弘贊法華傳 9.9

9.9

蘇長。未測其居貫。武德中。任都水使者。出為巴州刺史。將家口赴任。渡喜陵江。中流風起船沒。男女六十餘人。一舟溺死。唯有一妾。常讀法華經。船中水入。妾頭戴經函。誓與俱沒。既而船沒。妾猶不沈。隨波汎濫。頃之著岸。遂載經函而出。開視其經。了無濕污。在楊州嫁為人婦。而逾篤信焉。

Su Chang—it is not known where his native place was—served as the Commissioner of Waterways during the Wude reign era, and was sent out as the Prefect of Ba Prefecture. Taking his family to assume his post, they crossed the Xiling River. In midstream, a wind arose and the boat sank; more than sixty men and women aboard the vessel were drowned. There was only one concubine who constantly read the Lotus Sūtra. When the water entered the boat, the concubine placed the sūtra wrapper upon her head, vowing to sink along with it. But after the boat sank, the concubine still did not go under, floating along with the waves, and before long she reached the shore. She then stepped ashore carrying the sūtra wrapper, and when she opened and inspected the sūtra, it was not wet or soiled at all. In Yangzhou she was married to become someone's wife, and her faith became all the more devout.