神僧傳 8.46

8.46

釋清公。居巴山之隈。不知何許人。常默其詞。忽復一言未甞不中。西川節帥段文昌父鍔為支江宰。後任江陵糺。文昌少好屬文。長自渚宮困於塵土。客遊成都謁韋。南康臯。臯與奏釋褐。道不甚行。每以事業自負。與遊皆高明之士。遂去南康之府。金吾將軍裴邠之鎮梁川。辟為從事。轉假廷評裴公府罷公自府遊聞清公之異。徑詣清公求宿。願知前去之事。自夕達旦曾無一詞。忽問曰。中間極盛旌旆而至者誰。公曰。豈非高崇文乎。對曰非也。更言之。公曰。代崇文者。武黃門也。清曰。十九郎不日即為此人。更盛更盛。公尋徵之。便曰。害風妄語阿師不知。因大笑而已。由是頗亦自負。戶部員外韋處厚出任開州刺史。叚公時任都官員外判鹽鐵案公送出都門。處厚素深於釋氏。洎到鵠鳴先訪之。清喜而迎處厚。處厚因問還期。曰一年半歲一年半歲。又問。終止何官。對曰。宰相須江邊得。又問。終止何處。僧遂不答。又問。叚十九郎何如。答曰。已說矣。近也近也。及處厚之歸朝正三歲重言一年半歲之驗。長慶初叚公自相位節制西川。果符清公之言。處厚唯不喻江邊得宰相。廣求智者解焉。或有旁徵義者。謂處厚必除浙西夏口。從是而入拜。及文宗皇帝踐祚。自江邸首命處厚為相。至是方驗。與鄒平公同發使修清公塔。因刻石紀其事焉。又趙宗儒節制興元日問其移動。遂命紙作兩句詩云。梨花初發杏花初。甸邑南來慶有餘。宗儒遽考之。清公但云。害風阿師取次語。明年二月除檢校。右僕射鄭餘慶代其位。

Shi Qinggong's origins are unknown. He resided in a nook of the Ba Mountains. He was usually silent in his speech, but when he suddenly uttered a single word, it was always accurate. Duan Wenchang, the Military Commissioner of Xichuan, was the son of E, who served as Magistrate of Zhijiang and later as Judicial Inspector of Jiangling. In his youth, Wenchang was fond of composing literature; when grown, he was entangled in worldly dust at the Zhigong Palace. Traveling as a guest to Chengdu, he paid respects to Nan Kang, Wei Gao. Gao memorialized the court to grant him office, but his career did not advance much. He always took pride in his abilities, and those with whom he associated were all distinguished and brilliant scholars. Thereupon he left the government of Nan Kang. When General of the Golden Guard Pei Bin was stationed in Liangchuan, he summoned Duan to be a retainer, temporarily making him an Imperial Reviewer. When Duke Pei's administration came to an end, Duan traveled from the administrative seat, heard of the extraordinary reputation of Venerable Qing, and went directly to him seeking lodging, wishing to know the affairs that lay ahead. From evening until dawn, the monk spoke not a single word. Suddenly he asked, "In the intervening time, who was it that arrived with the most magnificent banners and pennants?" Duan said, "Could it have been Gao Chongwen?" The monk replied, "No, speak further." Duan said, "The one who replaced Chongwen was Gentleman-Attendant of the Yellow Gate Wu." Qing said, "Nineteenth Gentleman, within days you will become this person, even more magnificent, even more magnificent." Duan immediately inquired further, but the monk simply said, "This mad master speaks wildly; don't take heed!" and simply burst into loud laughter. On account of this, Duan felt quite confident. Wei Chuhou, Vice Director in the Ministry of Revenue, was sent out to serve as Prefect of Kaizhou. Duke Duan, then serving as Vice Director in the Ministry of Punishments and managing the Salt and Iron Monopoly, saw him off outside the capital gates. Chuhou had always had deep faith in Buddhism. When he arrived at Huming, he first visited Qing. Qing happily welcomed Chuhou, who then asked about the date of his return. The monk said, "A year and a half, a year and a half." He also asked, "With what office will I end up?" The monk replied, "As Prime Minister, which you must obtain by the riverbank." He also asked, "Where will my life come to an end?" The monk made no reply. He then asked, "How will Duan the Nineteenth fare?" The monk replied, "I have already spoken of it. It is close, it is close!" When Chuhou returned to court, it was exactly three years, fulfilling the repeated words "a year and a half." In the early Changqing era, Duke Duan, from his position as Prime Minister, took military command of Xichuan, which indeed coincided with Venerable Qing's words. Only concerning "obtaining the prime ministership by the riverbank" did Chuhou remain puzzled, seeking out wise men widely to interpret it. Some drew upon analogous meanings, saying that Chuhou would surely be appointed to Zhexi or Xiakou, and from there enter the court to be appointed. When Emperor Wenzong ascended the throne, from his Jiang Residence he first appointed Chuhou as Prime Minister; only then was it verified. Together with the Duke of Zouping, he dispatched envoys to repair Venerable Qing's pagoda, and inscribed a stone recording these matters. Furthermore, when Zhao Zongru was in command of Xingyuan, he asked about his own transfer. The monk then called for paper and composed a two-line poem: "Pear blossoms first unfold, and apricot blossoms are new; / South from the capital region comes joy with blessings to spare." Zongru hastily investigated its meaning, but Venerable Qing merely said, "This mad master speaks heedlessly." In the second month of the following year, Zongru was appointed Acting Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, and Zheng Yuqing replaced him in his position.