釋迦方志 2.101

2.101

前漢孝武帝元狩中。霍去病討凶奴。至皐蘭過居延山獲昆耶休屠王等。又獲金人率長丈餘。列之於甘泉宮。帝以為大神燒香禮拜。及開西域遣張騫使大夏還云。有身毒國。身毒國一名天竺。始聞浮圖之教。此即佛之形教相顯之漸也。

During the Yuanshou era of Emperor Xiaowu of the Former Han, Huo Qubing attacked the Xiongnu, reached Gaolan, passed Mount Juyan, and captured the Kings of Kunye and Xiutu. He also captured a golden man over a zhang in height and placed it in the Ganquan Palace. The emperor regarded it as a great spirit, burning incense and worshipping it. When the Western Regions were opened, Zhang Qian was dispatched as envoy to Daxia, and upon his return said there was the kingdom of Shendu, also named Tianzhu; thus one first heard of the teachings of the Buddha. This was the beginning of the visible manifestation of the Buddha's forms and teachings.