"Master Hai Tong!" Someone excitedly called an elderly monk, who was standing on a river bank. His orange-red robe was quietly fluttering in the breeze. The Master's eyes were fixed on a huge Maitreya-Buddha's statue that was being constructed on the opposite side of the river.
A young monk came over, panting. "It is a wonderful day today," he said. "I have good news for you, Master. Mr. Wu, the merchant, has donated one hundred liangs of gold to us!"
"This is good news, indeed, Xu Pei! Well done!" The Master replied contentedly. "Then go to Mr. Hu straight away and hire more workmen. Do not forget to buy picks and ropes. We need to speed up."
"Will be done, Master."
Xu Pei glanced at Master Hai Tong's haggard face and asked with care, "It is now two days that you have been taking no food, Master. May I get you at least some rice?"
"Do not worry," the Master smiled. "I am not hungry."
"Maybe there is anything else I can do for you?"
"No, no… You better hurry up and get the job done!"
The young monk reverently bowed his head and dashed away.
Hai Tong raised his eyes to the countenance of the stone Buddha. The Buddha’s half-closed eyes and unearthly smile were emanating serenity.
"Oh, Maitreya, help us to finish what we have started!"
At this instant, deep in his heart he felt a twinge of premonition, which faintly flashed by like a dim vision. Hai Tong shook his head as if to throw the grim feeling off, then closed his eyes and started to pray hard.
Hai Tong was sent to the monastery when he was a child, and from very young age, no matter what he did or experienced, he demonstrated such forbearance that was rare even among mature monks. He slept little, ate little and prayed longer than anyone else. He never had aversion to any hard or menial work. All this won him love and respect among both monks and laymen. Hai Tong was still young, when for his honesty, loving kindness and years of selfless service he was elected abbot of the Lingyun monastery.
***
Cold river was splashing against red sandstone banks. The sun was unusually bright and the water was glowing blue. The prows of fishermen’s and merchants’ boats were pushing forth foamy waves. With tension on their faces, the boatmen were crossing the dangerous spot where three rivers joined. The stream was much swifter here, and even the most skilful boaters sometimes could not cope with the fierce currents.
Several boats were passing through the most perilous spot with multiple whirlpools. Suddenly, the back of one of the boats side-slipped, its bow dipped and scooped water, then the boat tilted to one side and capsized abruptly. Boxes, bags and men fell into cold water. The two boatmen were desperately struggling for their lives clutching at floating objects. A few boats started towards the drowning men. Somebody was shouting from the riverbank calling for help. For another few moments, the two unfortunate boatmen could be still seen fiercely fighting against the element, but finally they disappeared in churning water. The capsized boat floated for a while, drawn by the stream, but at last it vanished from view, too.
When this happened, Hai Tong was having a walk on the river bank with his disciples. When they came closer, they saw people dragging the dead body out of water and putting it down on the sand. Bystanders began gathering around. There was grumbling among people:
“Dead bodies again... Each month someone gets drowned here!” sighed a grey-haired peasant.
“Where is the other drowned man?” wondered a tall man in a straw hat.
“At the bottom, where else?” answered a thin sinewy fisherman making a cough.
“It is the evil dragon Jiao Long! He lives at the bottom of the river and it is him who creates the whirlpools to sink the boats and drown people. And the river will swallow those whom the dragon did not eat”, said a hunch-backed toothless old woman clad in rags.
Hai Tong looked sadly at the people, sighed heavily and said to his disciples, “Time to go!”
Many monks witnessed the tragedy at the river, and they expected Hai Tong to tell them something important. But he kept silent. It was only a few days later that he at last addressed his disciples after the morning prayer and said, “It is now the third day that I see the same dream: huge face of the compassionate Lord Maitreya emerging from the surface of the Lingyunshan cliff exactly above the spot where two unfortunate men drowned a few days ago. Today, in my meditation, I heard Lord Maitreya exhorting us to help people! With the Lord Maitreya’s help we will be able to keep the perilous element at bay. To do this, we will immediately start collecting money for the construction of His statue. It will be as big as the Lingyunshan mountain… And the pieces of rock that we will be tossing into the river will expel the evil dragon!”
The monks were listening to him in surprise.
“But Master,” worriedly exclaimed his devoted disciple Xiu Pei, “such endeavour may be hardly feasible even for the Emperor! Our monastery is not rich, and the construction will require hundreds of workers and a lot of money!”
