集神州三寶感通錄 2.48

2.48

四十四唐循州東北興寧縣靈龕寺北。石上佛跡三十餘。大者五尺許以下。循州在一川中東西二百南北百里。寺極豐渥。近得銅藏面三尺爐可獲百餘諸盤合等。又其銘云。僧得福興俗得禍至。古傳云。晉時此僧在此山隱。遊大洪嶺至佛跡處。有大石窟花果美茂。遂住經宿。山神為怪怖之心。卓不動曰。此不可居山鬼數來。望前石山陵雲概日。遂往登之下望懸絕不可至。彼還興寧說之。宋代二僧承前不達勇意覆尋。其僧誦法花經。戒行貞潔能伏神鬼。乃至見形受戒。爰及家屬望前崖上有異光彩。隔一丈許上下俱絕。僧以木為梁。度視乃見奇迹七枚。色如人肉現于石上。貞觀三年又現一跡。並放光明輪相具足。今有看者多少不同。因置靈龕厥取其異。又訪其本。宋時王家捨栗園為寺。即今古堂尚存云。

44. North of Lingkan Temple in Xingning County, northeast of Xunzhou under the Tang, there are over thirty Buddha footprints on the stones, the largest being about five feet and the others smaller. Xunzhou lies within a valley, two hundred li east to west and one hundred li north to south; the temple is extremely prosperous and well-endowed. Recently a bronze hoard was obtained, with a three-foot surface, where over a hundred braziers, various plates, and boxes were acquired. Furthermore, its inscription says: 'If monks obtain it, fortune arises; if the laity obtains it, calamity arrives.' An ancient tradition says: During the Jin dynasty, this monk lived in seclusion in this mountain; traveling to the Dahong Range, he arrived at the site of the Buddha footprints. There was a great stone cavern with luxuriant flowers and fruits, so he stayed for the night. The mountain spirit produced frightful apparitions to terrify his heart. Remaining steadfast and unmoved, he said: 'This place is not fit to dwell in, for mountain demons come frequently.' Looking ahead, a stone mountain reached to the clouds and grazed the sun; thereupon he went and climbed it, but looking down into the sheer abyss, it was impossible to reach. He returned to Xingning and recounted this. During the Song dynasty, two monks, hearing of his previous failure to reach it, bravely resolved to search again. These monks recited the *Lotus Sūtra*; their moral conduct was pure and chaste, capable of subduing spirits and demons, so that [the spirits] even showed their forms and received the precepts, extending to their family members. Looking toward the cliff ahead, there were extraordinary rays of light. Separated by about ten feet, both above and below were sheer precipices. The monks used timber to make a bridge, crossed over, and upon looking, saw seven extraordinary footprints, the color of human flesh, appearing upon the rock. In the third year of the Zhenguan reign, another footprint appeared, all emitting radiance and complete with the marks of the wheel. Today, when observers view them, the numbers they see vary. Therefore, the Spirit Niche was established, taking its name from this wonder. Furthermore, inquiring into its origin, during the Song dynasty the Wang family renounced their chestnut orchard to make a temple, and its ancient hall still survives today.