by Yang Xuanzhi's 楊衒之

４．〈洛陽城西伽藍記〉：〈白馬寺〉

白馬寺。漢明帝所立也。佛入中國之始寺。在西陽門外三里御道南。帝夢金神長大六項背日月光明。金神號曰佛。遣使向西域求之。乃得經像焉。時白馬負而來。因以為名。明帝崩。起祇洹於陵上。自此從後。百姓塚上或作浮圖焉。寺上經函。至今猶存。常燒香供養之。經函時放光明耀於堂宇。是以道俗禮敬之。如仰真容。浮屠前柰林蒲萄異於餘處。枝葉繁衍。子實甚大。柰林實重七斤。蒲萄實偉於棗。味並殊美冠於中京。帝至熟時常詣取之。或復賜宮人。宮人得之。轉餉親戚。以為奇味。得者不敢轍食。乃歷數家。京師語曰。白馬甜榴一實直牛。

West of the city: White Horse Monastery (Baimasi)

The White Horse Monastery was founded by Emperor Han Mingdi when Buddhism first came to China. It was founded three miles (li) outside of the Xiyang gate, south of the imperial highway. Once, the Emperor dreamt of a golden statue of a god, six feet (chi) long along back and neck. The statue was shining and glittering like sun and moon. The golden god came foreign countries and was called Buddha (fo, old Chinese fut). The emperor sent people out in search for the statue of this god, and they came back with canonical writings (the Sutra in 42 sections) and the statue, bringing them home on the back of a white horse (other version: they came back with a golden statue. At that time, a white horse came in with sutras on its back). This is the origin of the monastery's name. When Emperor Mingdi died, a Buddhist altar was erected upon his burial mound where many people came to pray to the Buddha. There was also a small stupa. The sutra that have been preserved in this stupa of the monastery still exist today. When people come to burn their incence sticks and present offerings, the sutra spreads a gleaming light that fills the hall up to the roof. The sutras are therwith verenated according to the customs of Buddhist rites. Before the stupa is a grove of grape bushes, with leaves and twigs lush and luxuriant seen nowhere else. The fruits are extraordinarily big, one bunch of grapes is weighing seven pounds (jin), because one single grape is even bigger than a date. Moreover, the tase is also uncompareably beautiful. The grapes were spread in the central plain of China. When the emperor came along at the time when the grapes had become ripe, he was presented some of these grapes, and also other people of the court obtaines the grapes. The courtiers rended the grapes to their relatives because of the wonderful taste, but nobody dares to eat them but passed the grapes on to other people. A proverb in the central plain says, "Sweet grapes the White Horse Monastery: one single grape is worth an ox."

Translated by Ulrich Theobald

The establishment of the Baima Temple (Temple of the White Horse) by Emperor Ming (AD 58-75) of the Han marked the introduction of Buddhism into China. The temple was located on the south side of the Imperial Drive, three leagues (li) outside the Xiyang Gate.
The Emperor dreamt of the golden man sixteen Chinese feet tall, with the aureole of sun and moon radiating his head and his neck. A "golden god", he was known as Buddha. The emperor dispatched envoys to the Western Regions in search of the god, and, as a result, acquired Buddhist scriptures and images. At the time, because the scriptures were carried into China on the backs of white horses, White Horse was adopted as the name of the temple.
After the emperor's death, a hall for mediation was built on his tomb. Thereafter stupas were sometimes constructed even on the graves of the common people.
The scripture cases housed in the temple have survived until this day; to them incense was often burned and good care was given. At times, the scripture cases gave off light that illuminated the room and hall. As a result, both laymen and Buddhist devotees reverently worshiped as if they were facing the real Buddha.
In front of the stupa were promegranate trees and grapevines that were different those grown elsewere: they had luxuriant foliage and huge fruits. The pomegranates each weighed seven catties, and the grapes were bigger than dates. The taste of both was especially delicious, superior to all others in the capital. At harvest time, the emperor often came in person to pick them. Sometimes he would give some to ladies in the harem, who in turn would present them as gifts to their relatives. They were considered rare delicacies. The recipients often hesitated to eat them; instead, the fruits would be passed on and on to several households. In the capital there was a saying: Sweet pomegranates of the White Horse, each fruit is as valuable as an ox.