冥報記 2

English (machine translation) 2

Language: English

2.1

Compiled by Tang Lin, Minister of Personnel

During the Kaihuang era of the Sui, Cui Yanwu of Boling, Regional Inspector of Weizhou, arrived at a settlement while inspecting his department. Astounded and pleasantly surprised, he said to his attendants, “In a past life, I was once a woman in this settlement, a man's wife. Now I know where the house is.” Turning his horse, he entered a long lane, turned into a house, and knocked on the gate, calling for the master. The master was aged, and he ran out to bow and pay homage. Yanwu entered the house and first ascended its hall. Looking at the eastern wall, where there was a prominence six or seven chi from the ground, he said to the master, “The Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra that I used to read in the past, together with five gold hairpins, are hidden within this wall; the raised place is it. On the paper behind the end of the seventh fascicle of the sūtra, fire burned away the text. To this day, every time I recite this sūtra, whenever I reach the end of the seventh fascicle, I invariably forget and lose it, unable to remember.” Thereupon, he ordered his attendants to chisel into the wall, and indeed they retrieved the sūtra case. When they opened it, the end of the seventh fascicle and the gold hairpins were all just as he had said. The master wept and said, “When my late wife was alive, she constantly read this sūtra; the hairpins were also my late wife's possessions. My wife died in childbirth, and their location was lost. I did not imagine that the regional inspector would point out their location!” Yanwu also said, “Before the courtyard locust tree, when I was about to give birth, I loosened my own hair and placed it inside the hollow of this tree.” When he had someone feel inside to test it, they indeed obtained the hair. Thereupon the master was filled with sorrow and joy. Yanwu left behind clothes and goods, generously providing for the master, and departed. Minister Cui Dunli recounted it thus. In past years I met Lu Wenli, who also told the same story, but said it was the Regional Inspector of Qizhou without getting his name; it was not as complete as Cui’s account, so I still follow Cui's record.

2.3

During the Daye era of the Sui, there was an itinerant monk who traveled to the Mount Tai Shrine and sought lodging. The shrine director said, “There are no other quarters here; you can only lodge under the veranda of the spirit's shrine. However, recently, those who lodge here have invariably died.” The monk said, “There is no harm.” Having no choice, the director complied and set up a bed for him under the veranda. When night fell, the monk sat upright and recited sūtras for about one watch. He heard the tinkling sound of girdle pendants in the building. After a short while, the spirit came forth and bowed in veneration to the monk. The monk said, “I have heard that recently many who lodge here have died; could it be that the dānapati harmed them? I hope you will protect me.” The spirit said, “When they encountered their time of death about to arrive, upon hearing my voice, they died of their own terror; it was not I who killed them. Please do not worry, Master.” The monk then invited him to sit, and they talked just like ordinary people. After a long while, the monk asked, “I have heard worldly people pass on the legend that Mount Tai governs ghosts; is this truly so?” The spirit said, “Because of my meager merit, it is indeed so. Do you wish to see someone who has passed away?” The monk said, “I have two fellow monks who died earlier; I wish to see them.” The spirit asked their names and said, “One has already been born among humans; the other is in the human hell. His sins are heavy and he cannot be seen [here], but I can accompany you, Master, to go and see him.” The monk was very pleased. Thereupon, they rose together and went out the gate. After not far, they reached a place where many shrine hells were visible, with blazing flames of great intensity. The spirit led the monk into a courtyard. From afar, he saw a person amidst the fire, crying out and unable to speak, his form mutated beyond recognition, the scorch and stench of flesh and blood heartbreaking to behold. [The spirit said,] “This is he. You need not view any further, Master.” Sorrowful and pitying, the monk asked to leave. In a moment, they arrived back at the shrine and again sat together with the spirit. He then asked, “If I wish to save my fellow monk, is there any way?” The spirit said, “It can be done. If someone can copy the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra for him, he will be freed.” Soon dawn was approaching, and the spirit took leave of the monk and entered the hall. At dawn, the shrine director saw that the monk was not dead, and marvelled at it. The monk told him the whole story and immediately copied a set of the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra for the fellow monk. When the sūtra was completed and fully adorned, he again took the sūtra to the shrine to lodge. That night, the spirit emerged as before, joyfully bowing in veneration, and inquired about the purpose of his visit. The monk told him the matter. The spirit said, “I already know. When you copied the sūtra for him, as soon as you completed the title, he was already delivered and freed; now he has long been reborn elsewhere and is no longer here. However, this place is impure, and the sūtra must not be placed here. I request that you take the sūtra back to a monastery.” After talking for a long time, dawn was near, and the spirit took leave and departed. The monk took the sūtra and delivered it to a monastery. (Zhang Deyan, Administrative Assistant of Hangzhou, formerly served in Yanzhou and knew this matter in detail; he personally told it to Tang Lin thus.)

