法苑珠林 97.63

97.63

宋時有諸生遠學。其父母然火夜作。兒至前歎息曰。今我但魂魄耳。非復生人。父母問之。兒曰。此月初病。以今日某時亡。今在琅耶任子成家。明日當殮。來迎父母。父母曰。去此千里。雖復願到那得及汝。兒曰。外有車乘。去自得至耳。父母從之上車。忽若睡頃。比鷄鳴已至其所。視其駕乘但魂車木馬。遂主人見臨兒哀。問其疾消息如言（右一驗出搜神記）。

In the Song period, there was a student studying far from home. His parents were burning a fire and working at night when their son came before them and sighed, saying: "Now I am merely a spirit soul, no longer a living person." His parents questioned him, and the son said: "Earlier this month I fell ill, and I died today at a certain hour. I am now at the home of Ren Zicheng in Langye. Tomorrow I am to be encoffined, so I came to welcome my parents." The parents said: "That is a thousand li away from here. Even if we wish to arrive, how could we reach you in time?" The son said: "Outside there is a carriage; if you go, you will naturally reach it." The parents followed him into the carriage. Suddenly, as if in a brief sleep, by cockcrow they had already arrived at the place. Looking at the conveyance, it was only a spirit carriage with wooden horses. Then the host met them, and they mourned their son in grief. Inquiring about the news of his illness, it was just as had been said. (The above evidential miracle is from the Soushen ji.)