廣弘明集 17
English (machine translation) 17
- Language
- English
17.1
Compiled by the Śramaṇa Shi Daoxuan of Ximing Temple in the Great Tang
17.2
Part 3: On the Virtues of the Buddha (Part 3 of 3)
17.3
Edict on the Erection of Relic Stūpas throughout the Sui Realm, by Sui Gaozu
Record of the Sympathetic Resonances of the Relics, by Wang Shao, Sui Director of the Editorial Bureau
Memorial of Congratulation on the Sympathetic Resonances of the Relics (with Imperial Reply), by Yang Xiong, Sui Prince of Ande, and the Hundred Officials
Edict on the Erection of Buddha Relic Stūpas throughout the Sui Realm, by Emperor Wen of the Sui (original note: in sixteen prefectures, etc.)
Fengquan Temple in Qizhou
Xianyou Temple in Yongzhou
Songyue Temple in Songzhou
Daiyue Temple in Taizhou
Sijue Temple in Huazhou
Hengyue Temple in Hengzhou
Hengyue Temple in Dingzhou
Lianyunyue Temple in Kuozhou
Jushenshan Temple in Mouzhou
Kuijishan Temple in Wuzhou
Daxingguo Temple in Tongzhou
Qiyan Temple in Puzhou
Huqiu Mountain Temple in Suzhou
Daxingguo Temple in Jingzhou
Wuliangshou Temple in Bingzhou
Suizhou
Yizhou
Qinzhou
Yangzhou
Zhengzhou
Qingzhou
Bozhou
Ruzhou
Guazhou
Panzhou
Guizhou
Jiaozhou
Daci Temple in Xiangzhou
Daxingguo Temple in Xiangzhou
Jiangzhou
17.4
The Chancellery: We reverently reflect that the Truly Enlightened One possesses great kindness and great compassion, rescuing and protecting sentient beings, serving as a ford and bridge for all species.
17.5
I take refuge in the triratna and revive the holy teachings. I desire, together with all the people within the four seas, to jointly arouse bodhicitta and cultivate karmic merit, so that throughout the present age and extending to future lives, all may forever create wholesome causes and jointly ascend to the wondrous fruition. It is fitting to invite thirty śramaṇas who are thoroughly versed in the characteristics of dharmas and capable of propagating guidance. Let each take two attendants together with one unassigned official, one hundred twenty catties of frankincense, and five horses, departing by different routes to escort the relics and proceed to the aforementioned prefectures to erect stupas. For those [prefectures] where no specific temple was noted, let them locate a temple set among mountains and waters; they shall erect the stupa according to the natural contours of the mountain. If there was previously no temple, they shall construct and establish the stupa at a pure and quiet place within that prefecture. The responsible authorities shall prepare models and send them to the respective prefectures. Where there are many monks, let there be three hundred sixty; where fewer, two hundred forty; where fewer still, one hundred twenty. If there are few monks, let all the present monks, for the sake of Myself, the Empress, the Crown Prince, Guang, the various princes, grandsons, and descendants, the inner and outer officials, and all the common populace, living beings of both the hidden and manifest realms, each circumambulate the path and repent for seven days. From the day circumambulation begins, the pole shall be erected; regardless of whether people are from the same prefecture or another, anyone may give alms at will. Coins are limited to ten cash or fewer; they must not exceed ten cash. The coins donated shall be used to fund the construction of the stupa. If the amount is insufficient to cover the labor of able-bodied corvée workers, storehouse materials shall be used. Monks and nuns of all prefectures throughout the empire shall universally host vegetarian feasts for the relics. On the fifteenth day of the tenth month, precisely at noon, [the relics] shall simultaneously be placed into the stone reliquaries. From the area commanders and regional inspectors on down to the county sheriffs on up, military matters and routine business shall cease for seven days, so they may dedicate themselves solely to inspecting the circumambulations, the erection of the poles, and related affairs. Strive to exert utmost sincerity and reverence to accord with My will. Let the authorities carry this out.
17.6
Proclaimed on the thirteenth day of the sixth month of the first year of Renshou by Imperial Servant Jian, Director of the Chancellery and Prince of Yuzhang.
17.7
Record of the Miraculous Responses of the Relics
17.8
By Wang Shao, Editorial Director of the Sui
17.9
Formerly, when the Emperor was still a hidden dragon, a brāhmaṇa śramaṇa came to his residence, produced a packet of relics, and said: 'The dānapati has a wholesome mind; therefore, I leave these for you to make offerings to.' After the śramaṇa departed, they searched for him, but no one knew where he had gone. Later, the Emperor and the śramaṇa Tanqian each placed the relics in their palms to count them; at times they were few, at times many, and they could never determine the number. Tanqian said: 'I once heard a brāhmaṇa say that the Dharmakāya surpasses calculation and cannot be fathomed by worldly means.' Thereupon, they first fashioned a casket of seven treasures to hold them. The divine nun Zhixian said: 'The Buddha-Dharma is about to be extinguished, and all the divine spirits have now departed to the west. You, child, shall become the compassionate father of all under heaven, reviving the Buddha-Dharma, and all the divine spirits will return.' Later, the Zhou indeed extinguished the Buddha-Dharma. When the house of Sui received the mandate, it then revived it. The Emperor would often speak of the divine nun, saying: 'My rise stems from the Buddha.' Therefore, within the relic stupas across the empire, statues of the divine nun were made in each of them.