2.4

Xiao Jing, Libationer of the Directorate of Education, was a man of Lanling, the grandson of Emperor Wu of the Liang, and the fifth son of King Kui of Liang. After Liang was destroyed, he entered the Sui; his elder sister became the empress of Emperor Yang. Born and raised in nobility and affluence, his family revered the Buddha-Dharma. During the Daye era, because he recited the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra, he built a Prabhūtaratna Stūpa according to the sūtra text, making it of sandalwood. The stūpa was about three chi high, and its upper part was square and equal in dimensions, housing a wooden image of Prabhūtaratna. After several years, his elder brother’s son Quan was at the residence. Rising in the morning, he suddenly saw a sandalwood stūpa canopy in the grass of the front courtyard, beneath which was a brass Buddha image. Its craftsmanship was different from that of the Central Plains: its face resembled a foreigner's, and its eyes were made of silver, with dark pupils shining bright and clear as if natural. Quan ran to tell Jing. Jing looked at it with surprise and joy, took the canopy back, and tried placing it atop the stūpa; it fit snugly, as if originally made for it. Although the wood color differed slightly, the stūpa's form became even more wonderful. When he placed the Buddha image inside the stūpa, it likewise fit as if originally crafted for it. Jing was overjoyed, considering himself to have moved [the unseen] through sincere devotion. Within the case of that Buddha image were more than a hundred relics. Jing's daughter, a young nun, secretly had doubts: foreign monks always said that relics could not be broken by a hammer. So she tried taking thirty relics and striking them with an axe on a stone; the relics were not harmed at all. The girl picked them up from the ground to search, but only found three or four, while the rest were lost, their whereabouts unknown. Afterward, she became frightened and told Jing. Jing went to look inside the stūpa, and all the relics were there as before. From then on, Jing recited the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra once a day until the end of his life. In the eleventh year of the Zhenguan era, he fell ill. Empress Xiao, along with his younger brothers and nephews, visited him. Jing met with them, bade each light incense, and thereupon took leave of them. He retained only his younger brother Yu, Duke of Zong, and his daughter who was a nun, having them light incense and recite the sūtra. Shortly after, he said to the nun, “I am about to depart; Samantabhadra Bodhisattva has come to welcome me. I am in the eastern courtyard; you may go welcome him, Master.” The nun went to welcome him as told, but before she returned, Jing said, “This courtyard is impure, so he is unwilling to come; I shall go to him. May you all abide well.” Thereupon he bid farewell to Yu and the others, rose, knelt upright with palms joined, facing directly west. Shortly after, he lay down and expired. His testamentary instruction ordered: “Carry me alone on a single cart; enshroud me in the clothes upon my body; women must not accompany the funeral procession; do not sacrifice with meat; dig the pit just deep enough to cover the coffin.” The court and the public admired his thorough awakening. His family revered and carried out his wishes. (Zhonggui’s younger brother Xiaoxie, Record Keeper of the Court of Judicial Review, told this to Tang Lin; I also heard that the people of the prefecture said the same.)

2.5

Wei Zhonggui of Linyi was by nature filial and fraternal, and was respected by the prefecture and village. At the age of seventeen, the commandery recommended him as exceptionally distinguished, and he became the Magistrate of Mengyang. His father, Lian, was formerly the Vice Magistrate of Ziyang Commandery, who retired due to old age. During the Wude era, he fell ill; Zhonggui nursed him without removing his cap and sash. After a long time, his father died. He dismissed his wives and concubines and kept vigil beside the tomb. Believing in Buddhism, he recited the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra. By day, he carried earth to form a boundary mound; by night, he devoted himself to reciting the sūtra, diligent in this without weariness, not returning home for the full three years. Once, a tiger came before the wall at night and crouched down to listen to the sūtra, staying long without leaving. Zhonggui focused his mind and thought, “I do not wish to commune with fierce beasts.” It then got up and left. The next morning, he saw seventy-two stems of lingzhi mushrooms growing around the tomb. Those facing the grave stood in orderly rows as if planted by human hands, all with vermilion stems and purple caps, the caps measuring five inches in diameter, of extraordinary luster and color. The neighbors reported it to the prefecture and county. At that time, Lord Xin was Regional Inspector and Shen Yu was Administrative Assistant; they went together to the gravesite to inspect it. Suddenly, a bird resembling a duck appeared, holding a pair of carp in its beak, placed them on the ground, and flew away. Xin and the others sighed in deepest admiration, harvested the lingzhi mushrooms, sealed them, and memorialized the throne; an imperial edict commended his family gate. (When Tang Lin was sent on an imperial mission to Jiangdong in the seventh year of the Zhenguan era, the Yangzhou acupuncturist Zhen Tuo recounted this to Lin.)

2.6

Sun Bao of Jiangdu was originally a northerner who moved and settled there at the end of the Sui dynasty. In his youth, he died, yet his body remained warm; only after more than forty days did he revive. He recounted himself that when he was first arrested and arrived at an official government office, he suddenly saw his mother detained there. Seeing her, Bao felt both sorrow and joy. His mother then told him, "Since dying, I have been detained for a long time with no progression, and have had no way to lodge an appeal." The next morning, the presiding officer led Bao before the magistrate. The magistrate stated that Bao was guiltless and should be released. Bao then ventured to ask, "May I inquire: are the sins and merits of one's lifetime definitely subject to retribution?" The magistrate said, "Retribution is definite." Bao asked again, "If one has committed both sins and merits, can they cancel each other out?" The magistrate said, "They can." Bao said, "Such-and-such neighbors of mine had many sins and few merits in their lives, yet I now see them outside; my mother has many merits and few sins, yet she has been detained for a long time. If retribution is definite, why is it like this?" The magistrate summoned and questioned the clerk in charge. The clerk said there was no dossier. The magistrate then called Bao's mother for interrogation, learned that her merits were many and her sins few, and reproved the clerk in charge. Because the clerk had lost the dossier, he had not known the gravity or lightness of her original case. The magistrate and clerks checked another register, and it was just as she had said. Thereupon he ordered her release and allocated the mother and son to be reborn in the Hall of Joy; but as for Bao, he was to be sent out to his place of rebirth. That Hall of Joy was like a fine palace, with great halls and pavilions, where a multitude of men and women enjoyed bliss within. Bao had no further thought of returning, but merely wandered and played among the various halls. After about a month or so, he happened to meet his paternal uncle on the road, who scolded him, saying, "It is not yet time for you to die. Why have you not returned early?" Bao said, "I do not wish to return." His uncle said angrily, "When people die, each receives retribution according to their own karma. Your karma is evil; you cannot be born in the Hall of Joy. It is only because it is not yet time for you to die that you have been able to roam as a guest within it. If you were dead, the officials would register you; how could you get to see your mother?" Thereupon, with water from a pitcher, he poured it over him, drenching his body thoroughly from head to foot; only on his arm was there a small spot not reached, as the water had run out. Pointing to an empty house, he told Bao to enter it. Once he entered, he revived. The place where the poured water had not reached subsequently festered and fell away, to this day exposing the bone. (When I, Lin, was sent on an imperial mission to Jiangdong in the seventh year of Zhenguan, the needle-doctor Zhen Tuo recounted this to me as such. Bao is currently still alive.)

