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A Chinese Biographical Dictionary/Fo-t'u-ch'êng

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574 Fo-t'u-ch'êng 佛圖澄. Died A.D. 348. A native of India, originally surnamed 帛 Po, skilled in necromancy. In 310 he appeared in Lo-yang, professing to be more than a century old and to exercise power over demons. When Lo-yang was taken, he entered the service of Shih Lo and obtained great favour by his successful prognostications. He is said to have employed a boy to read future events reflected on hemp-oil held in the hollow of his hand. Many marvellous tales are told of him, and Shih Chi-lung for his sake permitted his people to embrace Buddhism, in spite of the remonstrances of his statesmen. Before his death he had fallen into disfavour. He prepared his own tomb, and prophesied the troubles of 348. After his death a disciple reported having seen him travelling westwards. His coffin was thereupon opened, and found to contain only a stone, which Shih Chi-lung rightly interpreted to portend his own end.