Revealed: The story of Fotucheng and Shile Shihu

Fotucheng was a native of the Western Regions, his surname was Bo. He became a monk in Wuchang State (now Swat County in northwest Pakistan) when he was young, and later went to Jibin (now Kashmir) to study. He went deep into the scriptures and understood Buddhism deeply. It is said that he was also good at magic spells. In the fourth year of Yongjia (310 years) of Emperor Huai of Jin Dynasty, the 79-year-old Fotucheng went to Luoyang, the capital of the Western Jin Dynasty. He originally planned to build a temple here. However, due to the Yongjia Rebellion (311 years), Liu Yao of the Han Dynasty invaded Luoyang and plundered it wantonly. , there were a lot of disturbances inside and outside the capital, so I had to give up and retreat into the mountains and grasslands to watch the development of the situation. At that time, Shi Le was stationing troops in Gebei (North of Xincai, Henan Province). The barbaric nature of Jiehu was not eradicated. Every time he sent out troops, there would be mass killings. Facing the corpses and bones everywhere, Fotucheng decided to use Buddhism to inspire Shile. So he walked to the vicinity of Shi's military camp and watched. He found out that Shi Le's general Guo Heilue believed in Buddhism, so he defected to Guo Heilue. Guo Heile admired Fotucheng and introduced Fotucheng to Shi Le. Fotucheng's magical powers soon gained Shi Le's trust. He started by turning green lotus in clear water, and then advised Shi Le to do more good deeds and less killing. Shi Le, Shi Hu and others all respected Fo Tucheng, consulted on state affairs, and respected him as the national teacher.

Huijiao's "Biography of Eminent Monks" records many stories about Fo Tucheng's magical powers, saying that he "had been a monk for a few years, devoted himself to studying, recited millions of sutras, and was good at interpreting the meaning of the text." Although I have never read the history of Confucianism, I have been discussing Confucianism with scholars and analyzing difficult questions. If they are in compliance with the contract, there is no one who can bend. He said that he is "good at reciting divine incantations and can command ghosts. He paints his palms with sesame oil mixed with rouge and travels thousands of miles away." They can all be seen clearly in the palm of the hand, just as they can be seen from the opposite side, and they can also listen to the sound of the bell and tell the story."

Shi Le returned to Hebei from Gebei (today's north of the Yellow River). Passed by Fangtou (now Po County, Henan). As soon as the camp was set up, Guo Heile went to Shi Le's residence and said, "Master Fotucheng asked me to tell the general that someone is going to rob the camp tonight."

Shi Le responded: " Got it." After sending people to set up defense, he murmured unconvincingly: Is this old monk really good at knowing things? It was not until night that the group of people who robbed the camp were all caught, and he nodded secretly.

However, most kings are suspicious by nature, and he still wanted to give Fotu Cheng a try. One night, he put on his armor and armor in his tent. After sitting down with his sword in hand, he sent someone to tell Fotucheng that the general was missing. Shi Lexin said: Fotucheng, Fotucheng, that's all if you really have a spiritual experience. If you bump into this place dizzy, I won't kill you with a knife.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the envoy reached the door of Fotucheng, before he could speak, Fotucheng said loudly: "The general is fine, and there are no thieves. Why are you keeping the tent so tight?" ?"

When Shi Le heard what the envoy said when he came back, he broke out in a cold sweat: The divine monk is indeed a divine monk! From this, he respected Fotucheng even more.

However, as time passed, suspicion emerged from another direction. Shi Le was always thinking: Is it a big benefit or a big disadvantage to have such a person who knows everything around me? Although Shi Hu introduced me, he can help me make suggestions and build a foundation, but how can I control such a person? Where do you live? He sees me clearly, and I see him vaguely. What if one day he has a different intention and wants to deal with me? No, I have to take action first...

Finally One day, Shi Le had a murderous intention. But Fotucheng, who was very knowledgeable about things, had already quietly hid in Guo Heilue's home before that. He told Guo Heilue: "If Mr. Shi asks me where I am going, just say you don't know." As a result, the killers Searching everywhere, Fotucheng was never found.

Shi Le was shocked again: "I have ill intentions towards the holy monk, how could he not know it? He must have left me. He wanted to leave me and help others. , but what should I do?" So, I tossed and turned all night, unable to fall asleep.

Fotucheng knew that Shi Le had regrets, so he took the initiative to visit him early the next morning.

When Shi Le saw it, he was surprised and happy: "Where was the master last night? I asked him to find it easily."

Fotucheng laughed: "My lord is angry. , so I just avoided it. My lord has changed his mind now, so I'm back."

When Shi Le heard this, he couldn't help it, and he laughed in embarrassment and said, "No, no, yes. Master has misunderstood!"

