法苑珠林 65.66

65.66

Zhang Chong of the Jin was a native of Duling in Jingzhao. From his youth he revered the Dharma. In the Taiyuan era of the Jin, after Fu Jian was defeated, more than a thousand households of commoners from Chang'an fled south to submit to the Jin. They were detained by the garrison post, who deemed them roaming bandits; they killed the men and captured the women and children. Chong and five of his peers were shackled hand and foot in fetters, placed in an open pit, and buried up to their waists, each twenty paces apart from one another. The next day [the soldiers] intended to gallop on horseback and shoot them for entertainment. Chong's hopes were completely exhausted, and he only purified his heart and exclusively recollected Avalokiteśvara. In the middle of the night, the fetters suddenly broke of themselves, and his upper body was able to free itself; thereupon he fled and managed to escape. Chong's feet were in pain, and his companions passed by a temple along the road; he then called again on the name of Avalokiteśvara, paid homage with utmost sincerity, placed a stone in front of him, and made a vow, saying: 'Now I wish to cross east of the Yangtze River to plead with the Emperor of Jin to redress these wronged souls and rescue their wives and children. If my wish is to be fulfilled, may this stone split into two.' After Chong finished paying homage, the stone immediately broke. Chong eventually reached the capital, opened the White Tiger Vessel, and listed all the wronged families in detail. The Emperor then pardoned them all; those who had already been abducted and sold were all restored to the household registers. The monk Zhisheng witnessed this with his own eyes.