集神州三寶感通錄 2.19

2.19

Fifteenth, concerning the clay auspicious image sculpted on the stone cliff in Liangzhou: formerly, Juqu Mengxun, taking possession of the land of Liang in the first year of the Long'an reign era of Emperor An of the Jin, ruled for more than thirty years; of the Five Liang regimes west of the Long, this was the longest and most prosperous. He dedicated himself exclusively to cultivating meritorious deeds, considering that the temples and stūpas of state capitals would ultimately not remain secure, and the imperial palaces of ancient times had all met with fire and ashes; if he founded them following those precedents, he would only repeat their faults. Furthermore, using gold and precious gems would ultimately invite destruction and theft. Looking about, he saw that the mountain chambers could endure as long as heaven. One hundred li south of the prefecture, connected cliffs stretched across east and west beyond reckoning; approaching them, he chiseled caves and installed revered images, whether in stone or clay, through a thousand transformations and ten thousand manifestations. Those who paid homage had their minds and eyes dazzled with awe. Among them was an earthen holy monk about the height of a person, who constantly engaged in walking meditation, never resting. Seen from afar, he would walk; viewed up close, he would stop. Looking at his face, it had the appearance of walking. Some sprinkled earth to dust the ground, to observe whether he walked or not; as soon as people stepped away, his feet would tread the earth, leaving footprints sunken in, coming and going without ceasing. Such manifestations have continued down to the present for over a hundred years, as related by the people there.