Appendix A
Bird Stories in the Accounts of Renshou Relic Distribution in Daoxuan’s Biographical Collection.
Shi Jingyuan 淨願 (–609): relic distribution during the Renshou period (T. 2060: 50.504c3, c6–8; Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 351) (Story summarized above).
Shi Fayan 法彦 (–607): relic distribution in 604 CE; five black cranes came from the northwest direction, flew around the stūpa four times, and then flew away; white cranes circled above the stūpa; a five-colored snake-like creature coiled outside the sarcophagus (T. 2060: 50.505b25–26; Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 354).
Shi Fazong 法總 (d. 605–616): relic distribution in 604 CE; a strange bird (qijiao), with a crow’s tail and red beak, held an umbrella shaped cloud above the stūpa (T. 2060: 50.506a12–17; Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 357).
Shi Lingcan 靈璨 (548–618): relic distribution during the Renshou period; at the time of placing the relic in the stūpa, a male peasant appeared above the casket and took the Three Refuges; upon further examination, the bird was not an ordinary pheasant, with five-colored feathers seldom seen in the world. (T. 2060: 50.506c2–8; Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 359).
Shi Huizui 慧最 (dates unknown): relic distribution during the Renshou period; an owl and a crane flew above the stūpa (T. 2060: 50.507b26; Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 362).
Shi Linggan 靈幹 (535–612): relic distribution in 603 CE; crows screamed sorrowfully at the time the relics were placed in the stūpa (T. 2060: 50.518c5; Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 414).
Shi Juelang 覺朗 (dates unknown): relic distribution in 604 CE; when he arrived at the monastery where the relic stūpa was situated, relics appeared miraculously; an entirely tame and fearless yellow sparrow disturbed the Buddha hall; then, it disappeared; three yellow sparrows and phoenixes were drawn on the cover of the stone sarcophagus (T. 2060: 50.612a26–29; Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 843).
Shi Daomi 道密 (dates unknown): relic distribution in 604 CE; wild birds flew above the stūpa; they dispersed after the ceremony (T. 2060: 50.668a13–14; Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 1085).
Shi Zhiyin 智隱 (dates unknown): relic distribution during the Renshou period; when the relics were lowered, five-colored clouds came down and covered the sarcophagus; six large birds flew among the clouds and dispersed after the ceremony (T. 2060: 50.668b5–7; Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 1086).
Shi Daogui 道貴 (dates unknown): no dates given for relic installation; when the relics was installed twelve large birds, of unusual appearance and unknown name, appeared; they formed lines in the sky and, after reaching the area above the stūpa, disappeared (T. 2060: 50.670b23–25; Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 1097).
Shi Sengshun 僧順 (dates unknown): no dates given for relic installation; at the time of placing the relics in the stupa, nine white cranes flew over the stūpa; after the lowering of the sarcophagus they flew away in the northern direction (T. 2060:50.670c11–12; Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 1098).
Shi Baoxian 寶憲 (dates unknown); no dates given for relic installation; when the boat carrying the relics got stuck, a white bird guided the boat back to the flowing stream of the river (T. 2060: 50.672a23–25; Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 1107).
Shi Falang 法朗 (dates unknown): relic distribution in 602 CE; the biography offers an elaborate account of auspicious signs; when the foundation of the stūpa was dug, a strange bird (yiniao), which looked like a parrot, bright green and yellow, walked around it; the bird did not fear people and only ate yellow flowers; three days later the bird died; then, images appeared on the sarcophagus; the prostrate Buddha was seen on the western side of the sarcophagus; the dead bird got up and walked to the image of the prostrate Buddha and stood there unmoving; there were three golden flowers above the bird (T. 2060: 50.672b9–11; 17–20; Xu gaoseng zhuan, pp. 1108–9).
Shi Lingda 靈達 (–601): relic distribution during the Renshoud period; at the time of the installation of relics two white cranes flew over the stūpa and went away after a while (T. 2060: 50.673a12–13; Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 1111).
Shi Mingyu 明馭 (dates unknown): relic distribution during the Renshou period; a large flock of birds flew above the stūpa (T. 2060: 50.674c15–16; Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 1119).
Shi Daosheng 道生 (dates unknown): the relic distribution in 602 CE; on the day of the installation of the relics, two white cranes flew above the stūpa and, when the ground was covered, they left (675a5–6; Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 1120).
Shi Faxing 法性 (dates unknown): relic distribution during the Renshou period; a pair of white bird flew around the stūpa (T. 2060: 50.675a18–19; Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 1121).
Shi Jingning 靜凝 (dates unknown): relic distribution in 602 CE; a white bird flew around the stūpa base and, after the relic placement, flew away (T. 2060: 50.675b15; Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 1123).
Shi Fakai 法揩 (dates unknown): the relic distribution during the Renshou period; an elaborate account of miraculous visionary signs mentions a yellow sparrow and a garuda. (T. 2060: 50.675c20–22; Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 1124).
Shi Daoyan 道顏 (dates unknown): the relic distribution during the Renshou period; when the relics reached the prefectural boundary, thousands of birds flew in a line to welcome the carriage (T. 2060: 50.676c13–14;
Xu gaoseng zhuan, p. 1130).
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