This generous self-sacrifice touched the heart of Yue Huang, the Master of Heaven, who summoned the Spirit of the North Star and instructed him as follows:  “Miao Shan, the third daughter of King Miao Chuang, has renounced the world in order to devote herself to the attainment of perfection.  Her father has consigned her to the Nunnery of the White Bird.  She has undertaken without grumbling the burden of all the work in the nunnery.  If she is left without help, who is there who will be willing to adopt the virtuous life?  Do you go quickly and order the Three Agents, the Gods of the Five Sacred Peaks, the Eight Ministers of the Heavenly Dragon, Ch’ieh Lan, and the t’u-ti to send her help at once.  Tell the Sea-dragon to dig her a well near the kitchen, a tiger to bring her firewood, birds to collect vegetables for the inmates of the nunnery, and all the spirits of Heaven to help her in her duties, that she may give herself up without disturbance to the pursuit of perfection.  See that my commands are promptly obeyed.”  The Spirit of the North Star complied without delay.

The Nunnery on Fire

Seeing all these gods arrive to help the novice, the Superior, I Yu, held consultation with the choir-mistress, saying:  “We assigned to the Princess the burdensome work of the kitchen because she refused to return to the world; but since she has entered on her duties the gods of the eight caves of Heaven have come to offer her fruit, Ch’ieh Lan sweeps the kitchen, the dragon has dug a well, the God of the Hearth and the tiger bring her fuel, birds collect vegetables for her, the nunnery bell every evening at dusk booms of itself, as if struck by some mysterious hand.  Obviously miracles are being performed.  Hasten and fetch the King, and beg his Majesty to recall his daughter.”

Cheng Cheng-ch’ang started on her way, and, on arrival, informed the King of all that had taken place.  The King called Hu Pi-li, the chief of the guard, and ordered him to go to the sub-prefecture of Lung-shu Hsien at the head of an army corps of 5000 infantry and cavalry.  He was to surround the Nunnery of the White Bird and burn it to the ground, together with the nuns.  When he reached the place the commander surrounded the nunnery with his soldiers, and set fire to it.  The five hundred doomed nuns invoked the aid of Heaven and earth, and then, addressing Miao Shan, said:  “It is you who have brought upon us this terrible disaster.”

“It is true,” said Miao Shan.  “I alone am the cause of your destruction.”  She then knelt down and prayed to Heaven:  “Great Sovereign of the Universe, your servant is the daughter of King Miao Chuang; you are the grandson of King Lun.  Will you not rescue your younger sister?  You have left your palace; I also have left mine.  You in former times betook yourself to the snowy mountains to attain perfection; I came here with the same object.  Will you not save us from this fiery destruction?”