神僧傳 2.22

2.22

Śramaṇa Tanyong, surnamed Yang, was a native of Guanzhong. In his youth, he served the illegitimate Qin as General of the Guards. He was eight chi tall and possessed heroic martial prowess surpassing ordinary men. In the eighth year of the Taiyuan era, he accompanied Fu Jian in invading the south, and was defeated by the Jin army. Upon returning to Chang'an, he renounced household life under Master Dao'an. After Master Dao'an passed away, he also served Master Huiyuan. Later, in the southwest of the mountain, he built a thatched hut and, together with his disciple Tanguo, clarified his thoughts in the gates of dhyāna. Once, Tanguo dreamed of a mountain deity seeking to receive the five precepts; Tanguo said, "My teacher is here; you may go inquire and receive them from him." A short time later, Tanyong saw a man wearing an unlined robe and cap, of upright and graceful deportment, accompanied by some twenty attendants, requesting to receive the five precepts. Tanyong, knowing from Tanguo's earlier dream that this was the mountain deity, expounded the Dharma and conferred the precepts upon him. The deity offered foreign-made spoons and chopsticks as a donation, bowed, bid farewell, and vanished in an instant. When the day of Master Huiyuan's demise arrived, Tanyong rushed there, wailing and leaping in lamentation. Later, he traveled to Jingzhou and passed away at the Zhulin Monastery.