法苑珠林 36.62

36.62

Nanmingzhen Temple of the Liang is in Zhongxing Village, Meiling County. It was founded in the fifth year of Putong by the śramaṇa Huizhao. Huizhao was born of the Xu family. In the early Qi, he accompanied his maternal uncle to Luling. On the road, he found a bundle. Inside the bundle was an embroidered cloth, within which was wrapped paper of five colours, each in a separate wrapper. When he first opened four layers, there was nothing to be seen; but when he finally opened the lowest layer of stitched paper, he saw a light, flashing like lightning and illuminating the whole room. From this, he was moved by divine omens: entering water he would not drown; entering fire he would not burn. His family thought him mad, and at first placed him in a cage and locked him up strictly. Shortly thereafter he was outside, and so they recognized his divine power. Thereupon they set up an empty seat to pray for blessings. A voice from the sky said, 'I am Long-Life Bodhisattva, who should bring benefit to this land. You may make pure offerings in accordance with the Buddha's Dharma.' Thereupon people vied to present incense and flowers, and there were always miraculous responses. Li Shuxian, a man of the south, repeatedly vowed to seek his home prefecture; later, he indeed became the Regional Inspector of Jiaozhou. He then crafted a divine statue of aloeswood. Because the people of the world honoured the spirit under the name Hua, they called her Goddess Huaning. The common people sent offerings so abundant they choked the feast gatherings. With whatever remained from Huizhao's conversions, he built the temple. (The two proofs above are from the Record of Temples in the Capital Liang.)