17.10
The Emperor and Empress constructed a stupa with joined foundations at the Fajie Convent in the capital to repay their past vows, and beneath it they enshrined relics. On a late autumn night in the fifteenth year of Kaihuang, a divine light arose from the base and circled clockwise around the dew-basin, blazing like the flame of a smelting furnace; within a ten-day period, it occurred four times in this manner. On the thirteenth day of the sixth month of the first year of Renshou, the Emperor was staying at Renshou Hall in the Renshou Palace; this was originally the day of his birth. Year after year on this day, with profound devotion and perpetual mindfulness, he cultivated merit and wholesome deeds to posthumously repay the kindness of his parents. Therefore, he welcomed eminent, virtuous śramaṇas to discuss the supreme Way, intending to select thirty high, bright, pure, and quiet locations across the prefectures of the realm to erect relic stupas at each.
17.11
The Emperor then personally took the seven-jeweled casket, offered the thirty relics, came out from the inner palace, and placed them on the table before the imperial throne. Together with the śramaṇas, he burned incense and bowed in reverence, vowing: 'May this disciple constantly protect and uphold the triratna with the true Dharma and rescue all sentient beings.' He then took thirty gold bottles and thirty vaidūrya jars, placed the gold bottles inside the vaidūrya jars, and set the relics inside them. Using frankincense as mortar, they sealed the lids and stamped them with seals. At the same hour of noon on the fifteenth day of the tenth month, the thirty prefectures simultaneously placed them into bronze and stone reliquaries and erected the stupas all at once.
17.12
The śramaṇas, each with diligent exertion, escorted the relics on their journey. Upon first entering the borders of a prefecture, they first had every household sweep and sprinkle water to cover all foul impurities. Clerics and laity, men and women, emptied their cities and came from afar to welcome them. Area commanders, regional inspectors, and other officials lined the road, escorting them on foot. The fourfold assembly carried themselves with uniform dignity and solemnity, gathering jeweled canopies, banners, pennants, flower terraces, carriage-mounted images, Buddhist curtains, Buddhist palanquins, incense mountains, incense bowls, and various sorts of music, coming together to make offerings. Each held incense and flowers, either burning or scattering them, circumambulating and singing praises, their Brahma-voices harmonious and refined, in accordance with the method described in the Āgama sutras for the entry of relics into the city of Kuśinagara. Those far and near gathered harmoniously like rising clouds and assembling mists; even the blind, the crippled, the aged, and the sick all crawled forward to arrive. The śramaṇas proclaimed to the fourfold assembly, saying: 'The Sovereign, out of the limitless and boundless great compassion of a bodhisattva, pities sentient beings to the very marrow of his bones. For this reason, he distributes the relics so that all under heaven may together create wholesome causes.' They also cited scriptural texts and various skillful means, rebuking and guiding them, with an earnestness and grief so deep that their tears fell like rain. The assembly single-mindedly joined their palms and touched their right knees to the ground. The śramaṇas then read aloud the confession text, which said: 'The imperial disciple of the Buddha who has received the bodhisattva precepts, so-and-so, respectfully addresses all Buddhas of the ten directions and the three times, all dharmas, and all worthy and holy saṃgha: This disciple has received the blessings and protection of the triratna to become the sovereign father of the common people. I desire, together with all the populace, to jointly attain bodhi. Now I wish to distribute relics to the various prefectures to erect stupas, hoping to cause all to cultivate wholesome karma universally and jointly ascend to the wondrous fruition. For the sake of this disciple, the Empress, the Crown Prince, Guang, the various princes, grandsons, and descendants, the inner and outer officials, all living beings of both the hidden and manifest realms of the entire dharmadhātu, and those in the three evil destinies and eight difficulties, we confess, repent, and circumambulate the path. We respectfully invite the constantly abiding Buddhas of the ten directions, the profound Dharma repository of the twelve divisions of scriptures, the honored bodhisattvas, and all the worthy and holy ones. May you arouse great compassion, accept the invitation of this disciple and the others, and descend to this bodhimaṇḍa to bear witness to this disciple's open confession on behalf of all sentient beings.' Thereupon, they made prostrations according to the Dharma and all received the three refuges. The śramaṇas further proclaimed: 'The imperial disciple of the Buddha who has received the bodhisattva precepts, so-and-so, universally confesses and reveals, on behalf of all sentient beings, the ten types of evil karma committed since beginningless time—whether committed by oneself, causing others to commit them, or rejoicing upon seeing them committed. Due to the causal conditions of these offenses, one falls into hell, the animal realm, or the realm of hungry ghosts; or, if born among humans, one suffers short lifespans, abundant illnesses, baseness, poverty, false views, and crooked duplicity, burdened by defilements and deluded thoughts, unable to awaken on one's own. Now, receiving the radiant embrace of the Tathāgata's compassionate light, we only now become aware of those numerous offenses. With profound minds of remorse and unending fear, we openly confess and repent before the triratna. Relying on the sun of the Buddha's wisdom, we pray that all may be extinguished. From this present body until the attainment of Buddhahood, we vow never again to commit such offenses.' When the assembly heard these words, they felt intense sorrow, intense joy, intense shame, and intense dread, engraving it upon their hearts and carving it into their bones. Those who gave wealth, clothing, or cut their hair to offer as alms were beyond count. Day after day, they held great vegetarian feasts together, performed repentance rituals, and received the precepts, requesting that from now on they would cultivate good and sever evil, and in life after life, generation after generation, always be subjects of the Great Sui. Old and young, Chinese and foreigners alike, all made this vow. Even butchers, hunters, and cruel bandits personally turned their thoughts to goodness. When the relics were about to enter the reliquary, the assembly crowded around, choking the paths. The śramaṇas held high the jeweled bottles and made a circuit to show them to the fourfold assembly. Everyone wiped their eyes, looked intently, and together beheld the radiance. The sounds of mournful longing and weeping roared like thunder, moving heaven and earth. Wherever [the relics] were enshrined, it was entirely like this. The true body having already responded, the divine stupas will perpetually endure; all under heaven gaze in reverence and take refuge, and the blessings will multiply day by day without end.
