Lushan: A Mountain Soaring by the Great River

Author: Wang Zhili
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Lushan is a renowned Buddhist sacred site in China. During the Ming Emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Lushan was one of the centers of Chinese Buddhism, with over 300 temples on the mountain at that time. Among them, the three most famous temples known as Lushan's "Three Great Famous Temples" (Xilin Temple, Donglin Temple, and Dalin Temple) and the "Five Major Monasteries" (Haihui, Xiufeng, Wanshang, Bixian, and Guijia) were particularly renowned. Lushan is also a mountain of famous figures, where many emperors and literary giants from various dynasties have visited. Legend has it that the Xia Dynasty's Yu the Great passed through Lushan while diverting the Jiujiang River, and the Qin Emperor also visited during his southern tour. Literary giants such as Tao Yuanming, Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi, Fan Zhongyan, Su Shi, Lu You, and Wang Yangming have all composed poems and verses in praise of Lushan. Generals like Yue Fei, Wen Tianxiang, Li Shizhen, and Xu Xiake have also traveled to Lushan. Statistics show that there are over 4,000 poems and verses composed by famous figures praising Lushan. The calligraphy and steles of famous figures from past dynasties on the mountain also hold significant artistic value, making them a treasure of China's tourism culture. Once culture is integrated into nature in a unique way, it can enrich and enhance natural beauty, creating a touch of brilliance that makes it more vivid and captivating. Lushan is just such a timeless cultural mountain. Millions of years ago, tectonic movements formed Lushan's towering, block-like peaks that rise abruptly from the flatlands, creating a majestic and imposing landscape with layered ridges and towering heights, accompanied by the rugged beauty of its peaks and strange rocks. Nature, with its miraculous power, has created the extraordinary Lushan. At the same time, the turbulent political changes of modern times have also cast a mystical aura over the mountain! Time flows like water, and now, Lushan has gradually unveiled its mysterious veil, revealing its breathtaking beauty to the world! From afar, Lushan appears as a mountain soaring by the side of a great river; up close, a thousand peaks stand closely connected; from the side, iron walls and bronze gates stand along the lake shore; and from the side, a pillar that touches the sky rises among the clouds. As the great literary figure Su Dongpo of the Song Dynasty once wrote: "From the side, it appears as ridges; from the front, it is peaks; from near or far, high or low, each is different. Without knowing the true face of Lushan, it is because one is within the mountain." Due to its elevation between rivers and lakes, Lushan receives abundant rainfall, with an annual precipitation of up to 1,950–2,000 millimeters, resulting in significant temperature differences and frequent fog. The clouds and mist in the mountain are diverse and ever-changing. When visiting Lushan, one must experience the beauty of its clouds and mist! Look, in the morning, the light mist rises gracefully from the valleys, swirling and spreading like silk ribbons danced by immortals. Where the silk ribbons pass, the scenery gradually becomes hazy. As the fog thickens, within moments, it resembles snow waves surging into the sky, filling the deep valleys and gorges, merging the sky and earth into one. Even trees just a few meters away appear as shy maidens, their beautiful faces and slender figures veiled by mist, occasionally revealing glimpses of charm to entice your thoughts. Suddenly, a patch of thick fog becomes thin and disappears in an instant, revealing a pavilion with red pillars, green tiles, and flying eaves. Yet, the surrounding area remains shrouded in a sea of mist, making the pavilion even more mysterious, as if it were a heavenly paradise or a mirage. In a moment, the clouds and mist begin to move, gradually accelerating, and in an instant, they demonstrate the chaos of flying clouds. It reminds one of the aria "Chaos of Flying Clouds" from the Peking Opera "Dewdrop Mountain" by Ke Xiang... In just two minutes, the clouds and mist play new tricks—transforming into countless fantastical shapes: some like blooming jade flowers, others like waterfalls hanging in the sky, and still others like wisps of smoke drifting gracefully. Only then do people truly feel the charm of nature and the wonder of the creator. In