釋氏要覽 3.338

3.338

僧史略云。唐天寶元年壬子。西蕃五國來寇安西二月十一日。奏請兵解援發師萬里累月方到近臣奏且詔不空三藏入內持念玄宗秉香爐不空誦仁王護國陀羅尼。方二七遍帝忽見神人可五百員帶甲荷戈在殿前。帝問。不空。對曰。此毘沙門天王第二子。獨徤副陛下心。往救安西也。其年四月安西奏二月十一日巳時後城東北三十里雲霧冥晦。中有神可長丈餘。皆被金甲至酉時鼓角大鳴地動山搖。經二日蕃𡨥奔潰斯須城樓上有光明天王現形。謹圖樣隨表進呈因勅諸道節鎮所在州府於城西北隅。各置天王形像。至於佛寺亦勅別院安置。

The Sengshi lüe states: In the first year of the Tianbao era of the Tang dynasty, a renyizi year, five western barbarian nations came to invade Anxi. On the eleventh day of the second month, a memorial was submitted requesting troops for relief. Dispatching the army over ten thousand li would take consecutive months to arrive. Close ministers memorialized the throne, whereupon an imperial decree summoned Tripiṭaka Master Amoghavajra into the palace to perform recitations. Emperor Xuanzong held the censer, and Amoghavajra recited the Dhāraṇī of the Humane King Protecting the State. Just as he finished fourteen recitations, the Emperor suddenly saw about five hundred divine warriors wearing armor and carrying halberds before the palace hall. The Emperor asked [about them]. Amoghavajra replied: "This is Dujian, the second son of the Heavenly King Vaiśravaṇa, fulfilling Your Majesty's wish, going to rescue Anxi." In the fourth month of that year, Anxi sent a memorial reporting: "On the eleventh day of the second month, after the si hour, thirty li northeast of the city, clouds and mist became dark and murky. Amidst them were divine beings about ten feet tall, all clad in golden armor. By the you hour, drums and horns sounded loudly, the earth moved, and the mountains shook. After two days, the barbarian invaders fled in collapse. Soon after, on top of the city watchtower, the radiant Heavenly King manifested his form. We respectfully submit the drawing along with this memorial." Thereupon, it was decreed that all military commissioners and their administrative prefectures throughout the circuits should each set up an image of the Heavenly King in the northwest corner of their cities. As for Buddhist monasteries, it was also decreed that they be enshrined in separate cloisters.