《梁书·列传·卷四十四》
当初，侯景围攻京城，高祖一向诚心信奉释教，每每发誓言、许心愿，常说： 若有众生应当遭受的各种苦难，全由我萧衍一人承担。 
初，侯景围京城，高祖素归心释教，每发誓愿，恒云： 若有众生应受诸苦，悉衍身代当。 
At the time, Hou Jing besieged the capital. Gaozu had always sincerely believed in Buddhism. Whenever vowing and making a wish, he always said: If I am a sentient being who should suffer various kinds of pain, then I, Xiao Yan, will undertake it all.