From then on, he never dared to have any other thoughts about Fotucheng.

Shi Le worshiped the great monk Fotucheng, and because of Fotucheng's kind words, he reduced a lot of killings.

Shi Hu also admired Fo Tucheng. Once, Shi Hu asked Fo Tucheng for advice and asked: "What is Buddhism?" Because Shi Hu was cruel, Fo Tucheng only said four things to him. One word: "Buddhism does not kill!"

One day, Fotucheng and Shi Hu were sitting in the middle hall of Xiangguo (now Xingtai, Hebei), talking about scriptures and Dharma. Suddenly, Fotucheng's face changed, and he said in surprise: "There was a fire in Youzhou." He then took a drink of wine, drank it, and sprayed it in the direction of Youzhou. After a while, Fotucheng smiled and said to Shi Hu: "Now the fire in Youzhou has been put out."

Shi Hu felt strange and didn't believe it, so he sent an envoy to Youzhou to verify. The messenger came back and said to Shi Hu: "That day, fire broke out from the four major city gates, and the fire was fierce.

But for some reason, a layer of dark clouds suddenly came from the south in the originally sunny sky, and then it rained heavily, extinguishing the fire. There was also the smell of wine in the rain. Shi Hu's hair stood up when he heard that, and he admired Fotucheng even more.

Shi Hu had a son named Shi Bin, who was very popular with Shi Le. Unexpectedly, one day, Shi Bin suddenly fell ill and died. On the third day after Shi Bin's death, Shi Le suddenly remembered something in his grief. He called his ministers and said, "I heard that after the death of Prince Guo, Bian Que brought him back to life. Isn't the great monk Guoshi a saint? Go and invite him quickly. I want him to cast a spell to bring Bin'er back to life. "

After Fotucheng came, he took out the willow branches and started chanting the mantra to Shi Bin. After a long time, Shi Bin suddenly sat up from the bed with a *** sound and looked at him in surprise. Everyone. From then on, Shi Le sent his young sons to the Buddhist temple to feed them. On the eighth day of April, on the Buddha's birthday, Shi Le personally came to the temple to bathe the Buddha in fragrant soup and make wishes for his sons.

Shi Le claimed to be King Zhao Tian and acted according to the emperor's rules. At the same time, he respected Fotucheng even more. At that time, Shi Cong was about to rebel. Fotucheng warned Shi Le: "There are insects in the onions this year. Eating onions will harm people. But Order the people not to eat onions. "Shi Le then ordered the people within the territory not to eat onions. When Shi Cong heard the edict, he knew that the conspiracy was exposed, and soon he ran away. After this incident, Shi Le paid more attention to Fo Tucheng. He must first ask him about everything, and then implement it, and Granted the title to the great monk Fo Tucheng.

In the year when Shi Le died, on a calm and windless day, a bell rang alone on the pagoda. Fo Tucheng said: "*** said. , the country has a great mourning, which will not end until the end of this year. "Soon after, Shi Le died as expected.

When Shi Hu usurped the throne and proclaimed himself emperor and moved the capital to Yecheng, he respected Fotucheng even more than Shi Le. He issued an edict to let Fotucheng wear silk brocade and ride in a luxurious chariot with carved patterns. On the day of the court meeting with the ministers, someone would pull his chariot up to the palace. Officials below the Chang Attendant would help push the chariot, while the prince and the third prince would accompany the chariot on both sides. Everyone stood up. Shihu sent Sikong Li Nong to inquire about Fotucheng on his behalf every morning and evening, while Prince Sangong went to visit him once every five days.

Zhi Daolin was in the capital and heard that Fotucheng was with him. When people with the surname Shi met each other, they said: "Mr. Cheng mistook Shi Hu for a seagull. "It means that Shihu used Buddha Tucheng to predict world events and political climate. Later, because of the Buddha Tucheng, the people of Zhao State rushed to believe in Buddhism, build temples, and become monks.

