Sōngyuè Literature Series. Issue 4

Author: Compiled by the Literature Editing Committee of Zhengzhou Library
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-10-01
Features: Mount Song is situated at the center of the universe, stretching for dozens of miles with its majestic and profound presence. Where the winds and rains converge, where yin and yang meet, the pure and virtuous of Central Plains gather here. The mountain winds eastward, with the temple nestled at its base. The peaks stand in rows, countless ravines rush forth, yet the landscape is both expansive and profound, towering and majestic—like wandering through the imperial capital, gazing upon the emperor's residence, where nations converge, and scholars with ceremonial objects gather in the court, an endless number—here, the pure and virtuous of Mount Song gathers once more. The many splendid sights of Mount Song have been recorded in detail by predecessors. They generally focus on mountains and rivers, with the temple included within, but in detailing the mountains and rivers, they must inevitably overlook the temple's grandeur. The temple itself is a grand spectacle of mountains and rivers. Mountains and rivers are detailed, so how can the temple be overlooked? However, records are like history—without the right person, detailed records are no better than brief ones. Thus, to have such records, there must be such a person, and that person must be skilled in writing and adept at historical composition, only then capable of capturing its splendor and penning it in books. Only in this way can the expansive, profound, towering, and majestic views be passed down. My friend Jing Dongyang, since his youth, has possessed extraordinary talent, been a scholar of ancient studies, and long been respected by the literary circles. In the summer of Bingzi year, after returning from seeking official appointment, he took his leisure to compile a record of the Mount Song Temple. He collected all remnants of broken inscriptions and stelae; he read through the records of the Hundred Schools of Thought, folk histories, and chronicles. His research into the past was not incomplete, nor did he merely borrow ears and eyes, piecing together old classics and claiming his task was done. Jing Dongyang is rich in talent and particularly adept in principle. His writings are grounded in the Five Elements, supplemented by the general principles of the stars, all drawing from the concept of the center. In the Five Movements, it corresponds to Earth; in the Five Colors, it corresponds to Yellow; in the Five Virtues, it corresponds to Trustworthiness; in the Five Positions, it corresponds to the Center. As it belongs to Earth, it can nourish all grains; as it values yellow, it can encompass all phenomena; as it upholds trustworthiness, it can govern all living beings; as it stands at the center, it can unify the four directions. His arguments repeatedly return to this principle, ensuring that the true appearance and true spirit of this mountain are fully revealed in his writings. How could it be that merely the towering temple with its long corridors, red roofs and vermilion pillars, glistening in gold and green, be enough to fully capture the splendor of Mount Song?