---
title: "續比丘尼傳 · 三一、唐洪州天宮寺尼妙寂傳"
description: "續比丘尼傳由釋震華法師於民國時期編述，是中國佛教史上專門記載比丘尼事蹟的重要傳記。該書編撰於二十世紀上半葉，繼承了梁代寶唱《比丘尼傳》的傳統，系統收錄了自南北朝至民國以來的傑出比丘尼傳記。內容詳實記錄了她們的修行經歷、弘法事蹟及對佛教的貢獻，填補了佛教史傳中女性修行者記載的空白。此書不僅是研究中國比丘尼歷史與佛教女性地位的關鍵文獻，也是了解近現代漢傳佛教發展的重要史料，具有極高的學術與宗教價值。"
url: "https://rushiwowen.co/en/r/cmgn470d70r0fk104xvy0k7tb"
---

### 三一、唐洪州天宮寺尼妙寂傳

> Biography of Nun Miaoju of Tiangong Temple in Hongzhou, Tang Dynasty

妙寂，姓景氏，初嫁任華。父鼎，與華往長沙廣陵間。元和十一年之潭州，不復。過期數月，妙寂忽夢父被髮裸形，浴血滿身，泣曰：「吾與汝夫湖中遇盜，皆已死矣。以汝似有志者，天許復讐。但幽冥之意，不欲顯言，故吾隱語報汝。誠能思而復之，吾亦何恨！」妙寂曰：「隱語云何？」鼎曰：「殺我者，車中猴，門東草。」俄而，見夫形狀若父，泣曰：「殺我者，禾中走，一日夫。」妙寂撫膺而哭，遂為女弟所覺，泣告其母，闔門大駭。念其隱語，杳不可知，訪於鄰叟及鄉閭之有知者，皆不能解。秋，詣上元縣，舟檝之所交者，四方士大夫多憩焉。而又邑有瓦官寺，寺上有閤，倚山瞰江，萬里在目，亦江湖之極境，遊人莫不登眺。吾將緇服其間，伺可問者，必有醒吾惑也。於是緇衣往上元，捨身瓦官寺，日箕帚洒掃閤下，閒則徙倚欄檻，以俟識者。見高冠博帶，吟嘯而來者，必拜而問。居數年，無能明者。十七年，歲在辛巳，李公佐者罷嶺南從事而來，攬衣至閤，神采俊逸，頗異常倫。妙寂前拜泣，且以前事問之。公佐曰：「吾生平好為人解迷，況子之冤，懇切而諄告如此。當為子思之。」默行數步，喜招妙寂曰：「吾得之矣！殺汝父者申蘭，殺汝夫者申春耳。」妙寂拜喜嗚咽，叩問其說，公佐曰：「夫猴，申生也；車去兩頭而言猴，故申字耳。草而門，門而東，非蘭字耶？禾中走者，穿田過也，此亦申字也。一日又加夫，蓋春字耳。」妙寂喜若不自勝，久而掩泣，拜謝曰：「賊名既彰，雪冤有路。苟獲釋憾，誓報深恩。婦人無他，唯潔誠奉佛，祈增福海耳。」乃再拜而去。元和初，泗州普光王寺有梵氏戒壇，人之為僧者必由之，四方輻輳，僧尼繁會，觀者如市焉。公佐自楚之秦，維舟而往觀之，有一尼眉目朗秀，若舊識者。每過必疑視公佐，若有意而未言者。久之，公佐將去，其尼遂呼曰：「侍御元和中不為南從事乎？」公佐曰：「然。」「然則記小師乎？」公佐曰：「不記也。」妙寂曰：「昔瓦官寺閤求解『車中猴』者也。」公佐悟曰：「竟獲賊否？」妙寂曰：「自悟夢言，乃男服，易名士寂，泛傭於江湖之間數年。聞蘄黃之間有申村，因往焉。流轉周星，乃聞其村西北隅，有申蘭者。默往求傭，輒貶其價，蘭喜召之。俄又聞其從父弟有名春者，於是勤供執事，晝夜不離，見其可為者，不顧輕重而為之，未嘗待命。蘭家器之，晝與群傭共作，夜寢其席，無知其非丈夫者。逾年，益自勤幹，蘭愈欣念，視士寂即自視其子不若也。蘭或農或商，或畜貨於武昌，開鎖啟閉，悉委焉。因檢其櫃中，半是己物，亦見其父及夫常所服，垂涕而記之。而蘭、春奴出處，未嘗偕在，慮其擒一而驚逸其一也。銜之數年，時值重陽，二盜飲既醉，士寂奔告於州，乘醉而獲。一問而辭伏，就法。得其所喪以歸，盡奉母而請從釋。師洪州之天宮寺尼洞微，即昔時受教者也。妙寂，遂一女也，誓血誠獲讐，天亦不奪，遂以夢寐之言，獲悟於君子，與其讐者得不同天。撫此微軀，豈酬明哲？惟捨身梵宇無他，虔誠法像，以報效耳。」公佐大異之，遂為作傳。

> Miaojì, née Jing, was first married to Ren Hua. Her father, Jing Ding, traveled with Ren Hua between Changsha and Guangling. In the eleventh year of the Yuanhe era, they went to Tanzhou and never returned. Several months passed the expected date of return when Miaojì suddenly dreamed of her father. His hair was disheveled, his body naked and covered in blood. He wept and said, "Your husband and I encountered bandits on the lake. We are both dead. Because you seem to have determination, Heaven permits you to seek revenge. But the will of the underworld does not wish to speak plainly, so I will report to you in a riddle. If you can truly ponder it and fulfill it, what regret would I have?" Miaojì asked, "What is the riddle?" Her father said, "The one who killed me is: 'Monkey in the carriage, grass east of the gate.'" Soon after, she saw her husband's form, similar to her father's. He wept and said, "The one who killed me is: 'Walking through the grain, one day's husband.'" Miaojì clutched her chest and wailed, waking her younger sister, who then tearfully told their mother. The whole household was horrified. They pondered the riddles, but their meaning was utterly obscure. They inquired with elderly neighbors and knowledgeable people in the village, but none could decipher them. In autumn, she went to Shangyuan County, a hub for boats and oars, where many scholars and officials from all directions rested. Furthermore, the county had the Waguan Temple. The temple had a