集神州三寶感通錄 2.51

2.51

47. In Lizhaoqu, west of the Feng River and east of Hu County in Yongzhou under the Tang, there was a golden image three feet six inches high, with flame-halo of four feet, which frequently emitted light. The form of the image bared the right shoulder and was extremely majestic. Hearing of it, I went to seek it and saw it. The inscription on the pedestal says: 'On the eighth day of the fourth month in the twentieth year of the Jianyuan reign of the Qin, made at Central Temple in Chang'an. Queen Hui Shao, moved by the Buddha's nirvāṇa, was fortunate to encounter his remaining images. Therefore, relying on the surplus of her body, she cast this miraculous form. If sincere resonance is achieved, it must respond: may the beings of the ten directions share in the blessing.' Such was the inscription. Asking about the circumstances of its discovery, it was said: Formerly, when the two teachings were abolished, it was hidden in the Luoren Eddy of the Feng River. Someone walking along the bank heard a sound in the eddy and also saw light emitted. Reporting this to the village elders, they rushed to the water to search; the eddy was pure sand, and light emerged from the water. Thereupon they dug it up and obtained this image. At that time it was still under the Northern Zhou. Village households concealed it and made offerings to it in turn; kept in a dark room, it emitted light that illuminated itself. It is now in the village.