法苑珠林 52.35

52.35

Yuan Kuo of the Song was styled Sidu and was a native of Chen Commandery. During the Yuanhui era, he served as Assistant Prefect of Wu Commandery. Having been ill for a few days, he suddenly appeared to be dead, yet his lingering breath was not entirely exhausted. The implements for his coffin were all prepared, awaiting his end before encoffining. After three days, he was able to move and blink his eyes, and recounted himself: An envoy arrived claiming orders and summoned Kuo to follow him. Upon arrival, there was a great walled city, its battlements high and orderly, and its steps and portals towering and magnificent. Once Kuo was ordered to enter, the host was facing south on a raised dais, imposing and severe, his awe-inspiring attire and cap stately and majestic. A sword-bearing attendant directed Kuo to sit down. Once seated and greetings of health were concluded, wine, roast meat, fruits, zongzi, and delicacies were served, and Kuo tasted all of them. Their varieties, shapes, and flavors were no different from those in the world. After several rounds of wine, the host said to Kuo: "Unfortunately, my recording secretary has passed away, and there is a vacancy in the administrative staff. Because of your talent and brilliance, I wish to invite your service; would you be inclined to give it your regard?" Kuo knew in his mind that this was the underworld, so he firmly declined: "I am ordinary and frivolous, incapable of fulfilling it. Moreover, from my youth I have been poor and orphaned, and my siblings have drifted away; for both public and private reasons, I beg to receive your gracious release." The host said: "You must be declining merely because the hidden and manifest realms are different spheres. Here, the honorable emoluments, material support, sustenance, clothing, and conveyances will surpass what you had in the world. My earnest wish is to work together with you; I trust you will condescend to fulfill what is expected." Kuo firmly pleaded again, saying: "My sons and daughters are young and frail, all at a tender age. If I suddenly take up this appointment, their care and upbringing will have no support; the mutual affection between father and child truly deserves pity." Kuo thereupon wept tears and bowed his head to the ground. The host said: "Since you decline so firmly, how could I force you? That my wish is unfulfilled causes me deep regret." Reaching for a scroll of documents on the desk, he made punctuation marks on it. Then, as Kuo expressed gratitude and took leave to return, the host said: "Do you not wish to visit your deceased kin?" He then dispatched someone to lead Kuo on. They passed through numerous offices and departments, until finally coming to a walled enclosure with black door leaves and posts, which was a prison. Leading Kuo inside, they turned obliquely into a corner, where various dwellings were crowded together and joined, yet were extremely wretched and dilapidated. Next was a room where he saw his birth mother, Lady Yang, in this room, her appearance and clothing unattractive and entirely different from during her lifetime. Seeing Kuo, she was pleasantly surprised. Beside the door, there was a person whose body and face were covered in sores and whose appearance was exceedingly bizarre; this person called out to speak to Kuo. Kuo asked in alarm who it was, and Lady Yang said to Kuo: "This is Madame Wang; do you not recognize her?" Madame Wang said: "When I was in the world, I did not believe in retribution. Although I had no other grave transgressions, it was precisely because I flogged the maidservants and bondsmen too severely that I now suffer this punishment. Since my death, the excruciating torments have hardly paused for a moment; it is only now that I have a brief respite. Previously, I called your elder sister here hoping she could substitute for me, but in the end it was of no avail and merely brought useless sorrow." Having finished speaking, she wept profusely. Madame Wang was Kuo's legal mother, and Kuo's sister was also by her side at the time. After a short while, the envoy led Kuo away again, traversing lanes and paths; the neighborhoods were well-ordered, resembling human dwellings. At the end, there was a residence with a bamboo fence and thatched roof, where he saw his father wrapped in a quilt and wearing a headcloth, leaning against a desk as he sat. When Kuo entered the door, his father waved his hand to dismiss Kuo, saying: "Since you have obtained release, you may return quickly; there is no need to come here."