17.13
On the morning the stupas were to be erected, the Emperor stood facing west in the courtyard of the Daxing Hall of the Daxing Palace, holding an ivory tablet. He welcomed statues of the Buddha and three hundred sixty-seven śramaṇas, who, accompanied by banners, canopies, incense, flowers, singing of praises, and music, came from Daxingshan Temple to dwell in the palace halls. The Emperor burned incense and bowed in reverence, then descended to the eastern corridor to lead the civil and military officials in person, observing a vegetarian fast. At that time, throughout the inner palace, the Eastern Palace, the capital city, and across the boundless myriad dwellings wherever boats and carts could reach, all kin and common folk alike faithfully practiced the holy Dharma. When the monks first entered, [the Emperor] ordered attendants to discreetly flank and count them. From the Xianyang Gate up to ascending the steps, they counted three times, and there was always one extra person. The Emperor saw an unusual monk with a patchwork robe covering his shoulder, and said to his attendants: 'Do not disturb him; leave him be.' After he had gone, they counted again, and the one with the patchwork robe covering his shoulder indeed did not appear again. When the relics were about to set forth, the Emperor had said: 'Now that the Buddha-Dharma is being revived, there must surely be miraculous responses.' Subsequently, memorial reports from every quarter were all just as he had said.
17.14
In Yongzhou, a stupa was erected at Xianyou Temple. The weather had been overcast and snowing, but when the relics were about to be lowered, the sun shone brightly. Just as they entered the reliquary, the clouds closed again.
17.15
In Qizhou, a stupa was erected at Fengquan Temple. When they were about to fashion the reliquary, twenty li northeast of the temple, four slabs of patterned stone were suddenly found, as lustrous as jade and evenly proportioned in size. They accordingly took them to make a double reliquary. Then, on the southern wall of the large reliquary, extraordinary colors appeared distinctly, forming the shape of twin trees, three feet and three inches high, with stems as white as snow and leaves like agate. On the northern and eastern walls were shapes of birds, beasts, dragons, and elephants. On all four walls were flower patterns turning to the left and circling to the right. Later, the foundation stone gradually transformed entirely into crystal. The śramaṇa Daoyan drew the image of these twin trees and placed it in Xuzhou, where all the leaves turned blue-green. The following year, Dabaochang Temple in Qizhou made a copy of the auspicious image from Shanzhou and placed it in the Buddha hall to make offerings facing the doorway; the great image three times emitted red light that streamed out through the doorway. Thereupon, the images of the thousand Buddhas and Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva outside the doorway also repeatedly emitted light. Within five days, heavenly flowers fell twice.
17.16
In Jingzhou, a stupa was erected at Daxingguo Temple. When they were about to fashion the reliquary, three households each offered finely polished old stones, which were not found locally within the district; they used them accordingly, and they fit together perfectly.
17.17
In Qinzhou, a stupa was erected at Jingnian Temple. Prior to this, a temple monk dreamt that a host of immortals descended, measured the ground with a red cord, and marked it by driving iron stakes. When the stupa foundation was determined, it was precisely at that spot. Twice, auspicious clouds came to cover the relics. At that time, it was snowing in the tenth month, yet the plants and trees near the temple all blossomed with flowers. When the relics were about to enter the reliquary, a divine light shone far and wide, and voices of praise were heard from the sky.
17.18
In Huazhou, a stupa was erected at Sijue Temple. The weather had been overcast and snowing, but when the relics were about to be lowered, the sun shone brightly. A multicolored vapor of light, several zhang above the ground and shaped like the rings of a stupa finial, directly covered the stupa. Viewed from several tens of li away, it was bright red and reached upward to the sky. After the relics had been lowered, clouds and mist arose again, and auspicious snow fluttered down like heavenly flowers, clinging to people's clothes for a long time without melting into dampness.
17.19
In Tongzhou, a stupa was erected at Daxingguo Temple. The relics had lodged overnight at a nearby postal station. During the night it rained, but at dawn when the carriage set out, the clouds parted to welcome the sun with brightness. They entered through the south gate, while in the north of the city the rain continued as before. Upon arriving at the temple, it was again overcast and rainy; just as [the relics] were about to enter the reliquary, the sun came out, and multicolored light surrounded the sun like a wheel. Prior to this, the temple monk Huizhen dreamt that he saw a sage with a round halo around his neck brightly illuminating heaven and earth, who came from the west, entered the gate, and stood there. When the carriage carrying the relics arrived, it stopped at that exact spot without any apparent reason, and they accordingly fixed the stupa foundation there. On the night of the eighth day of the twelfth month, a five-colored circular light rose from the base and illuminated the entire city, as bright as day, visible from fifty li away. In the fourth month of the following year, a white light arose west of the stupa and streamed across to illuminate its east, extinguishing only after a long time.
