During the Five Dynasties period, wars were frequent and the people suffered. Later Tang Mingzong Li Siyuan rose to power through a military rebellion, ascending the throne on the corpses of his brothers. This man, his hands stained with blood, became deeply obsessed with Buddhism upon becoming emperor.

“Eminent Monks” Who Deceived the World and Steal Their Reputation

At that time, ordinary people needed Buddhism to soothe their souls, and the imperial court needed it to consolidate its rule. During the reign of Later Tang Mingzong, countless eminent monks emerged. Among these monks, many were genuine, but many more were fame-seekers who cloaked themselves in Buddhist guise, deceiving the world and gaining fame.

These individuals, under the guise of promoting Buddhism, amassed vast wealth, gained access to powerful families, and even received official titles. At the time, these high-ranking officials and monks were despised by some, but envied by many. Thus, wave after wave of “eminent monks” entered the political arena of Later Tang.

Monk Presents Treasures

One day, a monk arrived at the imperial palace and struck the drum to report to the emperor. The official in charge asked, “A monk like you, are you going to file a complaint?”

The monk replied, “No, I have a treasure to present.”

The official asked what it was.

The monk explained that he had returned from the Western Paradise seeking the true scriptures and had brought back more than ten tooth relics of the Tathagata Buddha, priceless treasures. He dared not keep them for himself, so he presented them to the emperor.

Upon hearing that they were related to Buddhism, the official hurriedly reported them to Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang.

The emperor was delighted and, putting aside his official duties, summoned the monk to the palace.

The monk displayed more than ten Buddha teeth. Each one was the size of a fist, black and yellow in color, and some showed signs of cracking.

Why are there cracks

Some ministers asked, “Why are there cracks?”

The monk explained that the Buddha teeth were very old and had been worshipped for thousands of years, exposed to the smoke and fire, causing the natural discoloration and cracking. Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang was delighted and asked the monk what he wanted after presenting the treasure: an official position or gold and silver. The monk feigned reserve, saying he didn’t want an official position and had no intention of profiting from the gift. Instead, he wanted to decorate Buddha statues and build temples, and needed a donation.

Emperor Mingzong rewarded him with 10,000 strings of cash on the spot. Part of the tooth remained in the court for officials to admire, while part was brought to the harem for the concubines to admire.

The concubines, seeing Mingzong’s appreciation, also donated their own private funds, earning the monk thousands more strings of cash.

Fake Buddha Tooth

A minister named Zhao Feng, displeased with this unhealthy practice, reported to the prime minister, saying he had heard that real Buddha teeth could withstand axes and hammers, and requested he be allowed to test them.

The prime minister tried to intervene, but Zhao Feng, armed with a small axe, smashed the supposed tooth to pieces with one blow.

The prime minister was furious and alarmed, demanding severe punishment for Zhao Feng. Zhao Feng, however, remained calm and ordered the prime minister to examine the inside of the Buddha’s tooth. It turned out to be nothing more than a monk’s clay sculpture. Upon hearing the news that the tooth was a fake, Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang was furious. However, when he went to look for the monk, he discovered he had vanished without a trace.

The Eminent Monk Who Produced Relics

After the incident with the Buddha’s tooth, Emperor Mingzong’s devotion to Buddhism waned slightly. A year later, he heard that a renowned monk, Master Hongmi, had arrived in the capital. He was renowned throughout the Central Plains, and the city’s dignitaries had donated large sums.

Testing the authenticity

Emperor Mingzong summoned several trusted ministers and instructed them to investigate Master Hongmi to determine if he was a fake, to avoid further embarrassment.

The ministers met Master Hongmi and, after a conversation, discovered that he was well-versed in Zen Buddhist philosophy and had a brilliant mind, demonstrating that he was truly an accomplished monk.

Not only that, Master Hongmi possessed a unique talent: he could produce numerous relics from his body.

The ministers were thrilled and requested a demonstration from Master Hong Mi. However, Master Hong Mi mysteriously stated that such an act would consume his magical powers and could not be performed lightly.

The ministers reported the situation to Emperor Mingzong, believing that Master Hong Mi was no fraud. Most eminent monks only obtained relics after cremation. Master Hong Mi’s ability to produce relics from a living body was a truly remarkable feat.

Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang issued an imperial decree for an audience with Master Hong Mi, requesting to see the relic in person. Master Hong Mi looked hesitant. Emperor Mingzong’s face darkened, and he asked, “Could the rumors be false?” Seeing Emperor Mingzong’s anger, Master Hong Mi feared he might be charged with deceiving the emperor, so he reluctantly agreed.

On-site Spell

Master Hong Mi explained that the relic’s production was a matter of great importance and required fasting, bathing, and sincere prayer. He requested a ceremony to be held at his temple in half a month. Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang agreed.

When the appointed time came, Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang led his imperial guards to the temple and ordered them to surround it. If any evidence of fraud was discovered, Monk Hongmi would be beheaded immediately. Arriving at the main hall, they saw Master Hongmi seated on the altar, chanting and praying, with hundreds of monks chanting alongside him.

Soon after, a red glow appeared beneath Master Hongmi, and a number of shimmering objects could be seen, presumably relics. A few hours later, Master Hongmi stepped down from the altar and reported to Emperor Mingzong that the ritual was complete. He was exhausted and needed to rest for a few days.

The relics are fish eyes.

Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang allowed Master Hongmi to rest and ordered his men to carefully retrieve the relics from the altar. His attendants picked them up one by one, ultimately retrieving over 100 relics. He held the relics in his palm, admiring them with deep admiration, and then ordered them to be displayed to all officials.

All the officials craned their necks to gaze. Some echoed Emperor Mingzong’s praise for the relic’s preciousness. Others, however, whispered that the relic was too light and looked a bit like a polished fish eye. Unconvinced, Emperor Mingzong drew his sword and cut open the relic himself, revealing it to be a fish eye.

Furious, Emperor Mingzong ordered a search for Monk Hongmi, only to discover a secret passageway leading directly down the mountain from his meditation room. It turned out that, despite his profound Buddhist expertise, Monk Hongmi was not renowned. He devised the tactic of disguising the relic to attract worship and become a world-renowned monk.

Disguising the relic might have fooled the ignorant villagers, but it was impossible to conceal the existence of so many shrewd officials at court. Under the pretext of fasting, Monk Hongmi dug a new secret passageway within half a month. While everyone was viewing the relic, he took all his money and fled.

Wisdom and courage are often hindered by one’s own preoccupation

Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang was no foolish ruler. While serving under Li Keyong, Prince of Jin, he was known as a renowned general of both wisdom and courage. After ascending to the throne, he implemented reforms, rectified the civil service, and promoted agriculture and sericulture, creating a sense of revival throughout the court and the country.

However, this shrewd emperor became confused when faced with the Buddhist teachings he had long been obsessed with and the monks who spoke so eloquently of Buddhist doctrines. As Ouyang Xiu observed, “Wisdom and courage are often hindered by one’s own preoccupation.”