2.7

When Zhang Liang was Chief Administrator of the Superior Prefecture of Youzhou, he revereed and believed in the Buddha. He once entered a monastery and saw a Buddha image as tall as his own body, which Liang then provided special offerings to. Later, while sitting in his hall with two maidservants standing in attendance, he suddenly heard thunder and lightning. Liang was by nature terrified of thunder, so he mentally concentrated on that Buddha image. Soon after, a thunderbolt struck a pillar of his hall. One of the attending maidservants ran out, reached the steps, and died. Splinters from the pillar struck Liang on the forehead, but without much pain; upon inspection, there was only a red mark, while the pillar's wood had split in half and fallen to the ground as if snapped by a person. Afterwards, Liang went to the monastery: behind the forehead of the image there was a large mark, as if struck by an object, corresponding exactly to the location of Liang's mark. Liang and the crowd were amazed and sighed in admiration. (Liang personally told this to Gao Yu as such. People of Youzhou also know of it.)

2.8

Lu Wenli of Fanyang, an Investigating Censor, was originally the Defender of Yunyang. While sent on an imperial mission to review prisoners on the Jingzhou Circuit, he arrived in Jiangnan and fell gravely ill: his belly swelled as hard as a stone, he could neither eat nor drink, and medicine brought no cure. Wenli thought to himself that he would surely die with no hope of living, so he single-mindedly meditated on Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva. After several days, dazed as if in sleep, he suddenly saw a śramaṇa arrive, who said of himself that he was Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva. He said to Wenli, "Because you were able to focus your mind single-mindedly, I have come to save you. Now I shall remove the illness inside your belly for you." Holding a wooden handle in his hand, he used it to scrape his belly; more than three sheng of foul matter came out from his belly, extremely stinking and disgusting. He said, "You are cured!" Thereupon Wenli woke with a start, his body and belly feeling tranquil and at ease. He was immediately able to eat and get up, and his chronic illness was entirely cured; to this day he remains very robust. Bao, who served together with the censor as an investigator, personally recounted this as such.