17.20
In Pu prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Qiyan Temple. On the twenty-sixth day of the ninth month, the relics were at Renshou Temple under the seat of administration. That night, the hall was as bright as day with light. On the twenty-eighth day, the foundation was fixed. The next day, the earth shook violently, the mountain roared loudly, and the sounds of bells and drums were heard upon the cliffs. On the seventh day of the tenth month, as the relics were about to proceed to Qiyan, the earth moved again. On the eighth day, the palanquin ascended the mountain, followed by thousands. A great wind arose from below and surged upward; assisted by the power of the wind, they reached the Buddha hall in an instant. That night, above the stupa, there was a light several feet long, appearing and disappearing over ten times. From within the vial, five streams of light also emanated and dispersed, then gathered back into the vial. There were also two lights, both the size of an alms bowl, that came out from the western wall, merged into a single stream, and flowed into the foundation of the pagoda, extinguishing only after the duration of a meal. Shortly thereafter, they emerged again and flowed into the hall. On the mountain peak, there was also a great light illuminating an area of two hundred li; those gazing at it from afar all said the mountain was on fire. On the night of the ninth day, there were two lights circling the stupa; one flowed and illuminated the western valley, and the other flowed and illuminated the southern valley. On the twelfth day, inside the hall, there was another light shaped like an incense burner, which flowed to the dew basin of the stupa and was extinguished after some time. That night, above the dew basin, there were lights that dispersed and gathered, all resembling lotus blossoms, extinguishing only after the passing of a night watch. On the night of the thirteenth day, above the stupa, there were lights like three Buddha images, all a foot tall, which remained stationary for a long time. On the night of the fourteenth day, three streams of light issued from the hall: one shot straight up to heaven, one flowed northeast, and one, shaped like a multistoried tower, brilliantly illuminated the prefectural city. From the new moon to the full moon, within both the temple and the city, an extraordinary fragrance was constantly smelled. Peach, plum, apricot, and crabapple trees bore abundant blossoms, and people gathered them to make offerings. On the night the relics were placed into the casket, light again emerged twice from the pagoda, round like a great mirror. The various lights were mostly purplish-red, yet the colors and shapes witnessed were not necessarily the same: some said they were like great lightning, others that they were like a blazing fire; about twenty or thirty percent saw nothing at all. A woman holding a recently deceased infant came begging for rescue; when night fell, the infant was revived. Those who were cured of ailments upon being illuminated by the light were numerous. While all the prefectures had responses, Qiyan Temple had the most, for it had been founded by Taizu, Emperor Wuyuan.
17.21
In Bing prefecture, a pagoda was erected at the old Wuliangshou Temple. When the relics were first in the bodhimanda, the great assembly prostrated, and those suffering from grave illnesses were cured. On the morning the pagoda was erected, clouds and mist darkened the day; after the hour of si (9–11 a.m.), the sun shone brightly, flanked by five-colored clouds. As the relics were about to enter the casket, they emitted light of one foot or five inches. Innumerable heavenly spirits each held incense, flowers, banners, streamers, and jeweled canopies, completely covering the prefectural city.
17.22
In Ding prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Hengyue Temple. An extraordinary elderly man came to pay homage, donated a bolt of cloth, carried several baskets of earth, and when people asked his name, he gave no answer and suddenly vanished. This place formerly lacked water; in the third year of Kaihuang, when the temple was first constructed, the White Dragon Pool eight li to its west suddenly flowed eastward past it, and when the labor ended, the water ceased. When the new pagoda was about to be erected, the water flowed abundantly once again.
17.23
In Xiang prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Daci Temple. The weather was overcast and snowy. As the relics were about to be lowered, the sun shone brightly; as soon as they entered the casket, the clouds gathered again. In the eighth month of the year after the pagoda was built, the convent of Guangtian obtained a copy of the auspicious signs illustration from Shan prefecture and placed it in the Buddha hall; miraculous lights flashed repeatedly like lightning. There was also a five-colored cloud canopy directly overlooking the hall, which appeared four times in a single day. There were also white clouds resembling groves of trees, from which rained golden flowers; two of the flowers were shaped like great butterflies, colored like blue lapis lazuli, hovering without descending, before soaring into the void and departing. In the first month of the following year, heavenly flowers rained down within the temple again.
17.24
In Zheng prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Dingjue Temple. As the relics were about to arrive, there was a light east of the temple like a great shooting star, which entered before the Buddha hall and disappeared. When the palanquin reached this place, it stopped on its own for no reason. Afterward, the foundation of the pagoda was fixed on the western bank. From an old relic pagoda on the eastern bank, two streams of light flowed westward into the foundation site. The temple monks prepared a vegetarian meal for two thousand people, yet more than ten thousand ate without exhausting it; a single vat of cooked rice yielded eighty bowls of surplus food, providing for the temple assembly of two hundred people for several days before it was finished. As the relics were about to enter the casket, the banners hanging on all four sides turned inward at once without any wind.
17.25
In Song prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Xianju Temple. The crowd following the relics numbered more than ten thousand. A hare ran up the slope, passed beneath the palanquin, and departed. The weather was overcast and snowy. As the relics were about to be lowered, the sun shone brightly; as soon as they entered the casket, the clouds gathered again.