Buddhist affairs in Later Zhao During the great prosperity, the number of monks increased, the true and false were mixed, disturbing the society, and causing evil. The ministers began to write letters, requesting the emperor to clean up the temple. People from the Western Regions came to China from the Han Dynasty to spread their Shintoism. The imperial court allowed them to set up temples in cities to worship their gods, but it stipulated that Han Dynasty people were not allowed to leave home. Wei inherited the Han system and also inherited this practice. Now we can make a decision: no one from Zhao State is allowed to go to temples to burn incense and worship, in order to maintain the rules and regulations. No matter whether they are officials in the court or ordinary people, they are all prohibited. Anyone who violates the prohibition will be guilty of the same crime as the prostitute. The people of Zhao who have become monks must return to secular life and become common people again. "Most people in the court agreed with Wang Du's petition. However, Shi Hu was tabooed because Wang Du said "Buddha is a Rong god", and because the national teacher Fo Tucheng was from the Western Regions, not only was he not sure what Wang Du wanted. Instead, he issued an edict saying: "Wang Du and others said that Buddha is a foreign god and the emperor should not believe in it. I was born in a border area and had good fortune. I was able to rule over the summers. Sacrifice should take care of the old customs. The Buddha is a Rong god, which fits this situation and should not be rejected. The system has been established and will be set for eternity, but if doing so does no harm, why should we stick to the previous generations? There are people of all kinds, such as Yi and Zhao barbarians, who give up their obscene sacrifices and are happy to take refuge in Buddhism, so let them do what they want. "It means that the Buddha is the Rong god and I am the Rong people. The Buddha is the god of my own clan and naturally protects me. The people of Later Zhao are my people, so of course they should worship my Rong god. In addition, we should advocate in Zhao territory Buddhism is also a reward for Fo Tucheng.

Shi Xuan was about to kill Shi Tao. Shi Xuan first went to the temple and sat with Fo Tucheng. A bell rang alone on the pagoda. "Have you understood ***? *** talks about the fall of the beard. Shi Xuan changed his face and said, "What are these words?" Fotucheng deliberately changed his meaning and said, "As a Taoist, Lao Hu cannot live in the mountains without words, lie down on thick blankets and wear beautiful clothes. Isn't this not a downfall?" ?" Shi Tao arrived later, and Fo Tucheng stared at him for a long time. Shi Tao asked in horror why Fo Tucheng was staring like that? Fo Tucheng said: "It's strange that you have a smell of blood on your body, so you stared at him for a long time. "

Shihu dreamed of a flying dragon falling from the sky from the southwest. Early the next morning, he asked Fotucheng. Fotucheng said: "There will be disaster. Father and son should be kind and cautious." "Shihu took Fotucheng into the east pavilion and asked the queen about the disaster. Fotucheng said: "There will be thieves around us. Within ten days, there should be bloodshed from the west of the pagoda to the east of this hall. Things, be careful not to go eastward. Empress Du said: "I'm afraid the monk has become faint with old age! Where are the thieves?" Fotucheng immediately changed his meaning and said: "Things accepted by the six emotions are thieves. People should become faint when they get old, but they can only make young people feel faint." It’s better not to get dizzy. "Just deal with it with a fable without explaining the deeper meaning. Two days later, Shi Xuan sent people to kill Shi Tao in the Buddhist temple, and wanted to kill him while Shi Hu was attending a funeral.

Shi Hu because Fotucheng warned him first, so he was saved from death.

When Shi Xuan was arrested, Fotucheng persuaded Shi Hu: "We are all your Majesty's sons, why add disaster to disaster! Your Majesty tolerated his anger and showed mercy. Shi Hu's introduction: The national destiny still has more than sixty years. If he kills He, he will turn into a comet and sweep down Ye Palace." Shihu didn't listen. One month later, a demon horse with a tail that looked like it was burning entered the middle gate of Luoyang, and then came out of the Xianyang Gate. Its head was facing the East Palace, but it could not enter. Then it walked toward the northeast and disappeared in an instant. After hearing this, Fotucheng sighed and said: "Disaster has come." Shihu gave a banquet to the ministers in Taiwu's front hall. Fotucheng said in deep thought: "House, hall! The thorns will grow into a forest and kill people." Clothes." Shi Hu ordered to open the big stone in the palace and looked down, and sure enough there were thorns growing. Ran Min's nickname was Ji Nu. Soon, Ran Min destroyed Hou Zhao.

On the shoulders, only the hat hair was slightly exposed. Shi Hu was very disgusted, but could only keep it secret. Fotucheng shed tears at the picture, and soon he built his own tomb on Zimo in the west of Ye. After returning to the temple, he said to himself: "Will it take another three years?" He replied: "No." "More than three years." Two years, one year, one hundred days, one month?" He replied: "No." From then on, he stopped talking. He said to his disciple Fa Zuo: "The chaos of the Wushen year gradually emerged, and the Shi family should be destroyed in the Jiyou year. I took the opportunity to pass away in advance before the disaster happened." He died in the Ye Palace Temple. Later, a monk came from Yongzhou and said that he saw Fotucheng entering the pass to the west. Shihu dug up the tomb and inspected it. There was only a stone but no body. Shihu said disgustedly: "The stone is me; bury me and leave, I will die soon." Therefore, he became ill. The next year, Shi Hu died and the north was in chaos.