廣弘明集 17.20

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.