17.26
In Bo prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Kaiji Temple. Within the borders, there was no stone. When the relics arrived, three polished square stones were found in three separate places; one resembled a casket without a bottom, so they were fitted together and used without needing to be chiseled or altered. When excavating the foundation of the pagoda down to bedrock, two rippling wells flanked it. The weather was overcast and snowy. As the relics were about to be lowered, the sun shone brightly; as soon as they entered the casket, the clouds gathered again.
17.27
In Ru prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Xingshi Temple. The weather was overcast and snowy. As the relics were about to be lowered, the sun shone brightly; as soon as they entered the casket, the clouds gathered again.
17.28
In Tai prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Daiyue Temple. When the relics arrived in the prefecture, on that night drum sounds were heard within the shrine of Mount Tai. As dawn approached, the triple gates all opened of their own accord; some saw thirty horsemen riding out from the shrine, who were the spirits of the peak. As the relics were brought from the prefecture toward the temple, reaching several li away, a cloud canopy emerged above the mountain summit, five-colored and three-layered. White vapor like a rainbow came and covered the relics, dispersing into a dense mist that moistened people’s clothing; its droplets resembled hanging pearls, and its taste was like amṛta. From dawn until noon, the mist gathered and returned to the mountain, dividing into three sections and moving back and forth as if an army on the march; this, too, was the peak spirit coming to welcome them. Thereupon, a sound arose from within the vial and it emitted light more than ten feet high, which extinguished after the duration of a meal. Looking closely, people saw that within the lapis lazuli, the lid of the gold vial opened on its own, and at the mouth of the vial there was an inch-long beam of light like a chopstick, brightly pointing west; though turned rapidly, it never changed its direction. This continued for eight days. When they were about to enter the casket, the light dispersed, returned into the gold vial, and clouds and mist arose again. There was a youth who could recite the Lotus Sūtra; he came to pay homage to the relics and subsequently burned his body in the wilderness as an offering. On the sixth day of the second month of the following year, the spirit drums of Mount Tai resounded throughout the night; listening from the north, the sound was in the south, and listening from the south, the sound was in the north, and it was likewise with east and west.
17.29
In Qing prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Shengfu Temple. When the foundation was excavated five feet deep, bedrock naturally formed a large casket, which was used accordingly. As the relics were about to enter, light within the vial flashed up and down.
17.30
In Mu prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Jushenshan Temple. When the relics first arrived, two large purple lingzhi mushrooms suddenly appeared beside the road. The weather was overcast and snowy. As the relics were about to be lowered, the sun shone brightly; as soon as they entered the casket, the clouds gathered again.
17.31
In Sui prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Zhiman Temple. On the sixth day of the tenth month, when the foundation was excavated, a miraculous tortoise was found. On the seventh day, amṛta descended upon a willow tree beside the stone bridge, and countless black bees came to encircle it. On the morning of the eighth day, there was a heavy fog; as the relics were about to head to the temple, the sky cleared brightly. Passing through Guanghua county, they suddenly saw interlaced tree branches within the gate; passing beneath the willow tree, five streams of amṛta hung down, sprinkling upon the palanquin. Soon afterward, it grew heavily overcast; as the relics were about to be lowered, the sun shone brightly; as soon as they entered the casket, the clouds gathered again. The color and shape of the miraculous tortoise were extraordinary; on its belly was an inscription saying: 'Sent by the prefectural assistant official of Wangxing Prefecture to be presented.' Every day the box was opened to view its head, but it withdrew inside and could not be seen. The imperial commissioner, Gentleman of the Editorial Service Wang Shao, examined it, and the tortoise stretched forth its neck and legs, allowing people to turn it over at will, which continued for days. Then on its head was seen an inscription saying: 'Supreme Great King, eighty-eight, seventy million years.' The emperor stroked and inspected it in person; when placed inside his sleeve, it was naturally tame and affectionate. When released into the palace ponds or among the grass, it would return straight before the emperor, doing so every time it was released.
17.32
In Xiang prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Daxingguo Temple. The weather was dark and overcast. As the relics were about to be lowered, the sun shone brightly; as soon as they entered the casket, the clouds gathered again.
17.33
In Yang prefecture, a pagoda was erected at the Western Temple. The prefecture had suffered a long drought; when the relics crossed into the territory, that night rain fell abundantly.
17.34
In Jiang prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Qixia Temple. A neighbor previously dreamt that the Buddha came from the northwest, with jeweled canopies, banners, and flowers filling the view, and the temple assembly all came out holding flowers and incense to welcome him; when the relics arrived, it was just as in the dream.
17.35
In Wu prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Dayu Temple. The relics crossed the river five times, and no wind or waves arose. Once they arrived at the temple, blue, yellow, red, and white lights were emitted, and a purple lingzhi mushroom over two feet high was obtained, with four stems sharing three caps. The weather was dark and overcast. As the relics were about to be lowered, the sun shone brightly; as soon as they entered the casket, the clouds gathered again.
