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During the rebellion of Huang Chao, bandits following the chaotic forces dug up others' tombs to search for gold and silver treasures. They encountered a large tomb pit, more than one zhang in diameter, surrounded by stones, totaling eighteen pieces, shaped and constructed like an outer coffin (guo). Six of these stone slabs bore inscriptions reading: "Returned by Chu Cheng of Southern Qi." Upon opening the coffin lid, they found the bones already decayed like snakes and ants; the inner sides of the surrounding stones contained clear text. Suspecting it to be military strategy books, the bandits moved the stones outside the pit to inspect them, and after viewing, discarded them. My ancestor happened upon them, read through the text, and instructed neighbors to guard them carefully. The following year, he prepared a boat to transport them back, intending to submit them to the authorities to broaden their dissemination. However, war continued incessantly, and my ancestor unfortunately passed away. He left a dying command stating: "Material objects will eventually turn to dust, and divine texts are theoretically difficult to preserve for long. Use the Chu stones as the filling material (shi yin) within my coffin, so that my skeletal remains may be preserved. Perhaps the Chu stones will thereby revive my name and manifest my profound legacy." Thus, he recruited skilled individuals to mix ink and carve a hundred copies for distribution. I followed his final instructions. My ancestor's given name was Guang, courtesy name Shuchang.

Preface by Xiao Yuan of Gu Yang, on the 19th day of the fifth month, in the second year of Qingtai.

In the early Jingkang period, when the Jin people invaded, bandits took advantage of the chaos, appearing everywhere. Thirty-five li north of Yangzhou city, at Chenyuan Bridge, a Xiao family had resided for generations. Though too poor to prosper, they diligently guarded a single tomb, saying, "Our twelfth-generation ancestor buried his father here. Our family has maintained hundreds of generations of tombs, but we only guard this one generation after generation." Bandits suspected their rise to wealth was due to lavish burial practices. They spied on the two families day and night, then told others, "Our twelfth-generation ancestor buried his father, Mingjing Guang Shuchang, using stone-carved secret scriptures as an outer coffin, following a legacy instruction. Later, unwilling to see signs of potential exhumation of the coffin, he ordered descendants to guard it世代." The spies continued to watch the two families, eventually gathering villagers to open and inspect it. The lacquered coffin appeared newly carved, with nineteen stone pieces in total. One piece bore the preface by Xiao Yuan. Consequently, they moved the coffin to bury it beside their residence and placed the stones outside the gate. Someone reported that the Xiao family had obtained buried treasures, so the stones were taken into the home for safekeeping. While holding my begging bowl, preparing for a pilgrimage to Mount Nan Yue, I passed by the Xiao gate to form karmic connections and happened to witness this event. I casually recorded it on bamboo slips, hoping it might attract the attention of those capable of valuing it.

Written by Yi Shi Kan of Wei State, five days before the conclusion of the rainy season retreat.