法苑珠林 6.79

6.79

When Song Dingbo of Nanyang was young, he met a ghost while traveling by night. He asked it [who it was], and it said, "I am a ghost." It then asked him in turn, "And who are you, sir?" Dingbo deceived it, saying, "I too am a ghost." The ghost asked, "Where do you wish to go?" He replied, "I wish to go to the market of Wan." The ghost said, "I too wish to go to Wan." So they walked together for several miles. The ghost said, "Walking is too slow. We can take turns carrying each other on our backs." Dingbo said, "Splendid." The ghost then carried Dingbo first for several miles. The ghost said, "You, sir, are exceedingly heavy; might you not be a ghost?" Dingbo said, "I have only newly died; that is why my body is heavy." Dingbo then in turn carried the ghost, and the ghost was almost entirely weightless. They did this two or three times. Dingbo spoke again: "I have newly died and do not know what ghosts fear and avoid." The ghost replied, "We dislike only human spit." Thereupon they walked on together. Meeting water on the road, Dingbo made the ghost cross first; listening, there was not the slightest sound. Dingbo crossed himself, splashing and wading with loud noises. The ghost spoke again: "Why is there sound?" Dingbo said, "Having newly died, I am unaccustomed to crossing water; that is all. Do not blame me." As they were about to arrive at Wan, Dingbo carried the ghost upon his head and held it fast. The ghost cried out loudly with a chattering shriek, begging to be let down, but [Dingbo] would no longer listen. He went straight into the market of Wan and put it down upon the ground, where it transformed into a sheep; he then sold it. Fearing that it might transform again, he spat upon the sheep. He obtained one thousand five hundred coins before leaving. At the time, Shi Chong remarked, "Dingbo sold a ghost and obtained one thousand five hundred cash." (This single verification above is taken from the Lieyi zhuan.)