神僧傳 8.10

8.10

The śramaṇa Daozhao said of himself that he was a native of Jianzhou, with the secular surname of Kang. In his youth, having contracted an illness and fallen unconscious, it was said that he went to the underworld administration and witnessed matters of karmic retribution for good and evil; thereupon he renounced household life. He resided on Mount Taihang for forty years, his moral practice being refined and austere. He often spoke of people's future affairs, which seemed obscure at first but were later all clearly verified. Once, two guests came: one was named Yao Miao, who had been recommended for the Mingjing examination; the other was surnamed Zhang, through hereditary privilege. The monk said to Zhang: 'You will receive an official appointment for four terms of administration; be cautious never to draw an official salary in Fanyang. On the eighth day of the fourth month you will fall ill and will be beyond cure.' Next, he said to Miao: 'Hairpins and tablets (an official career) are not advantageous for you. If you can enter the military, you will also be without want for thirty years. If you fall ill, do not let a foreigner (hu) treat it.' That year, Zhang held office in the Xiang and Deng region; later he went through repeated selections, once seeking southern prefectures, and obtained them all. Later, in another selection, he was indeed appointed Magistrate of Lushi County in Guo Prefecture. Two days after taking up his post, he died; the day he died was indeed the eighth day of the fourth month. Only later did they realize that Fanyang was the ancestral choronym of the Lu clan. Miao failed the examination and served on the staff in Rongzhou with the acting title of military command for thirty years, repeatedly promoted to martial posts. Later, when taking a second wife, he sought an attendant; falling ill, he took the medicine of an old woman surnamed Huang and died. When they later inquired into the origin of Mrs. Huang, she was an emancipated maidservant of a cave chieftain and was a barbarian woman.