2.9

Mu Renqian was a native of Handan in Zhao Commandery. In his youth he studied the classics and did not believe in ghosts or spirits, but wishing always to test whether they existed or not, he sought out and studied under spirit-seers. For over ten years he was unable to see any. Later, when moving his household toward the county seat, he saw a man on the road who looked like a high official, in very grand robes and cap, riding a fine horse, accompanied by over fifty mounted attendants. The man looked at Renqian without speaking. Later Renqian saw him several times, and it was always thus. After ten years, having seen each other several dozen times, [the rider] suddenly halted his horse, called to Renqian, and said, 'Lately I have seen you frequently; in my heart I admire and hold affection for you, and I wish to associate with you.' Renqian bowed to him and asked, 'Who are you, sir?' He replied, 'I am only a ghost. My surname is Cheng, and my given name is Jing. Originally from Hongnong, during the Western Jin I served as an aide-de-camp (biejia). Now I hold the office of senior clerk (zhangli) in the State of Linhu.' Renqian asked where his state was, and what the king's surname and given name were. He replied, 'All north of the Yellow River is the State of Linhu. The state capital is northwest of Loufan, where the desert of [Shuo]zhou lies. Its king is the former King Wuling of Zhao, who now governs this realm. As a whole we are under the jurisdiction of Mount Tai. Every month, each state sends a chief minister to pay court at Mount Tai, which is why I frequently pass by here and encounter you. I can be of benefit to you: I can cause you to know misfortunes and perils in advance so that you may avoid them beforehand and escape unforeseen calamities. Only the span of life and death, and the retribution of great misfortune or fortune, cannot be moved.' Renqian agreed. Jing then ordered one of his mounted attendants, a regular steward (zhangshi), to be given to him, sending him to follow Renqian wherever he went: whenever anything arose, he was to report it beforehand, and if it was something he did not know, he was to come and inform [Jing]. Thereupon they parted. The steward continually followed him like a retainer; whenever Renqian had a question, he never failed to know it beforehand. At that time, in the early Daye era, Cen Zhixiang of Jiangling was magistrate of Handan. His son Wenben had not yet reached capping age (twenty). Zhixiang invited Renqian to his home to teach Wenben calligraphy. Renqian told Wenben of this matter, and also said, 'Senior Clerk Cheng said to me: "I have one thing that I am ashamed to say to you, yet since I associate with you, I cannot keep it from you. In the realm of ghosts and spirits there is also food, but one cannot eat one's fill; we suffer from hunger. If one obtains human food, one can remain full for an entire year. The throng of ghosts mostly steal human food. Since I am of noble rank, I cannot steal it; I would ask of you a single meal."' Once Renqian informed Wenben, Wenben prepared a banquet for him, setting out delicacies and fine food. Renqian said, 'Ghosts do not wish to enter human dwellings. You may pitch a pavilion tent and set up seats outside, displaying wine and food upon them.' Wenben did as he said. When the time arrived, Renqian saw Jing and two guests arrive and take their seats, accompanied by over a hundred mounted attendants. Once seated, Wenben faced the table and bowed twice, apologizing for the food not being exquisite; [Renqian] also conveyed [Jing's] sentiments, expressing his gratitude. Earlier, when Wenben was about to set out the food, Renqian had requested gold and silk to present in repayment. Wenben asked what sort of items they were, and Renqian said, 'The things used by ghosts are entirely different from those used by humans; only yellow gold and plain silk can be used in common. Yet genuine items are not as good as imitations: applying yellow colour to large tin sheets to make gold, and using paper for silk cloth, is considered the most precious and superior.' Wenben made them according to his words. When Jing finished eating, he ordered his mounted attendants to take turns sitting and eating. Wenben presented them with the gold coins and silk he had made. Jing was deeply pleased, thanked him, and said, 'Through scholar Mu I have troubled you, young sir, for provisions. Would you, young sir, like to know your lifespan?' Wenben declined, saying, 'I do not wish to know.' Jing took his leave and departed. Several years later, Renqian fell ill; though not critically severe, he was unable to rise. After more than a month, Renqian asked his regular steward, but the steward said he did not know. He then asked the senior clerk. The senior clerk reported back, saying, 'Within our realm it is not known. In a few days, when I go to court at Mount Tai, I will seek news and report back to you.' The following month, the senior clerk came in person and reported, saying, 'It is your fellow townsman Zhao Wu who serves as registrar (zhubu) of Mount Tai. There was a vacancy for one registrar, and he recommended you for this post; therefore, files and records have been prepared to summon you. When the case file is completed, you will die.' Renqian asked what plan could be devised. Jing said, 'Your lifespan should be over sixty years, and you are now only forty. It is merely that Registrar Zhao has wrongfully levied a summons upon you. I shall petition him for you.' Then [Zhao's message] came, with Registrar Zhao sending word: 'Brother Mu, formerly we were fellow students, and our affection was deep and profound. Now I am fortunate to serve as registrar of Mount Tai, and it just happened that a registrar post became vacant. The office is now selecting someone, and I have already submitted a proposal to the Lord; the Lord has granted your appointment. Since you cannot attain eternal life, Brother, you will eventually have to die. When death comes, through chance encounters one may not necessarily obtain an office. Why begrudge one or two decades and crave life so desperately? The official document has already been issued and can no longer be stopped. I hope you will make a firm resolution to come, without any doubt.' Renqian was anxious and fearful, and his illness grew even more severe. Jing said to Renqian, 'Registrar Zhao is determined to bring you over. You may go yourself to Mount Tai and present a petition of grievance before the Lord of the Prefecture; then you can be spared.' Renqian asked, 'By what means can I see the Lord of the Prefecture?' Jing said, 'Those who are ghosts can manage to see him. Go to the Mount Tai Shrine; cross a small ridge to the east, and on the level ground beyond the ridge is his administrative seat. You will see him of yourself.' Renqian told this to Wenben, and Wenben prepared travelling provisions for him. A few days later, Jing came again and told Renqian, 'The document is about to be finalized; I fear that your petition may not spare you. Quickly make an image of the Buddha, and those documents will spontaneously dissolve.' Renqian told Wenben, who used three thousand coins to paint a seated image on the west wall of a monastery. Soon afterward, Jing came and announced, 'You are spared!' In his heart, Renqian did not believe in the Buddha and still had doubts, so he asked Jing, 'The Buddha-Dharma speaks of cause and effect in the three times; is this true or false?' He replied, 'It is true.' Renqian said, 'If so, then when people die, they should be divided among the six destinies; how is it that all become ghosts, and King Wuling of Zhao and you are still ghosts today?' Jing said, 'How many households are there in your county?' Renqian said, 'Over ten thousand households.' 'And how many prison inmates?' Renqian said, 'Usually twenty or fewer.' He asked again, 'Among the ten thousand households, how many officials of the fifth rank are there?' Renqian said, 'None.' He asked again, 'How many officials of the ninth rank and above?' Renqian said, 'Several dozen.' Jing said, 'Within the six destinies, it is entirely like this. Those who attain the [higher] destinies are not even one in ten thousand, just as there is not a single fifth-rank official in your county. Those who attain the human destiny are a few people, like your ninth-rank officials; those who enter hell are also several dozen, like the prisoners in your gaol. Only ghosts and beasts are the most numerous, just like the taxable and corvée households in your county. Even within this realm, there are ranks and grades.' Then pointing to his attendants, he said, 'Those men are far inferior to me, and those who do not equal them are even more numerous.' Renqian said, 'Do ghosts die?' He replied, 'They do.' Renqian said, 'When they die, into which destiny do they enter?' He replied, 'I do not know, just as humans know of death but do not know of affairs after death.' Renqian asked, 'Are the petitions and offerings (zhangjiao) of Daoists of any benefit or not?' Jing said, 'In Daoism, the Heavenly Emperor holds overall command of the six destinies; this is called the Heavenly Department (Tiancao). King Yama is like the Son of Heaven among humans; the Lord of Mount Tai Prefecture is like the Director of the Department of State Affairs (Shangshu ling); the spirits who record the five destinies are like the various ministers of state (shangshu); and realms like ours are like large prefectures and commanderies. Whenever there is a human affair, the Daoists submit a petition praying for blessings, and the Heavenly Department receives it. It sends down an order to King Yama, saying: "On such-and-such month and day, a complaint was received from so-and-so, stating thus and so. You should examine the merits to the utmost and not allow injustice or excess." Yama reverently receives and carries it out, just as humans receive an imperial decree. Where there is no justification, one cannot seek exemption; where there is injustice, it will certainly be redressed. How could it be said to be of no benefit?' He asked further, 'What about cultivating merit in Buddhism?' Jing said, 'The Buddha is a great sage; no written documents are dispatched below. When merit is cultivated for him, the heavenly spirits revere and honour it, and one mostly obtains leniency and pardon. If one's merit is abundant, even if there are registers of the evil destinies, one cannot be pursued and apprehended. This is not something within my knowledge, nor do I know why it is so.' Having spoken, he left. Within one or two days, Renqian was able to rise, and he was cured. After Wenben's father died, he returned to his home village. Renqian sent a letter saying, 'Ghosts and spirits are indeed greedy and flatterers! In the past, when he wanted your food and drink, young sir, he was so exceedingly attentive; lately, knowing there is no more substantial profit, his visits have grown quite distant and cold. Yet the regular steward still follows me. When our county was captured by rebels, almost everyone was killed, but I was guided by the steward, and it was always as if the rebels could not see me; thus I managed to survive whole.' On the ninth day of the ninth month in the sixteenth year of Zhenguan, civil officials were bestowed a banquet at the North Gate of Xuanwu. Wenben was then Vice Director of the Secretariat (Zhongshu shilang), and sat facing my elder brother, the Court Architect (Taifu qing), together with Ma Zhou, Attendant Censor of the Secretariat, Wei Kun, Supervising Censor, and myself, Tang Lin. Wenben told these things to everyone himself.

