廣弘明集 26.21

26.21

During the Liang dynasty, a man was serving as a county magistrate. When he underwent the rebellion of Liu Jinggong, the county offices were burned down, so he lodged in a Buddhist monastery. The local people brought sheep and wine as gifts. The magistrate tied the sheep to the temple flagpole, removed the images, and arranged couches and seats in the hall. While he was receiving guests and before the slaughter took place, the sheep untied itself, came directly up the steps, and bowed. The magistrate laughed heartily and ordered his attendants to butcher it. Having eaten his fill and become intoxicated with wine, he went to sleep under the eaves. Upon awakening, he immediately felt itching throughout his body; from scratching and scratching, sores and rashes broke out, and thus he fell ill. He died more than ten years later.