法苑珠林 14.37

14.37

In the second month, the spring of the third year of Longshuo of the Tang, an image manifested in Qinzhou. Over sixty li north of the prefecture, halfway up a cliff in a long ravine within the borders of Mianshang County, there was an ancient Buddhist niche with three sets of stone images. The central image constantly emitted radiant light, illuminating the forest and valley. The villagers marveled at it and reported the matter to the prefecture, which subsequently relayed it to the Emperor. The Emperor then issued an edict commanding the monk Xuanxiu of Great Cien Temple in the capital, together with envoys, to travel by post relay to inspect it. When they climbed up and arrived, they immediately saw the radiant light, like flying streams of fire, appearing and disappearing in unbroken succession. At times clouds reached the grotto niche; its light momentarily disappeared, but when the clouds departed, the light reappeared. They immediately rode swiftly to report this. An edict ordered that it be depicted in a painting and that another inspection be made; the light was again just as before. For three nights in succession, it shone as brightly as at first. To this day, tradition says the light has remained uninterrupted. The mountains and forests of this place are an excellent and lush site, with very many ancient traces of stone niches and Buddhist images. None knows their origins, yet the omens witnessed grow ever more numerous.