法苑珠林 28.47

28.47

臨海記曰。郡東北二十五里。任曾逸家有一石井。自然天成非人功所造。井深四丈。常有涌泉。大水不溢大旱不竭。夏絕香冷冬至甜溫。長老相傳云。昔有採材人。臨谿洗器。流失酒杯。後出於井中。地鏡圖曰。夫寶物在城郭丘牆之中。樹木為之變。視柯偏有折枯。是其候也。視折枯所向寶在其方。凡有金寶常變作積蛇。見此輩便脫隻履。若屣以擲之。若溺之即得。凡藏寶忘不知處。以大銅槃盛水著所疑地。行照之見人影者。物在下也。

The Linhai ji says: Twenty-five li northeast of the commandery, the family of Ren Cengyi had a stone well, naturally formed by Heaven and not made by human effort. The well was four zhang deep, with a continuously bubbling spring. In heavy water it did not overflow, and in great drought it did not dry up. In summer it was extremely fragrant and cold; in winter it was sweet and warm. The elders traditionally recount: formerly there was a timber cutter washing utensils by a stream who lost a wine cup to the current; it later emerged from inside the well. The Dijingtutu says: When treasures lie within city ramparts, mounds, or walls, the trees and woods change on account of them. Observing that a branch is particularly broken or withered—this is the sign. Looking toward the direction in which the broken or withered part points, the treasure is in that direction. In all cases, gold and treasures often transform into coiled snakes. Seeing such things, immediately take off a single shoe or slipper and throw it at them; or if one urinates upon them, one will immediately obtain them. Whenever treasures are buried and one forgets and does not know their location, fill a large bronze basin with water and place it on the suspected ground; walking and inspecting it, wherever a person's reflection is seen, the object lies beneath.