Wang Daozhi was known as Lay Scholar Free of Knowledge, and lived to the west of Anfu. In his household were collected eighteen of the very finest statues of arhats, and every month he had monks perform rites and make offerings to them. They had a plum blossom [129] that fruited in its porcelain vase, and people thought this an auspicious sign. One day, his family fell ill, and he dreamed that two scrolls were offered before the arhats, saying: “You should go north in person, and ask the Profound Emperor to provide healing.” The following day, a monk came to the gate and asked: “Why do you not attend the immortal?” He replied: “I have no image.” The monk said: “You should invite an artist.” An image of the emperor then appeared on the table, face like a full moon, black robes and golden armour, feet treading on turtles and serpents, five generals to his right and left, holding knives, grasping banners held erect and surrounded by streamers. Known as the Five Dragons, their might and grandeur was far beyond that which one might usually see. When the image was finished it was traced by hand and then vanished. The illness was then cured, and his household treasured the icon.
Anon., Huhai xinwen yijian xuzhi, 後1.128-29 (Tale 223):
玄帝現像
王道之，號無識居士，住安福之西。其家蓄十八羅漢像最精妙，月月命僧禮而供之。有梅花 [129] 結實於甆瓶，人以為瑞。一日，其家病作，羅漢前兩軸獻夢云： 「待自去北方，請玄帝來救治。」明日，一僧登門曰：「如何不奉真聖？」答曰：「無像。」僧曰：「可邀畫匠（「匠」原作「像」，據明刻本、明抄本改。）來。」就桌上現（此處原衍「像」字，據明刻本、明抄本刪。）出帝像，面如滿月，皁袍金甲，足踏龜蛇，左右五將，持刀執纛樹幡，號五龍，猛烈雄偉，非尋常所有者。描訖，像隨手而沒。後病癒，其家寶藏之。
Yuan Haowen 元好問, Chang Zhenguo 常振國 (ed), Xu Yijian zhi 續夷堅志 (Continued Records of the Listener), and Anon., Jin Xin 金心 (ed.), Huhai xinwen yijian xuzhi 湖海新聞夷堅續志 (Continuation of Records of the Listener with New Items from the Lakes and Seas) (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1986).
Zhiguai Translations 