Original Text
The Temple of the Eastern Peak in the prefectural city was located in the southern suburbs, with a pair of ten-foot-tall divine statues flanking the main gate, commonly called the "Eagle-Tiger Gods," their ferocious visages striking terror into all who beheld them. Within the temple dwelt a Taoist priest surnamed Ren, who rose each day at cockcrow to burn incense and chant scriptures. A thief, having concealed himself beforehand in the temple corridor, waited until the priest arose, then stealthily slipped into his chamber to search for valuables. Unfortunately, there was nothing of worth within, save for three hundred copper coins hidden beneath a straw mat, which the thief promptly pocketed. He opened the door and fled, intending to make for Thousand Buddha Mountain. The thief scurried southward for a considerable distance before reaching the mountain's base, where he beheld a man of towering stature and imposing frame descending from the heights, a gray falcon perched upon his left arm, and they met face to face. Drawing nearer, the thief saw that the man's face was of a bronze hue, exactly like the deity often seen at the temple gate. Overcome with terror, the thief crouched upon the ground, trembling uncontrollably. The god thundered, "You have stolen money—where do you think you can flee?" The thief, even more frightened, kowtowed repeatedly without cease. The god seized him and compelled him to return to the temple, where he forced him to produce all the stolen coins and kneel in place, guarding them. When the priest finished his recitations and turned around, he was greatly startled. The thief confessed the entire affair in full detail. The priest reclaimed the money and released the thief.
Commentary
Every temple must house a deity, and every efficacious deity ensures the temple's incense thrives, while the monks and Taoists of such thriving temples naturally live in comfort. In the tale of "The Eagle-Tiger God," a Taoist named Ren, who rose at cockcrow each day to burn incense and chant scriptures, was protected by the Eagle-Tiger God. When a thief stole the Taoist's money and fled to the foot of Thousand Buddha Mountain, he encountered the Eagle-Tiger God descending from the mountain, who seized him and brought him back to the temple to confess before the Taoist, returning the stolen goods. In this story, if the victim had not been the Taoist with a vested interest in the temple's welfare but someone else, the tale would have been more credible. Thus, the Qing dynasty commentator He Yin remarked: "If this incident were staged by the Taoist and the thief to deceive, it could yield profit; one must investigate."