17.36
In Su prefecture, a pagoda was erected at the Huqiu Mountain Temple. The site was the zither terrace of Wang Xun, Minister over the Masses during the Jin. Excavations yielded a brick casket, and inside a silver case was a relic; when floated on water in an alms bowl, it circumambulated clockwise four times. When the relics first set out from the prefecture, rain fell from the sky, but before reaching the temple, the sun came out, and multi-colored clouds accompanied the palanquin, lingering without dispersing; when they reached the pagoda site, the sound of music was heard in mid-air. Soon afterward, the sky grew dark and overcast again; as the relics were about to be lowered, the clouds parted briefly; once the relics entered the casket, the clouds gathered again. Previously, when a stone well was dug in the temple, the well roared for two days, which was the response to the imminent arrival of the relics.
17.37
In Heng prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Hengyue Temple. The śramaṇa escorted the relics by water from Jiangling for over two thousand li; four times they encountered contrary winds, but upon praying for calm, it immediately became calm; four times they prayed for favorable winds, and all were granted as desired. When first excavating the foundation, above Zhurong Peak, a white cloud over twenty feet wide came directly down to the foundation site with great regularity, circumambulated clockwise three times, and then dispersed. Soon afterward, it became dark and overcast; as the relics were about to be lowered, the sun shone brightly; as soon as they entered the casket, the clouds gathered again.
17.38
In Gui prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Yuanhua Temple. When the relics were still more than ten li from the city, thousands of birds flew flanking the palanquin, dispersing only after entering the city. As the relics were about to enter the pagoda, five-colored clouds came and covered them.
17.39
In Fan prefecture, a pagoda was erected at the Lingjiushan Temple in Chongyang Ward, Hongyang Township. Excavations unearthed three stone caskets placed during the late Song; two of them each held a bronze casket containing two small silver images; one held a silver vial containing a gold vial, which presumably originally held relics, though now it was empty. Soon afterward, within the pit appeared cloud-like vapor forms of divine immortals. In the past, during the time of Liu Yilong, ruler of the Song, Gunavarman, a holy monk from India, on his way to the capital of Yang passed by Lingjiu Temple and said to the monks: 'Here there will soon be extraordinary signs, and an imperial monarch will visit and build according to auspicious omens; eventually, a bodhisattva sage-ruler will be met, who will broadly restore and propagate it.' That winter, a flock of swallows indeed held an embroidered icon together in their beaks and laid it inside the hall. When Xiao Daocheng, ruler of the Qi, first served as the grand administrator of Shixing, he visited this temple and erected a white pagoda; in the third year of Tianjia of the Chen, a stele was erected in the temple with that text. Such restoration and propagation by a sage-ruler is verified today.
17.40
In Jiao prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Chanzhong Temple.
17.41
In Yi prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Faju Temple. The weather was dark and overcast. As the relics were about to be lowered, the sun shone brightly; as soon as they entered the casket, the clouds gathered again.
17.42
In Kuo prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Fajiang Temple. When the relics first departed from the capital, they lodged at Lingao; a śramaṇa dreamt that the relics were lost. That night in Kuo prefecture, a light several tens of feet high came from the east into the temple, circumambulated the stupa clockwise, and illuminated the city gates and towers, making both inside and outside completely clear; those who gazed at it from afar suspected a heap of firewood was burning. The light gradually flowed westward and vanished after the duration of a meal. When the foundation of the pagoda was fixed, it was precisely where the light had disappeared. There was also an extraordinary, dense fragrance.
17.43
In Gua prefecture, a pagoda was erected at Chongjiao Temple.
17.44
A memorial from Guo Prefecture stated: 'Although the prefecture has not received relics, we also requested the assembled monks to practice the Way. An extraordinary bird came and alighted upon a beam. As if listening to the sūtras, it was neither frightened nor moved. After a night and a day, it came down and rested upon the seat used for chanting the sūtras. Everyone praised it and stroked it. They also held it up while walking in the practice of the Way. The Dharma master conferred the precepts upon it before the Buddha. Only after a long while did it depart.'
17.45
Wang Wei, a clerk of Sui Prefecture, was escorting ninety exiles. Meeting the relics on the road, he released all the prisoners; they agreed to reassemble after a thousand leagues, and not a single one failed to appear. People of Sui Prefecture had made three hundred fish enclosures in the Yun River; having seen the relics, they also breached them all and set the fish free. Other prefectures had many similar cases of this kind.
17.46
During this tenth month, whenever the Emperor ate, he found relics beneath his teeth. So it was with the Empress as well. Floating one of them in water inside a silver bowl, he brought it out to show to the civil and military officials. In an instant, two were suddenly seen adhering to each other, rotating to the right. The two imperial consorts, as well as Zhao, King of Jin, and Jian, King of Yuzhang, were bestowed clams; an edict ordered them to inspect them carefully, and each obtained one relic from inside a clam. Before two decades of days had passed, nineteen relics in all were obtained in the palace, most of which emitted bright light. From then on, both monastics and laity from near and far brought and presented whatever relics they possessed. The Emperor said, 'Why must they all be genuine?' The monks tested them together; sure enough, there were thirteen jade grains. The genuine relics were struck on an iron anvil without suffering damage.
17.47
Memorial of Congratulation on the Miraculous Responses of the Relics (with Rescript)
17.48
By Yang Xiong, Prince of Ande of the Sui, and the civil and military officials, and others.