2.10

Attendant Court Physician Sun Huipu was a man of Jiyin. In the thirteenth year of the Zhenguan reign, he accompanied the imperial cortege to Jiucheng Palace. San Shanfu's household was neighboring that of Grand Tutor Wei. Once, during the second watch of the night, he heard someone outside the door calling the name of Attendant Physician Sun. Pu went out to look, thinking it was an order from the Grand Tutor. Once outside, he saw two men, who said to Pu, "An official summons [you]." Pu said, "I cannot go on foot." He then took his own horse and mounted it, following the two men. He then perceived heaven and earth to be as bright as daytime. Pu felt astonished but dared not speak. The two men led Pu out of the mouth of the valley, passed east of the court halls, and proceeded another six or seven li northeast until they reached Muxu Valley. In the distance they saw two men leading Han Fengfang along. They said to the two men who were leading Pu, "You have made a mistake. The one I have obtained is the right one. You should release that man." So they released Pu. Pu followed the road back, yet going back and forth, he did not recognize the places of ordinary life. When he arrived home, he tied up his horse and saw a maidservant sleeping across the doorway. He called her, but she did not respond. Stepping over her, he entered the door and saw his own body sleeping side by side with his wife. He wished to approach it but could not, and could only stand against the south wall, calling loudly to his wife, who never responded. The inside of the room was extremely bright. In the corner of the wall he saw a spiderweb with two flies in it, one large and one small; he also saw the medicines placed on the rafters, none of which were not clearly distinguishable. Only, he could not approach the bed. Knowing that he was dead, he felt deeply sorrowful and distressed, lamenting that he could not bid farewell to his wife. Leaning against the south wall, after a long time he dozed off slightly. Suddenly he woke with a start and realized his body was already lying on the bed, while the room was dark and nothing could be seen. Calling out, he told his wife and had her light a fire, while he was sweating profusely. He rose and looked at the spiderweb; it was clearly just as he had seen it, without any difference. He saw that his horse was also sweating profusely. Fengfang died suddenly that night. Later, in the seventeenth year, Pu rode by post courier upon imperial command to visit the Prince of Qi, [Li] You, in his illness, and was returning. When he reached Xiaoyi Post Station east of Luozhou, he suddenly saw a man come and ask, "Are you Sun Huipu?" He replied, "I am. Why do you ask, sir?" He answered, "I am only a ghost. Grand Tutor Wei has an official document summoning you to serve as a secretarial clerk." He then produced the document and showed it to Pu. Pu looked at it, and it was signed by Wei Zheng, the Duke of Zheng. Pu was startled and said, "Duke Zheng is not dead; why would he send you to deliver a document?" The ghost said, "He has already died. He is now Grand Overseer of the General Registry of the Sun (Taiyang dulu dajian), and thus commanded me to summon you." Huipu invited him to eat together, and the ghost was very pleased and thanked Pu. Pu requested, saying, "I have undertaken an imperial mission and have not yet returned; Duke Zheng should not summon me. May I return to the capital, complete my memorial on affairs, and only then submit to his command?" The ghost agreed. Thereupon they traveled together by day and lodged together by night, eventually reaching Wenxiang. The ghost took leave, saying, "I will obtain a transit pass to cross the barrier and await you." Pu crossed the barrier and went out the west gate, where he saw the ghost already outside the gate. They traveled together again until they reached Zishui Post Station. The ghost parted with Pu again, saying, "I will meet you after you finish submitting your memorial on affairs. You must not consume pungent herbs." Pu agreed. When he had finished submitting his memorial on affairs, he inquired about Duke Zheng and found he had already passed away. Reckoning the date of his demise, it was the day before [the meeting at] Xiaoyi Post Station. Pu thought he would certainly die, so he bid farewell to his family, invited monks to perform the rites of the Way, and had images made and sūtras copied. After about six or seven days, he dreamed at night that the previous ghost came to summon him and led Pu up a high mountain. On the mountain ridge was a grand palace. Having entered, he saw many noble gentlemen who came to meet him and said, "This man has cultivated merit; he must not be detained. He may be released." Then they pushed Pu off the mountain. Thereupon he awoke with a start and has remained unharmed to this day. Huipu related this in person to [Tang] Lin.