pavilion built against the mountain, overlooking the river, with a view stretching for miles. It was a supreme scenic spot of the rivers and lakes, and no visitor failed to ascend it for the view. "I will don monastic robes and stay there," she thought. "By waiting for someone I can ask, surely someone will awaken me from my confusion." Thus, clad in black robes, she went to Shangyuan, offering herself to the Waguan Temple. Daily, she swept and cleaned below the pavilion with broom and dustpan. In her spare time, she would lean against the railings, waiting for someone who might understand. Whenever she saw someone with a tall hat and broad sash, chanting as they approached, she would bow and ask. She stayed for several years, but no one could clarify the meaning. In the seventeenth year, the year Xinsi, Li Gongzuo arrived, having concluded his service as an assistant in Lingnan. Adjusting his clothes, he ascended to the pavilion. His spirit and bearing were outstanding, quite unlike ordinary people. Miaojì stepped forward, bowed, wept, and asked him about the former matter. Gongzuo said, "In my life, I have always enjoyed solving mysteries for people. Moreover, your grievance is so earnest and sincerely told. I shall ponder it for you." He walked silently for a few steps, then happily beckoned Miaojì and said, "I have it! The one who killed your father is Shen Lan. The one who killed your husband is Shen Chun." Miaojì bowed, overjoyed yet sobbing, and pressed him for an explanation. Gongzuo said, "Now, 'monkey' (猴 hóu) belongs to the earthly branch 'shen' (申). If you remove the top and bottom strokes from the character for 'carriage' (車 chē), what remains resembles the character for 'monkey' (猴), hence it points to 'Shen' (申). 'Grass' (艹 cǎo) above 'gate' (門 mén), with 'east' (東 dōng) to its side—is that not the character 'Lan' (蘭)? 'Walking through the grain' (禾中走): to walk through a field is to pass through the character '田' (tián, field). Placing that movement within 'grain' (禾 hé) also yields the character 'Shen' (申). 'One day' (一日 yī rì) added to 'husband' (夫 fū) forms the character 'Chun' (春)." Miaojì was beside herself with joy. After a long while, covering her face, she wept, bowed in thanks, and said, "The bandits' names are now revealed; the path to clearing this injustice lies open. If I succeed in resolving this hatred, I vow to repay your profound kindness. A woman has nothing else to offer. I can only purify my sincerity in serving the Buddha, praying to increase your ocean of blessings." She bowed again and departed. At the beginning of the Yuanhe era, the Puguangwang Temple in Sizhou had an ordination platform established by a Brahmin. All who became monks had to pass through it. People converged from all directions; monks and nuns gathered in great numbers, and observers crowded like a market. Gongzuo was traveling from Chu to Qin. He moored his boat and went to see it. There was a nun with bright, elegant eyes and brows who seemed familiar, as if they had met before. Whenever she passed, she would gaze intently