大唐西域記 8.42

8.42

菩提樹北有佛經行之處。如來成正覺已，不起于座，七日寂定。其起也，至菩提樹北，七日經行，東西往來，行十餘步，異華隨迹十有八文。後人於此壘甎為基，高餘三尺。聞諸先志曰：此聖迹基，表人命之脩短也，先發誠願，後乃度量，隨壽脩短，數有增減。

To the north of the Bōdhi tree is a spot where Buddha walked up and down. When Tathāgata had obtained enlightenment, he did not rise from the throne, but remained perfectly quiet for seven days, lost in contemplation. Then rising, he walked up and down during seven days to the north of the tree ; he walked there east and west for a distance of ten paces or so. Miraculous flowers sprang up under his foot-traces to the number of eighteen. Afterwards this space was covered in by a brick wall about three feet high. According to the old belief, these holy traces thus covered in, indicate the length or shortness of a man's life. First of all, having offered up a sincere prayer, then count the measurement (or, pace the distance and measure); according as the person's life is to be long or short, so will the measurement be greater or less. On the left side of the road, to the north of the place where Buddha walked, is a large stone, on the top of which, as it stands in a great vihâra, is a figure of Buddha with his eyes raised and looking up. Here in former times Buddha sat for seven days contemplating the Bôdhi tree; he did not remove his gaze from it during this period, desiring thereby to indicate his grateful feelings towards the tree by so looking at it with fixed eyes.