法苑珠林 56.23

56.23

Under the Tang dynasty, Dai Wenzhou, Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and Duke of Wuchang, had long been on good terms with Shen Yu, Vice Governor of Shuzhou. Zhou died in the seventh year of the Zhenguan reign era. In the eighth month of the eighth year, Yu had a dream while in his prefecture. His body was walking on the southwest street of Yining Ward in the capital. Suddenly he saw Zhou wearing old, tattered clothes, his face and appearance exceedingly haggard. Seeing Yu, he was both sorrowful and glad. [Yu] asked: 'Throughout your life, my lord, you cultivated merit; what are you doing now?' He replied: 'In my time, I mistakenly memorialized the execution of someone. After I died, others slaughtered sheep to sacrifice to me. Due to these two matters, the hardship of arguing and answering [in the underworld] cannot be fully told. Now the situation is finished.' He then said to Yu: 'Throughout my life, I was a good friend to you, yet in the end I was unable to advance your official post; I deeply regret this in my heart. Now you will personally obtain a document of the fifth rank, which has already passed through the Celestial Bureau. Rejoicing to assist you, I have therefore come to inform you.' Having finished speaking, [Yu] awoke and recounted it to others, hoping the dream would have proof. In the winter of that year, Yu entered the capital to participate in the civil selection, but due to a fine of bronze he did not obtain an office. He again said to others that what he had dreamed had no verification. In the spring of the ninth year, as Yu was about to return south of the Yangtze River and reached Xuzhou, he suddenly received