at Gongzuo, as if she had something to say but hadn't spoken. After a long time, as Gongzuo was about to leave, the nun called out, "Sir Attendant, were you not an assistant in the south during the Yuanhe era?" Gongzuo said, "Indeed." "Then do you remember this humble disciple?" Gongzuo said, "I do not recall." Miaojì said, "I am the one from the Waguan Temple pavilion who sought the meaning of 'monkey in the carriage.'" Gongzuo understood and said, "Did you eventually capture the bandits?" Miaojì said, "After understanding the dream's words, I adopted male attire, changed my name to Shi Ji, and wandered as a hired laborer along the rivers and lakes for several years. I heard there was a Shen Village in the Qihuang region, so I went there. Wandering for a full year, I then heard that in the northwest corner of that village lived a man named Shen Lan. I quietly went to seek work, always lowering my asking price. Lan was pleased and hired me. Soon, I also heard his paternal cousin was named Shen Chun. Thereafter, I diligently performed my duties, never leaving their side day or night. If I saw something that needed doing, I would do it regardless of how light or heavy, never waiting to be ordered. The Lan household valued me. By day, I worked with the other laborers; by night, I slept on my mat. No one knew I was not a man. After more than a year, I became even more diligent and capable. Lan grew increasingly fond and trusting of me, regarding Shi Ji as better than his own son. Lan was sometimes a farmer, sometimes a merchant, sometimes storing goods in Wuchang. The keys, locks, opening, and closing were all entrusted to me. While checking his cabinets, I found half the contents were our family's possessions. I also saw the regular clothes of my father and my husband. I wept silently, marking them in my heart. However, Lan and Chun, the two slaves, were never both present at the same time. I feared capturing one would alert and cause the other to flee. I bore this hatred for several years. Then, during the Double Ninth Festival, the two bandits were drinking and became thoroughly drunk. Shi Ji ran to report to the prefecture. They were captured while intoxicated. One interrogation was enough for them to confess and submit to the law. I recovered what had been stolen and returned home. I presented everything to my mother and requested to follow the Buddhist path. My teacher is Nun Dongwei of the Tiangong Temple in Hongzhou, the same one who instructed me in the past. I, Miaojì, am but a mere woman. I vowed with blood sincerity to gain revenge, and Heaven did not thwart it. Thus, through the words of a dream, I gained understanding from a noble gentleman. My enemies and I do not share the same sky. Stroking this insignificant body of mine, how could it ever repay a wise and understanding person? I can only renounce this body to the monastery, having no other purpose, and with devout sincerity before the Dharma images, strive to repay your kindness." Gongzuo was greatly astonished by this and subsequently wrote this biography for her.