集古今佛道論衡 2.12

2.12

Ninth, regarding falsely delivering from distress: The establishment of the Mud and Charcoal Fast originated with Zhang Lu: rolling in mud like donkeys, smearing yellow earth on their faces, pulling out hair and hanging combs, kneading earth to make it fine. In the early Yixi era, the Daoist Wang Gongqi omitted the beating; Lu Xiujing of Wu still only smeared his forehead, bound his hands behind his back, and hung his head. Relying on this to cross over hardships—what extreme folly!