The Water and Land Grand Offering Service originated during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty. In a dream, the emperor was instructed by a monk to perform the Water and Land Great Retreat to alleviate the suffering of beings. The emperor gathered a hundred senior monks, and after three years of study, they completed the rituals.
When they declared their faith and efficacy, the lamps lit up, the palace trembled, and flowers fell from the sky, confirming the significance of the rituals.