terms of seasons, Lushan has cool summers, early autumns, mild winters, and late springs, making it a nationally renowned summer resort. The Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi once wrote: "By April, all flowers in the human world have faded, but in the mountain temples, peach blossoms begin to bloom. I often regret that spring has left no trace, only to find that it has turned to this mountain." This perfectly describes Lushan. In Lushan, sometimes the mountain peaks rise above the clouds, and from below, Lushan appears ethereal, appearing and disappearing like a fairyland; from above, the clouds stretch endlessly below, as if flying on clouds and mist. At other times, the mountain is shrouded in darkness, while below, it rains lightly, creating an extraordinary atmosphere. The Ming Dynasty philosopher Wang Yangming once wrote: "Last night, I stayed at the peak under the moonlight, and faint thunder was heard at the foot of the mountain. In the morning, I asked the people below, 'Did the wind and rain sweep away the thatched houses at three in the night?'" Such natural conditions have made Lushan lush with plant life and rich in vegetation. Notably, the Lushan Botanical Garden has now become an important scenic area of Lushan and is a must-visit! The villa clusters on Lushan are also world-famous. Since 1895, when the British missionary Li Dereli rented 800 acres of land near Guling's Changchong River for summer vacation, merchants and celebrities from over 20 countries, as well as domestic figures, have rushed to build vacation villas here, totaling over 640, including British, American, Russian, Swedish, Swiss, Japanese, and more, making it a "Museum of World Villa Architectural Art." Lushan has thus become a world-renowned summer resort. The scenic spots in the Lushan tourist area are scattered both on and off the mountain. A ring road has been built around the mountain, with the northern and southern roads connecting to Jiujiang and Nanchang, respectively, linking famous scenic spots such as Donggu, Xiggu, Xiaotianchi, Xiandong, Datianchi, Sanbaoshu, Huanglongtan, and Huduokou. Guling Town is a unique mountain city known as the "Garden City in the Clouds." West of the town lies West Lake, also known as Huajing Lake, shaped like a violin and named so because the mountain spring sounds like a lute. This is Lushan's second artificial lake, covering 100,000 square meters, with pavilions standing by the lake, the green waves filled with emotion, and the scenery tuy?t ??p. Among China's many famous mountains, Lushan's cultural heritage is the deepest. To appreciate the mountain is to read history, and if one visits Lushan with only one "scenery eye" and not the other "culture eye," then it is truly as the poem goes: "Without knowing the true face of Lushan, it is because one is within the mountain." Lushan is a renowned Buddhist sacred site in China. During the Ming Emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Lushan was one of the centers of Chinese Buddhism, with over 300 temples on the mountain at that time. Among them, the three most famous temples known as Lushan's "Three Great Famous Temples" (Xilin Temple, Donglin Temple, and Dalin Temple) and the "Five Major Monasteries" (Haihui, Xiufeng, Wanshang, Bixian, and Guijia) were particularly renowned. Lushan is also a mountain of famous figures, where many emperors and literary giants from various dynasties have visited. Legend has it that the Xia Dynasty's Yu the Great passed through Lushan while diverting the Jiujiang River, and the Qin Emperor also visited during his southern tour. Literary giants such as Tao Yuanming, Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi, Fan Zhongyan, Su Shi, Lu You, and Wang Yangming have all composed poems and verses in praise of Lushan. Generals like Yue Fei, Wen Tianxiang, Li Shizhen, and Xu Xiake have also traveled to Lushan. Statistics show that there are over 4,000 poems and verses composed by famous figures praising Lushan. The calligraphy and steles of famous figures from past dynasties on the mountain also hold significant artistic value, making them a treasure of China's tourism culture. "From the side, it appears as ridges; from the front, it is peaks; from near or far, high or low, each is different. Without knowing the true face of Lushan, it is because one is within the mountain." The extraordinary beauty of Lushan is endless to behold, and its historical culture is also endless to explore—perhaps this is another way to understand this poem.