish to arrange a marriage." He then went into the marketplace, loudly soliciting alms and saying, "Another has given me his daughter to be my wife, and I must obtain the customary gifts." He widely sought money and rice, setting a fixed date for the completion of the marriage. He went to their gate several times to loudly make his declarations. The girl's family felt humiliated, and secretly murdered him, burying him under dung. After three days had passed, he was seen strolling in the marketplace, telling everyone he met about his murder. In the fifth year of the Daye era, the world was peaceful and tranquil; Yi was playing with a crowd of youngsters by the water. Sometimes he straddled the bridge railing and twisted it with his hands, saying, "Twist the sheep's head, snap the sheep's head!" The crowd leaned over to watch, laughing at his antics. When the chaos of Jiangdu broke out, it all matched his earlier words. It is not known where he ended his life. At that time in the commandery of Shu, there was also Master Yangyou, who feigned madness in Minluo. Centenarian elders said: "From when we first saw him until now, his appearance has never changed; he appears to be about forty years old." He wore a worn yellow shirt and ate ordinary secular food, having no fixed residence. Whenever there was a great gathering, he was sure to be the first to arrive. His speech and laughter adapted to the situation without offending public opinion. His foreknowledge was verified, and people of the time praised him together. Up to the beginning of the Tang, he was still seen in that land, but later his whereabouts were lost.