ABSTRACT
Is divination compatible with Buddhist practice on the ground? If so, what motivates Buddhist practitioners to seek confirmation of the divine by throwing dice? This chapter examines practices surrounding Zhancha shan’e yebao jing, an apocryphal text produced in sixth-century China, and explores how a seemingly non-Buddhist practice was broadly accepted in medieval Chinese and Japanese monasteries. The practice appeals to Buddhist practitioners as an operable and actionable testimony of one’s karmic retribution, even though early Buddhist catalogs cast doubt on its authenticity. Zhanchajing gained legitimacy through the recognition of Kaiyuan shijiaolu and resulting canonization. By showing the Buddhist master’s engagement with the divination practice prescribed by Zhanchajing, I argue that the Zhanchajing contains a dialogical aspect that serves as a central form of communication with the divine. Furthermore, Vinaya masters helped to popularize this practice testifying to the efficacy of the repentance ritual as well as assurance of a rebirth in the Pure Land.