17.49
Your subject Xiong and others state: Your subjects have heard that the Great Awakened One is completely endowed, his principle illuminating both emptiness and existence; the Utmost Sage is quiescent and unified, his principle devoid of arising and cessation. Therefore, though his physical form was divided like gathered mustard seeds, it was still preserved in golden jars; though his body was scattered like blown dust, jeweled stūpas were nevertheless erected. Since Śakra requested the ashes and King Aśoka erected stūpas, there has never been one who distributed relics to carry on and magnify this supreme undertaking. We prostratingly consider that Your Majesty accumulated causes through vast kalpas and long ago realized bodhi, descending in the traces of a sovereign of men to protect and uphold the world. In the past, the Way declined in the turning of fate, and benevolent shrines were abolished and destroyed. The lamp of compassion extinguished its shadow, and the sea of wisdom cut off its flow. Now that the imperial line has arisen, the Dharma drum is newly struck. Within the realm, all has become a pure land; among living creatures, all are covered by Brahma clouds. In the sixth month of last summer, an edict was issued to welcome monks and dispatch the relics, so that on the fifteenth day of the tenth month, stūpas were simultaneously erected in thirty prefectures. At the place mapped out for establishing the stūpa at Qiyan Temple in Pu Prefecture, the sound of bells and drums arose upon this mountain. While the relics were inside the lecture hall, that night a great radiant light emanated above the stūpa in front, flowing into the interior of the hall and filling the chamber with light. Just as they were about to place the relics into the bronze casket, there was again a light resembling an incense burner, rising through the air to the jeweled finial of the stūpa, where purple flames arose again, now scattering, now gathering, all turning into lotus flowers. There was another bright light above the stūpa shaped like a Buddha image, fully complete with a lotus pedestal, which lingered for a long time before gradually fading away. There was yet another bright light encircling the jeweled finial of the stūpa. Monks of Renshou Temple inside the city of Pu Prefecture looked from afar toward the mountain peak: the light was like multistoried pavilions; mountain peaks and ravines were clearly visible, and it illuminated the southeastern corner of the prefectural city, not extinguishing for a long while. That Qiyan Temple was founded by the Grand Ancestor, the Martial and Primal Emperor. Furthermore, at the site where the stūpa was established in Hua Prefecture, at that time there was heavy fog and a great snowfall, which suddenly cleared and became bright; right above the stūpa were five-colored harmikā rings. After the relics had been placed beneath, the fog arose once again. The Emperor and the Empress also obtained relics, whose flowing splendor and scattered colors now emerged, now sank. Were it not for utmost virtue and pure sincerity, whose Way aligns with the numinous sage, how could divine power and wondrous marks bring about such extraordinary things? Your subjects have chanced upon a flourishing era: we have already witnessed an age of great peace, and having encountered wholesome karma in our lives, we are just now escaping the realm of worldly toil. Unable to contain our leaping joy, we respectfully present this memorial to offer congratulations, submitting it for imperial hearing.
17.50
The Chancellery: We look up with veneration to the True Awakened One protecting all varieties of beings, delivering the living from the sea of suffering and rescuing the deluded from the burning house. This is why We direct Our mind with utmost sincerity and resolve Our thoughts in taking refuge, wishing to join with the subjects throughout the realm, both the unseen and the manifest, in revering this supreme undertaking and jointly planting wholesome causes. For this reason, We have distributed the relics and constructed divine stūpas. And the Great Sage, in his compassionate pity, has repeatedly manifested radiant signs; within the halls of the palace, the numinous relics have descended, their origins unknowable, spontaneously transforming and appearing. Rejoicing and receiving them on Our crown, We have experienced what was never had before. This is truly the great fortune of all living beings, prolonging this auspicious blessing; how could it be brought about by Our own modest sincerity? Reading the memorial of the kings and dukes, Our trepidation and reverence deepen even further. We, along with the kings, dukes, and all the common people, should exert ourselves even more to make the triratna flourish. At present, there are still fifty true forms of relics. Let the relevant officials distribute them throughout the realm according to the previous format, so that those in the three evil paths and six realms of rebirth may all be freed from hindrances and fetters, and that all possessing consciousness and breathing life may together ascend to the wondrous fruition. Let the presiding officials execute this.
17.51
When the envoys of the three kingdoms of Koguryŏ, Paekche, and Silla were about to return, each requested one relic to erect a stūpa and make offerings in their home country. An imperial edict granted all of them. An edict ordered that a stūpa be erected at Daxingshan Temple in the capital. First, the relics were placed in the grand hall of the Department of State Affairs, and were dispatched at dawn on the second day of the twelfth month. At that time, the sky was clear and bright, the weather harmonious and the wind calm. Jeweled carriages, banners and pennants, fragrant flowers, music, and various offerings filled the streets and avenues. The monastic and lay gentlemen and women numbered beyond knowing how many tens of thousands of millions. Their garments, badges, rows, and positions were composed and orderly. Those from Supreme Pillar of State, Minister of Works, and Prince of Ande Yang Xiong on down all followed on foot to the temple, where they held a great unrestricted assembly and performed rites of repentance. A blue bird became tame among the crowd. Some pulled out their daggers and cast them as donations, falling into the crowd of people without hurting anyone. On the twenty-third day of the first month of the second year of Renshou, relics were again distributed to fifty-one prefectures to establish numinous stūpas. Area commanders-in-chief and prefectural governors on down to county defenders on up were ordered to suspend their regular duties for seven days, invite monks to practice the Way, and encourage the people, when erecting the stūpa mast, to donate ten coins, strictly following the previous format. It was scheduled that on the eighth day of the fourth month at the hour of the horse, all throughout the empire and realm of transformation should simultaneously lower the relics and seal them into stone caskets. The auspicious responses thus elicited are separately recorded as follows:
17.52
Heng Prefecture; Quan Prefecture; Xun Prefecture; Ying Prefecture; Hong Prefecture; Hangzhou;
17.53
Liang Prefecture; De Prefecture; Cang Prefecture; Guan Prefecture; Ying Prefecture; Ji Prefecture;
17.54
You Prefecture; Xu Prefecture; Ju Prefecture; Qi Prefecture; Lai Prefecture; Chu Prefecture;
17.55
Jiang Prefecture; Tan Prefecture; Mao Prefecture; Bei Prefecture; Song Prefecture; Zhao Prefecture;
17.56
Ji Prefecture; Yan Prefecture; Shou Prefecture; Xin Prefecture; Jing Prefecture; Liang Prefecture;
17.57
Lan Prefecture; Li Prefecture; Lu Prefecture; Li Prefecture; Ci Prefecture; Wei Prefecture;
17.58
Bian Prefecture; Qi Prefecture; Xu Prefecture; Yu Prefecture; Xian Prefecture; Cao Prefecture;
17.59
An Prefecture; Jin Prefecture; Huai Prefecture; Shan Prefecture; Luo Prefecture; Deng Prefecture;
17.60
Qin Prefecture (re-obtained relics); Wei Prefecture; Ming Prefecture; Zheng Prefecture.