2.11

Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and Duke of Wuchang Dai Wei was originally on good terms with the administrative assistant of Shuzhou, Shen Yu. Wei passed away in the seventh year of the Zhenguan reign. In the eighth month of the eighth year, while Yu was in his prefecture, he dreamed that he was walking down the south street of Yining Ward in the capital when he suddenly saw Wei. He saw Wei wearing old and tattered clothes, his countenance extremely haggard. Seeing Yu, he showed mixed sorrow and joy. Yu asked, "Sir, you cultivated merit throughout your life; why are you in such a state now?" He answered, "During my life, I drafted a memorial that led to the execution of one person; after my death, others slaughtered a sheep to make an offering to me. Because of these two matters, the hardship of defending myself in interrogation is beyond words. Yet now the situation is resolved." He then said to Yu, "Throughout my life I was on good terms with you, yet in the end I was unable to advance your official post, which has weighed heavily on my mind. Now you will obtain the fifth rank on your own; the documentation has already passed through the Heavenly Department. I rejoice with you and share in your congratulations, and so I have come to inform you." When he finished speaking, [Yu] awoke. He related this to others, hoping the dream would prove true. In the winter of that year, Yu entered the capital to participate in official selection, but because of a penalty involving bronze, he did not obtain a post. He again spoke to people, saying the dream had no verification. In the spring of the ninth year, as Yu was about to return south of the Yangtze and reached Xuzhou, he suddenly received an imperial edict granting him the fifth rank and appointing him administrator of Wuzhou. ([Tang] Lin's elder brother, who was vice-minister of the Ministry of Personnel, heard of this, summoned Yu, and questioned him about it).

2.12

Li Da'an of Longxi was the elder brother of Li Daliang, Minister of the Ministry of Works. During the Wude reign, Daliang served as area commander of Yuezhou. Da'an traveled from the capital to visit him. Daliang sent several male and female servants to accompany his elder brother on his return. When they reached Luchao in Guzhou, they lodged in an inn. Among the servants was one who plotted to murder Da'an. Waiting until he was fast asleep, he stabbed Da'an's neck with a short sword, piercing through it so that the blade stuck into the bed. Thereupon, without drawing it out, the servant fled. Da'an awoke with a start and called for his servants. Those who had not rebelled came and wished to pull out the blade. Da'an said, "If you pull out the blade, I will die immediately. First take paper and brush to write a letter." The servants also informed the innkeeper and reported to the county office. Just as Da'an finished writing the letter, the county officials also arrived. They then drew out the blade for him, washed the wound, and applied medicine. Da'an then lost consciousness. Suddenly, as if in a dream, he saw an object over a foot long and four or five inches wide and thick, shaped like a piece of pork, floating about two feet above the ground. It came through the door to the front of his bed. From within it, a voice said, "Quickly return my meat!" Da'an said, "I do not eat pork; on what grounds do I owe you?" Immediately he heard a voice outside the door saying, "It is a mistake; this is not the one." The object then turned back and went out through the door. Da'an then saw a pool of water in front of the courtyard, clear, shallow, and lovely. On the west bank of the pool stood a golden Buddha image, about five inches high. In a short while it grew gradually larger and transformed into a monk wearing a green-bordered kāṣāya, extremely fresh and clean, who said to Da'an, "Were you wounded? I shall now take away your pain. You shall fully recover; when you return home, be mindful of the Buddha and cultivate good deeds." He then stroked the wound on Da'an's neck with his hand and departed. Da'an took note of his appearance and saw that on the back of the monk's kāṣāya was a patch of red silk, about a square inch in size, very distinct. Soon after, Da'an awoke and revived, and the wound was no longer painful; he was able to sit up and eat. After a dozen days, young kinsmen from the capital arrived to escort him home. His family members all came to see him, and Da'an explained the circumstances of his being wounded and the incident of seeing the monk image. A woman standing by heard his account and said, "When Da'an first departed from home, his wife sent a maidservant to an image-maker to have a Buddha image made for him. When the image was finished, in drawing the robe with green pigment, a spot of cinnabar dripped onto its back. When they asked the artisan to remove it, he refused. It is still there now, its appearance just as the gentleman described." Da'an then rose together with the lady and his family to view the image, and it was indeed what he had seen; the cinnabar dot on its back matched the location of the patch perfectly. Thereupon they marveled at it, and he came to revere and believe in the Buddhadharma. Da'an's wife, Lady Xiahou, was the younger sister of Xuan, prefect of Langzhou; she had previously related this to [Tang] Lin. Later, Da'an's nephew, Shi Yu, who became chamberlain for the Palace of Justice, also related the same.

