Buddhist Monk of Chao Zhou

Once upon a time, within a league of Chao zhou (潮州), there lived a Buddhist monk in extreme austerity. He wore an iron chain always round him, which corrupted his Flesh, and bred worms; he was so set upon mortifying himself, that he picked up the worms as they fell off, and replaced them, saying, that there was still something to prey on.

(General History of China, by J. B. Du Halde)

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