法苑珠林 12.88

12.88

前漢孝武帝元狩中霍去病討匈奴至皋蘭。過居延山獲昆邪休屠王等。又獲金人。率長丈餘尺。到於甘泉宮。帝以為大聖燒香禮拜。及開西域。遣張騫使大夏。還云。有身毒國。一名天竺。始聞浮圖之教。此即佛之形教。相顯之漸也。

In the Former Han, during the Yuanshou era of Emperor Xiaowu, Huo Qubing attacked the Xiongnu, reaching Gaolan. Passing Mount Juyan, he captured King Hunye, King Xiutu, and others. He also obtained a golden man over a zhang in height and brought it to Ganquan Palace. The Emperor regarded it as a Great Sage, burning incense and bowing in worship to it. When opening up the Western Regions, he dispatched Zhang Qian as an envoy to Daxia. Upon his return, he reported that there was a land of Shendu, also named Tianzhu, where the teaching of the Buddha was first heard. This was the gradual emergence of the physical form and teaching of the Buddha.