2.13

During the Wude reign, Su Chang, commissioner of waterways, was appointed prefect of Yizhou. Chang was taking his family to assume his post and was crossing the Jialing River. In midstream, a wind arose and the boat sank; more than sixty men and women drowned all at once. Only a concubine, who regularly recited the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra, when the water entered the boat, placed the sūtra case on her head and vowed to sink together with it. She alone did not drown; floating on the waves, she soon reached the shore. Later, she went via Yangzhou and was married to someone as a wife, becoming all the more devout in her faith. Magistrate Cen said that he had seen this concubine in person, who herself related it was so. Lin subsequently had an official mission along the river, and the boatmen also recounted the matter in the same way.

2.14

Dong Xiong of Hedong was sincere in his faith in the Buddha's way from his youth and kept a vegetarian diet for several decades. During the Zhenguan reign, he served as assistant in the Court of Judicial Review. In the spring of the fourteenth year, he was implicated in the affair of Lian Jixiantong and detained at the Censorate. At that time, the Emperor took it to be a matter of great gravity and ordered Assistant Censor Wei Meng and others to interrogate them very urgently under strict confinement. There were more than a dozen detainees. Li Jingxuan, assistant in the Court of Judicial Review, and Wang Xin, judicial clerk, were both implicated in this matter and confined in the same room with Xiong; all were securely locked with chains. Xiong single-mindedly concentrated on the "Universal Gate" chapter of the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra, completing three thousand recitations in several days. Sitting alone at night reciting the sūtra, his lock suddenly unlocked by itself and fell to the ground. Startled, Xiong told Xin and Xuan. Xin and Xuan examined the lock together; it remained firmly closed on the ground, and its shackle was also upright and undamaged, yet the shackle and lock were separated by several feet. Xuan and the other marveled at it. Xiong, fearing reprimand, reported to the guards and requested that the lock be fastened again. Zhang Jingyi, an investigating censor on night duty, ordered a clerk to examine the lock. The clerk illuminated it with a candle and saw that the shackle and lock were not joined but naturally separated, which he found extremely strange. He therefore locked it, sealed and bound the lock with paper, and wrote a signature over the seal. After the clerk left, Xiong sat down again to recite the sūtra until the fifth watch. The lock unlocked and fell again with a sound, as if someone had opened it. Xiong was afraid and told Xin and Xuan again. Xuan and the other thought that before daybreak they should not bother the clerk. When it was bright, they looked at it together: the shackle and lock lay separated on the ground, yet the lock was still joined, and the place of the seal and signature was completely undisturbed; the shackle fit so firmly and tightly that there was no way it could have been opened. Xuan had grown up from youth not believing in the Buddhadharma; seeing his wife read the sūtras, he would often say to her, "Why do you flatter a barbarian god and read such things?" When he witnessed this incident with Xiong, he sighed deeply and awoke to understanding, saying, "Only now do I know that the Buddha is a Great Sage without peer, truly inconceivable!" At that time, Xin and Xuan also recited the names of the Eight Bodhisattvas, completing thirty thousand recitations. By the end of the day, their locks unlocked and fell off by themselves; examining the condition of the locks, it was no different from Xiong's. Xuan thereupon was convinced and felt deep remorse. Soon after, all three men were exonerated. Xuan then copied the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra and had images of the Eight Bodhisattvas painted to make offerings at home. (At that time [Tang] Lin was gravely ill at home. Xuan came to inquire after his illness and related the entire matter in detail. When Lin's illness was cured and he resumed his duties, he questioned the officials and clerks in the Censorate, and it did not differ from Xuan's account. Xiong also related the matter himself, and his diligence and devotion became even more earnest. Xiong is currently serving as magistrate of Zhouzhi).

2.15

During the Wude reign, Su Chang, commissioner of waterways, was appointed prefect of Yizhou. Su Chang was taking his family to assume his post and was crossing the Jialing River. In midstream, a wind arose and the boat sank; more than sixty men and women drowned all at once. Only a concubine, who regularly recited the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra, when the river water entered, placed the sūtra case on her head and vowed to sink together with it. After the boat sank, she alone did not go under; floating on the waves, she soon reached the shore. Carrying the sūtra case along, she opened and looked at the sūtra: it was completely free of dampness or moisture. She is still alive today in Yangzhou, married to someone as a wife, and is even more devout in her faith. (Magistrate Cen said that he saw this concubine, who herself related it was so. Lin subsequently had an official mission along the river, and the boatmen also recounted the matter just like this).

2.16

Cen Wenben, Director of the Secretariat, was a native of Jiangling. In his youth he had faith in Buddhism and constantly recited the Universal Gate Chapter of the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra. He once took a boat across the Wu River, and in midstream the boat broke apart, drowning everyone else. While Wenben was in the water, he heard someone say: 'Just be mindful of the Buddha, and you will surely not die.' This was said three times. Soon after, he surged out with the waves and had already reached the north bank, thereby escaping disaster. Later, he held a vegetarian feast in Jiangling, and monks gathered at his home. A visiting monk stayed behind after the others left and said to Wenben: 'The realm is about to fall into chaos. You are fortunate not to be associated with such company, and you will eventually meet a time of peace and attain wealth and noble status.' Having spoken, he hurried out. Soon afterward, Wenben found two relics in his own food bowl. Later things indeed turned out just as he had said. (Wenben related this to Lin himself.)

