《旧唐书·列传·卷一百三十三》
武则天垂拱初年，薛怀义劝说武则天在故洛阳城修复原白马寺，薛本人总领兴修；白马寺修复完成后，他自任寺院主持。
垂拱初，说则天于故洛阳城西修故白马寺，怀义自护作。寺成，自为寺主。
Early in the Chui Gong period of Wu Zetian's reign, Xue Huaiyi persuaded Wu to renovate the Baima Monastery in the old Luoyang city, and Xue himself took charge of the reconstruction. Upon the completion of the renovation, he took up the position of the monastery's abbot.