法苑珠林 74.31

74.31

In the Han era, Wang Tun, whose courtesy name was Shaolin, served as the magistrate of Mei County. Traveling to his county post, he reached Li Pavilion. The pavilion regularly had a ghost that repeatedly killed people. Tun lodged in the upper story. In the night, there was a woman who claimed she wished to lodge a grievance, but had no clothes to cover herself. Tun gave her clothes. She then stepped forward and said: ‘I was originally the concubine of the magistrate of Fu. When traveling to the official post, I passed this pavilion to lodge. The pavilion director killed me and more than ten people, young and old, and buried us under the watchtower, seizing our clothes and wealth. The pavilion director is now a patrol officer under the county gate.’ Tun said: ‘I shall avenge you; do not kill innocent good people anymore.’ The ghost cast down the clothes and left. Tun straightaway arrested the patrol officer, and upon interrogation he immediately confessed. Tun arrested his more than ten co-conspirators and had them all executed. He excavated all the remains and returned them to their families for burial. The pavilion became forever peaceful and tranquil. The people had a popular ditty that said: ‘How trustworthy is Shaolin, unmatched in the world! Flying the quilt and galloping the horse, he speaks with ghosts.’ ‘Flying the quilt and galloping the horse’ refers to another matter, not recorded here. (The above two verifications come from the Yuanhun zhi).