法苑珠林 13.30

13.30

東晉會稽山陰靈寶寺木像者。徵士譙國戴逵所製。逵以中古製像略皆朴拙。至於開敬不足動心。素有潔信。又甚巧思。方欲改斵。威容庶參真極注慮。累年乃得成。遂東夏製像之妙。未之有如上之像也。致使道俗瞻仰忽若親遇。高平郄嘉賓撮香呪曰。若使有常將復覩聖顏。如其無常願會彌勒之前。所拈之香於手自然。芳煙直上極目雲際。餘芬裴回馨盈一寺。于時道俗莫不感厲。像今在越州嘉祥寺。

The wooden image of the Lingbao Temple in Shanyin, Kuaiji, during the Eastern Jin, was crafted by the retired scholar Dai Kui of Qiao Commandery. Kui considered that the images made in middle antiquity were mostly crude and unpolished, insufficient to stir the heart to evoke reverence. Having pure faith by nature and great ingenuity in thought, he was just about to rework and carve them, hoping that their august countenances might partake of the ultimate truth, and poured his attention into it for many years until he accomplished it. Thereupon, in the excellence of image-making in the Eastern Land, there had never been an image like this. It caused clergy and laity gazing in reverence to feel suddenly as if they had met [the Buddha] in person. Xi Jiabin of Gaoping took a pinch of incense and prayed, 'If there is permanence, may I behold the holy countenance again; if there is impermanence, may I meet before Maitreya!' The incense he held took fire spontaneously in his hand, and the fragrant smoke rose straight up, reaching the edge of the clouds. The lingering fragrance lingered and permeated the entire temple. At that time, of the clergy and laity, none was not moved and inspired. The image is now at the Jiaxiang Temple in Yuezhou.