“A wise man knows how to plan, how to wait and how to apply efforts!” said Hai Tong resolutely. Then he turned to the sacred mountain Emeishan, bowed down with his palms folded reverently and uttered, “Namo Amituofo!”[1]
***
In an expensive tavern on one of the narrow streets of Leshan, two men were sitting at a small table drinking wine. They were well-known state officials in the town, both making successful carrier in civil service under Tang Dynasty. Liu Wei, a fat, red-faced man with small beard and bulging eyes, was lazy, selfish and greedy from very early age. Although he came from a noble family, he was always ready to cringe before those who had more power. He became a state official only through patronage of his influential relatives, because in his studies he demonstrated neither intelligence nor diligence. Every future public official had to pass the main state exam called “Kaijiu”, and Liu Wei spectacularly failed this exam because he was simply caught trying to use a cheat note, which he inscribed into the flap of his gown. The strict exam administrator noticed this and kicked him out. This could have been the end of Liu Wei’s future career, but not later than in a month he was granted employment in state service.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Liu Wei’s companion was Sheng Fu, a yellow-complexioned thin man with long moustache and beard. Sheng Fu never had patrons to protect him and achieved everything by himself, using his cleverness, cunningness and sometimes even cruelty. Being friends with Liu Wei was beneficial for Sheng Fu, because it enabled him to use the connections of Liu Wei’s highly placed relatives.
A nimble waiter, bowing respectfully, served savoury food with exquisite spices to his guests. Steaming bowls with turtle soup, fried rice and chicken with peanuts and chili pepper put Liu Wei in philosophical mood. Foretasting the meal with pleasure, he even quoted Great Kong Fu Zi[2]: “Well-made food is as much an art as a well-ruled country!” And then added exultantly, “May our Emperor be blessed for having our good at heart!”
Sheng Fu squinted at Liu Wei’s big round belly with a smirk, deliberately sipped wine from an egg-shell china cup and said, “A state official, who follows the Way of Ren[3], will always see an occasion to recollect the words of our great teacher Kong!” He took one more deliberate sip and added, “I heard merchant Chu’s caravan returned from the North with a good profit. What if we pay a visit to him today?”
“Oh, good news, indeed! Why not?” said Liu Wei with pleasant surprise.
“And, by the way, have you heard about monk Hai Tong?” asked Sheng Fu squinting his wily eyes.
“The one from Lingyun Monastery?” said Liu Wei now ravenously chawing and chomping.
“Yes, this one”.
“What about him”?
“They say that in ten years he has collected thousands liangs of gold and silver for construction of a Buddha statue. I think we could ask him to share this with us, couldn’t we?”
They looked at each other understandingly and burst into laughter without another word.
***
There was a stone well in the monastery courtyard. The curved edges of ancient pagodas pointed skywards rising over the age-old forest that surrounded the monastery. A monk was scooping water from the well pouring it into a huge clay tank, from which it flowed to the monastery kitchen via a long bamboo tray.
Monks were monotonously reciting the Amitabha Sutra holding folded palms in front of their chests. A dozen of oil lamps were aglow and trickles of thick smoke were slowly rising from incense sticks.
A monk came over to Hai Tong, when he finished his daily meditation, and quietly said, bowing, “Master, you have visitors”.
Asking nothing, Hai Tong stood up and went out.
Waiting for him in the yard, were two men wearing hanfu and wide belts. The big sleeves of their dresses reached below their knees and high hats topped their heads. Cloth shoes embroidered in silk were peeking out from beneath their gowns. They greeted Hai Tong bowing reverently, and he respectfully returned the bow.
“I am Sheng Fu, and this is Liu Wei. We are officials of the Financial Prefecture of Leshan”, said Sheng Fu.
“What can I do for you?” asked Hai Tong.
“As you know, the Emperor always cares about the country”, he started working up to his subject in a roundabout way, “and we, in turn, serve him as prescribed by the canons of the Great Kong Fu Zi. Our Tang Empire is second to none under the sky! And it is only thanks to the Emperor that we are prospering at all!”
“By worshipping Amitabha we serve the Emperor, too!” said Hai Tong.
“Oh, yes, your cause is also important, indeed”, said the official raising his gaze skywards piously, “but in times earthly matters become much more important than the heavenly ones… We are expecting the Emperor to visit our town soon, and we need your help very much!”
“So, what kind of help are your asking for?” asked Hai Tong.