2.17

Yuan Dabao of Henan was an assistant in the Court of Judicature and Revision during the Zhenguan era. Throughout his life he did not believe in matters of cause and effect. He was close friends with his colleague Zhang Sance and would often say to him: 'Whichever of the two of us dies first shall return to report whether cause and effect truly exist or not.' In the eleventh year, Yuan accompanied the imperial cortege to Luoyang, fell ill, and died. Sance was in the capital and did not yet know of it. One night he dreamed that Yuan came and announced to him: 'I have already died. In life I did not believe that good and evil bring retribution; now I know for certain that it is not false. That is why I have come to inform you. You should strive to cultivate meritorious deeds.' Zhang asked him what it was like, and he replied: 'The causes of netherworld retribution cannot be spoken of, nor can the rest be told; I only report to let you know that it definitely exists.' Zhang awoke and told his colleagues. Two days later, news of the death arrived. When Zhang verified the date, the dream had occurred the day after his death. (Zhang related this to Lin himself.)

2.18

Zheng Shibian, Officer for Military Affairs of the Right Gate Guard of the Crown Prince's Palace, died of a strange illness before reaching the age of twenty and revived after three days. He recounted that several men arrested him and led him into the main gate of an official bureau. He saw over a hundred prisoners standing in multi-tiered ranks facing north, arranged into six rows in total. Those in the front ranks were plump and fair, wearing fine clothes like persons of high rank. The rear ranks grew progressively leaner and more wretched, some wearing cangues and locks, others having merely had their caps and sashes removed; all stood sleeve to sleeve, guarded strictly by armed soldiers. When Shibian arrived, he was assigned to stand as the third person at the eastern end of the third row, also with his cap and sash removed, sleeve to sleeve with the others. Shibian was worried and terrified, so he concentrated his mind on reciting the Buddha's name. Suddenly, he saw a monk he had known in life enter inside the cordon of soldiers; the soldiers did not stop him. Coming up to Shibian, he said to him: 'In life you did not cultivate merit; now you have suddenly arrived here, what will you do?' Shibian begged piteously for rescue. The monk said: 'If I rescue you now so you can get out, will you uphold the precepts?' Shibian agreed. A moment later, an officer brought the prisoners before the magistrate, questioning them in turn until he reached Shibian. He then saw the former monk explain his meritorious deeds to the magistrate. The magistrate said, 'Release him.' The monk then led Shibian out beyond the gate, transmitted the five precepts to him, and poured water from a flask onto his forehead, saying: 'When the sun moves to the west, you shall revive.' He also gave a yellow cape to Shibian, saying: 'Wear this until you reach home, and place it in a pure spot.' He then pointed out the road home. Shibian wore it and returned; arriving home, he folded the cape and placed it on the corner of his bed. Soon after, his eyes opened and his body moved. His family fled in alarm, thinking he was about to become a vetāla. Only his mother did not leave, asking: 'Are you cured?' Shibian said, 'I was supposed to revive when the sun moved to the west.' Shibian thought it was noon and questioned his mother, but she replied, 'It is midnight.' Only then did he realize that day and night are reversed between the living and the dead. When the sun reached the west, he was able to eat and recovered. He could still see the cape at the head of the bed; by the time Shibian could get up, the shape of the cape gradually faded away, though it still gave off light, disappearing completely only after seven days. Shibian then upheld the five precepts. Several years later, someone urged him to eat pork. Unable to refuse, Shibian ate a morsel. That night he dreamed that he had transformed into a rākṣasa, with claws and teeth several feet long, seizing a live pig and eating it. Upon waking at dawn, he felt a foul, fishy taste in his mouth, and when he spat and had someone inspect it, his whole mouth was full of clotted blood. Shibian was terrified and dared not eat meat. Several years later, he married; his wife forced him to eat it, but this time there was no such omen. However, for the past six years, Shibian has constantly had a large, severely festering sore on his nose that fails to heal of itself; it is feared that this may be due to his breaking the precepts. (Lin formerly served on night watch in the Crown Prince's Palace together with Shibian, and heard him recount this himself.)

2.19

Lady Dulu, Senior Dowager of the Duke of Chen, was the elder sister of Kuan, Duke of Rui. The lady had faith in meritorious deeds and recited the Vajracchedikā-prajñāpāramitā Sūtra, but with about one sheet left before finishing the roll, she was long unable to complete it. Later, one day at dusk, she suffered a bitter headache, her four limbs were ill at ease, and as she lay down at night it grew worse. The lady reflected: 'If I should die, I will never finish the sūtra.' She wished to rise and recite it, but the candles in the hall were already extinguished. The lady therefore got up and ordered her maid to light a candle. A moment later the maid returned; there was no fire in the kitchen. The lady ordered the gate opened to seek and obtain fire from other households, but there too there was no fire. The lady felt deep and growing distress and regret. Suddenly she saw a burning candle in the courtyard, which came up the steps and entered the hall, proceeding straight before the bed, floating about three feet above the floor without anyone holding it, shining as bright as day. The lady was surprised and delighted, and her headache was also cured. She immediately took the sūtra and recited it. After a short while, the servants struck a flint to obtain fire and entered the hall bearing a candle; the former candlelight immediately went out. On that very night, she recited it to completion. From then on, she made it her regular practice to recite it five times a day. Later, when the Duke of Rui was about to die, the lady went to visit him. The Duke said to the lady: 'My elder sister, by the merit of reciting the sūtra, will live to a hundred years of age and be born in a good place.' The lady is still in good health today, at the age of eighty. (The lady related this herself to Lin's sister-in-law.)

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冥報記 — Classical Chinese