法苑珠林 18.24

18.24

In the Chen dynasty, Yan Gong of Yangzhou was originally a native of Quanzhou. His family was wealthy, and he had no brothers. His parents doted on him and never went against his words. At the beginning of the Taijian era of the Chen, when Gong was about twenty years old, he requested from his parents, wishing to obtain fifty thousand cash to go trade in the markets of Yangzhou. His parents granted it. Gong loaded a boat with goods and traveled downstream. A few dozen li from Yangzhou, he encountered a boat on the river carrying softshell turtles, about to go to the market to sell them. Gong reflected that the turtles were going to die, and thereupon requested to redeem them. He said to the owner of the turtles: "I happen to have fifty thousand cash; I wish to redeem them with it." The owner of the turtles was delighted, took the cash, handed over the turtles, and departed. Gong released all the turtles into the river and proceeded with an empty boat to Yangzhou. The owner of the turtles, having parted from Gong for ten-odd li, capsized his boat and drowned. On that day, Gong's parents were at home. At dusk, fifty guests clad in black robes came to their gate seeking lodging, and delivered fifty thousand cash, handing it to Gong's parents, saying: "Your son in Yangzhou sends this money back; please accept it according to the count." The father was startled and feared Gong had died, and so questioned them. The guests said: "Your son is without harm; he simply had no need for the cash and so sent it back." Gong's father accepted it and noted it was the original money, but all slightly damp. He kept the guests and prepared food for them; the guests stayed and took leave the next morning. More than a month later, Gong returned home. His parents were overjoyed. When he settled, they asked the reason for sending the money, and Gong answered that he had not done so. His parents described the guests' appearance and the month and day the money was handed over, which was precisely the day the turtles were redeemed. Thereupon they knew that the fifty guests were all the redeemed turtles. Father and son marveled in wonder. Thereupon they went together to Yangzhou to build a hermitage, dedicated exclusively to copying the Lotus Sūtra. They then relocated their family to Yangzhou. His family became increasingly wealthy, constructing large halls and corridors as sūtra-copying chambers, adorned and pure, with lavish supplies, constantly hosting several dozen scribes. The clergy and laity of Yangzhou collectively revered them, naming him "Lotus Yan." Once, an acquaintance borrowed ten thousand cash of the sūtra funds from him; Gong could not refuse and gave it. The borrower received the money and carried it home by boat. Mid-route, the boat capsized; the borrowed money fell into the water, yet the boat sank without the person drowning. On that day, Gong entered the treasury and saw ten thousand cash, wet as if freshly brought out of the water. Gong found it extremely strange. Later, he met the borrower from before, and only then learned that the damp money was what had been borrowed. Furthermore, a merchant came to Lake Gongting and offered wine, food, and goods at the spirit shrine. That night, he dreamed the spirit returned the goods to him, saying: "I ask you to take this money on my behalf and present it to Lotus Yan to provide for the sūtras." At dawn, the offered sacred items were all before him. Thereupon the merchant marveled, delivered them to Gong's place, and doubled his lavish donations. Later, Gong went to the market to buy sūtra paper but lacked money. Suddenly he saw a person holding three thousand cash, who handed them to Gong, saying: "To assist you in buying paper." Having spoken, he disappeared, but the money remained. Such strange marvels were not singular. At the end of the Kaihuang era, Gong died, and his descendants carried on his vocation. At the end of the Sui, when bandits reached Jiangdu, they made a pact with each other: "Do not enter Lotus Yan's neighborhood!" The people of the neighborhood relied on this to preserve their households. To this day, the copying of sūtras has not ceased; the prefectures and cities have all witnessed it, and the scholars and gentry of the capital know it thoroughly. (The above one verification is taken from the Mingbao ji).