法苑珠林 12.95

12.95

又漢明帝遠召摩騰法師。來至雒陽。於城西雍門外立白馬寺。是漢地伽藍之始也。相傳云。外國國王。甞毀破諸寺。唯招提寺未及毀壞。夜有一白馬繞塔悲鳴。即以報王。王即停壞諸寺。因改招提以為白馬。故諸寺立名。多取則焉。

Furthermore, Emperor Ming of the Han summoned Master Moteng from afar to come to Luoyang, and built Baima Temple outside the Yong Gate west of the city. This was the beginning of saṃghārāmas in the Han territory. Tradition relates that a foreign king once destroyed various temples, but only the Zhaoti Temple was not yet destroyed. At night, a white horse circled the stūpa, neighing sorrowfully. This was immediately reported to the king, and the king immediately halted the destruction of the various temples, changing the name of Zhaoti to Baima. Therefore, when naming various temples, many take this as their model.