17.61
A memorial from Heng Prefecture stated: 'The relics arrived in the prefecture to establish a numinous stūpa, arriving in the prefecture on the fourth day of the third month. Together with the prefectural officials, we inspected the places for enshrinement; only the Longzang Temple under the prefectural seat was fit to erect the stūpa. On the tenth day of that month, the ground was measured and the foundation dug. By the wei hour on the sixteenth day, a wind came from the south, and an extraordinarily incomparable fragrance filled the temple; monastics, laity, officials, and commoners all smelled it together. There was an old man named Jin Zan, who had suffered from an inability to smell fragrances or foulness for more than twenty years; being among the crowd at that time, he also smelled the fragrance, and his nose was immediately cured. On the eighth day of the fourth month, approaching the noon hour when the relics were about to be placed, the light was bright and pure, and the sky broad and without clouds. Precious crumbs and heavenly flowers immediately rained down from the sky, resembling thin碎 shards of gold and silver, mixed in varying sizes, falling down abundantly like falling snow. They first descended onto the stone casket of the stūpa foundation, and then fell all over the temple and the prefectural seat. All had variegated colors, shimmering like golden crystal in the sunlight. People immediately held out their garments to catch them, and also picked them up from the ground. Over a hundred thousand monastic and lay people all saw and obtained them. Moreover, an extraordinary vapor suddenly appeared to the east and west of the mast; its color was yellow-white, thin at first and thick later, meandering like beacon smoke or a dragon, winding straight up, swirling around the top of the stūpa and soaring into the clear sky, its length immeasurable. It vanished only after a long while. There were also four white cranes that came from the northeast, circled the stūpa, and went off to the southwest. By the si hour on the twentieth day, when the ramming of the stūpa foundation was just completed, it again rained precious crumbs and heavenly flowers. A peck was collected; Adjutant Wang Liang was immediately sent to present them to the throne ahead of time. The Emperor opened the flowers, and within the precious crumbs obtained three more relics, being greatly delighted.' A memorial from Ying Prefecture stated: 'When digging the ground to place the stone casket for the relics, at a depth of about six feet, a true purple light suddenly appeared in the earth, vanishing in an instant. The earth bore black markings intermingled in seal script, reading: "Buddha Stūpa of the Wheel-Turning Sage King." Respectfully submitted for imperial notice.'
17.62
A memorial from Li Prefecture stated: 'When digging the foundation to place the relic stūpa, a tile inscription was found underground, reading: "A thousand autumns and ten thousand years, joy without end."'
17.63
A memorial from Guan Prefecture stated: 'Above the relic stūpa, there were five-colored clouds shaped like a carriage canopy. On that day, they appeared at noon and lasted until evening.'
17.64
A memorial from Wei Prefecture stated: 'The dispatched relics emitted light several times. There were also various sick people, some suffering from blindness and some suffering from internal organ ailments, who made vows and bowed in worship, and their illnesses were all cured. On the eighth day of the fourth month, when about to lower the relics at noon, a patch of five-colored cloud suddenly appeared in the sky, extraordinarily fragrant. In a short while, golden flowers rained down; by dawn on the ninth day, silver flowers fell again, filling the entire prefectural seat. The larger flowers were like elm pods, and the smaller ones like sparks of fire. Everyone obtained caskets full to present. On that day, there was also a black dog with drooping ears and a white chest; before the relic stūpa, it stretched its left foreleg and bent its right leg. Seeing people walk in the practice of the Way, it immediately got up and walked with them; seeing people maintain the fast, it also immediately maintained the fast. If given food at improper times, it would not eat, wishing only to drink pure water. On the morning of the following day, when the fast was broken, it was offered congee and only then ate. In that temple there had previously been several fierce dogs; whenever they saw a stray dog, they would invariably compete to bark and bite at it. But when they saw this dog enter the temple, they all lowered their heads and wagged their tails. At that time, among the more than three hundred thousand men, women, and spectators, none recognized this dog, nor knew from where it came.'
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- 廣弘明集 — Classical Chinese