法苑珠林 13.30

13.30

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.