法苑珠林 13.22

13.22

In the first year of the Jianxing era under Emperor Min of the Western Jin, at the estuary of Hudu on the Song River in Wu County, Wu Commandery, fishermen gathered. Looking into the distance, they saw two persons floating on the water in the sea. The fishermen suspected that they were sea gods, invited shamans and priests, and prepared whole animals for sacrificial offerings to welcome them. The wind and waves grew even more violent, so in terror they returned. There was also Fei Lao, an adherent of the Way of the Five Pecks of Rice, who went forward and said, "These are my masters!" They went together again to receive them, but the wind and waves remained as before. Zhu Ying, a Buddhist layman from Wu County, heard of this and sighed, saying, "Could this be the descent of the Great Awakened One?" Thereupon, having purified himself by observing the fast, he went with the nun Bai of Dongling Temple and several other Buddhist believers to the estuary, prostrating to welcome them. The wind and waves then grew calm. Floating on the river, the two persons entered the cove with the tide. As they drew nearer, they became clearer, and it was discovered that they were stone statues. Intending to take them in their arms to receive them, the men's strength was not yet sufficient; yet when they tried lightly to lift them, the statues rose briskly, whereupon they were borne back to Tongxuan Temple. Examining the inscriptions on the backs of the statues, one was named Weishuo [Vipaśyin] and the other was named Jiaye [Kāśyapa]. No one could fathom from what imperial dynasty they dated, but the traces of the writing were distinct. They were seven feet high. An altar of the Dharma was arranged, and people wished to install the two statues. Although there were several tens of men, the statues could not be moved at all. After people made a prayer once again, the statues were easily lifted. The matter was reported to the imperial court, and nine out of ten commoners and gentry turned their hearts in devotion. The śramaṇa Shi Fakai came from the Western Regions and, citing the scriptures, declared: "In the east there are two stone statues and an Aśoka stupa; those who make offerings and pay reverent homage to them will eliminate the sins of accumulated kalpas."