“You must understand what a heavy burden of cares is lying on us in respect of preparations for the Emperor’s visit, such as town decorations, street cobbling and other. All this implies significant expenditures. To this end, we found out that considerable funds have been raised for construction of a giant Buddha statue. And with all our respect, we do not consider this project to be as urgent as the immediate needs of the town”. Sheng Fu leaned closer to Hai Tong and said slyly:
“And, after all, who can know better than you that all is transient in this world, and even the Buddha you are erecting will be sooner or later touched by decay…”
“Indeed, all is transient in this world”, said Hai Tong sternly, “but this is particularly true for those who care not to see the way to Nirvana!”
Sheng Fu’s face froze, lips tightened, and a glare of fury flashed in his eyes for an instant. However, within a second he regained his self-possession, put his smile back on, albeit somewhat strenuous now, and said with barely stifled irritation, “I understand that you may need time to ponder this matter over. We are patient public servants and whenever any good cause is concerned, we can wait… However, I want to make something clear to you.” Sheng Fu looked him menacingly in the eyes and continued, “Those who refuse to cooperate with us, end up having ve‑e‑ery big troubles!” Sheng Fu’s face instantly put its friendly expression back on again and he added soothingly, “Nevertheless, we strongly rely upon your prudence. We will come to see you again soon.”
The officials politely bowed goodbye and took leave from the monastery yard.
***
Like swarming ants, hundreds of workers were hanging from the steep cliff with ropes tied around their bodies doing their hard and dangerous work. The serene Buddha’s face was starting to emerge from the cliff surface. His half-closed eyes were looking at the sacred Emeishan mountain. Chunks of sandstone were breaking off and crashed down into the turbulent river raising huge splashes.
Every day Hai Tong oversaw the work from the other side of the river. He was deep in thought when thud of hoofs and rattle of wheels distracted him from his muse. At the same moment, a carriage with imperial sigils on it approached and stopped short in an inch from him. The carriage was drawn by high-bred stallions and had a bamboo canopy with a dragon painted on it. The two officials, already known to Hai Tong, portentously got off the stairs and came over to him making a restrained greeting bow.
“So, what is your decision?” asked Sheng Fu without further ado.
Hai Tong fearlessly looked them in the face and said:
“We have been collecting this money around the whole country for many years, and every Shu of it will be spent for the construction of Buddha statue!”
“It seems that you have not still realised what troubles your refusal may entail!” said Sheng Fu threateningly.
“Your threats will not work. My decision is final!”
The official, turning pale, with his lips trembling, reached out with his hand and, pointing his forefinger into Hai Tong’s face, began shouting:
“If you do not give us this money, I will order to put your eyes out!”
Hai Tong calmly eyed Sheng Fu’s face around - his wry mouth, clenched teeth and frowned brows, - then took a step back. There Hai Tong crossed the line, beyond which the official’s voice could not be heard. The space around Hai Tong dilated and became fathomless. Now it was filled with the noise made by falling rocks, water splashes and thuds of picks. The sounds merged into some kind of heavenly music. Bright glow filled the sky above the Buddha, whose eyes were looking into endless distance, and an exalted smile appeared on Hai Tong’s lips.
“What is meant for the Buddha belongs to Him alone!” said Hai Tong in a calm and detached tone. “You want my eyes? Here, take them!” He pressed his thumbs hard into the eyeballs through his tightly closed eyelids. Blood and eye fluids gushed out and splattered the officials’ faces and garments.
Awe-stricken, they started backing off trying to shield their faces with their hands. Their eyes were bulging with fright. Stepping backwards, clumsy Liu Wei tripped over, landed on the ground and his hat fell off his head.
“What is wrong with you?” shouted Sheng Fu in a frightened voice. “Have you gone mad?!”
Hai Tong was standing with a blissful smile on his face, blood slowly drippling down his face and his robes.
“Mad he is, I tell you!” said Sheng Fu with fear and abhorrence in his voice.
Saying nothing else, the officials, stumbling, dashed over to their carriage, jumped on it and darted away. Hai Tong was left standing alone.
For a while, Hai Tong stood motionless. Then he turned towards the Buddha statue and slowly sat down on the sand. The master sat still and firm with his red-orange cape fluttering in the light breeze. Trickles of drying blood ran down his cheeks from under his gummed-up eyelids.
On the other side of the river, a stone-cutter was chiselling the rock and suddenly noticed sticky liquid streaming down his hands. He raised his head and saw crimson dripples oozing from the Buddha’s serene eyes.
The breeze died out, and the river froze at the feet of the stone Buddha.
[1] I pay homage to Amitabha Buddha
[2] Confucius.
[3] Ren is the highest virtue in Confucianism consisting of five other virtues a noble man must possess. It is expressed in love for neighbour, care for people, humaneness.
Translated by Joseph Gordeyev