Travelogue Essays of China: Great Series. Jiangsu Volume, Shanghai Volume

Author: / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-08-01
Features: ⑩ Numbers after this will be represented in parentheses because of the absence of the Youzhou Mountain Record.
① Mounts Heng, Lu, Mao, and Jiang are all famous mountains in the world, and Jiang Mountain is indeed the crown of the Jiangnan region.
② The Wu Kingdom's Emperor Wu built a temple for Jiang Ziwén on this mountain, hence it was called Jiang Mountain; also, because Zhou Yi of the Southern Qi Dynasty once lived in seclusion here, it was called Beishan; the mountain often had purple mist, so it was also called Zijinshan.
③ The names were unified to call it Zhongshan.
I have visited this mountain once before, but did not explore all its scenic spots. Now, I set out with enthusiasm to visit it.
Six or seven miles away from the mountain, the peaks were overgrown, and the cliffs were steep, as if hiding clouds and blocking the sun; waterfalls surged in the gorges, with clear and delicate streams.
Upon reaching the mountain, pine trees shaded the paths, and the cold waves roared in the sky; the wind blew down from the sheer cliffs, swaying the green leaves and creating a rustling sound.
Since the Jin Dynasty, when prefects retired from office, they would plant a hundred pine trees, hence the abundance of pines on the mountain.
After walking five miles along the mountain, I arrived at Linggu Temple.
The temple was originally located on Dulongfu, where Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty built a pagoda for the Zen master Baoshi; during the Song Dynasty, it was renamed Taiping Xingguo Temple; in the early Ming Dynasty, it was moved to the eastern side of the mountain and renamed Linggu.
The niches and murals were no longer as magnificent as before, except for the Baogong Pagoda in the Wuliang Hall, which remained intact.
We then went with the temple monks to admire the Jingyang Bell.
The bell was small and had a short sound, so it was unlikely to have been placed in the Jingyang Tower for long.
After paying respects at Baogong Pagoda, we asked the monks about the San Jue Stele, only to learn that it had long been destroyed.
To the south of the temple was Pipa Street, where stepping on it seemed to produce a sound.
From the pagoda, following the mountain path to the left, we reached Wang Anshi's study.
Next to the site of the former preaching platform of Baoshi Zen master was the Eight Virtuous Waters.
The vines and lianas were tangled, but we could not find the clear and cool water mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures.
Beyond this was Taizai Rock, the highest point on the mountain.
I climbed up and looked around, and the view was vast and open.
To the west, I could see Fuzhou, Jiming, and other mountains, winding like dark snails, with the rear lake visible in the distance.
Could this be the beauty of the Six Dynasties?
To the south, I could gaze down at the city of Nanjing, with thousands of households and their bustling life, like colorful brocade and embroidered cloth.
In the vast and desolate areas, the former palaces of the Six Dynasties must have been bathed in the setting sun.
To the north, the vast river stretched out, with the distant shore appearing dark and majestic.
The aura of the purple cap and yellow flag, symbolizing the emperors of the Six Dynasties, was still faintly visible.
Yet, the strategic landscape of Tiger's Roost and Dragon's Helix remained unchanged.
I alone sighed deeply over the rise and fall of the rulers of the Southern Qi and Liang Dynasties, lamenting their decline and disappearance here.
As I descended the mountain, the sun was nearing dusk.
I passed by the Sunrisen Cave, Shangbiao Pavilion, Zhou Shi's Cottage, and Wang Xizhi's Ink Pool, but these secluded places were all inaccessible.
After parting with the monks, I returned.
On the way back, the pine wind seemed to see me off, and the bright moonlight covered my clothes.
Strolling through the cool scenery, I felt as if I had lost something, forgetting the mountain's secluded and distant paths.
Excerpted from Small Fanghuang Zhai's Geographical Notes
[Translation]
Mounts Heng, Lu, Mao, and Jiang are all famous mountains in the world, and Jiang Mountain is indeed the crown of the Jiangnan region.
The Wu Kingdom's Emperor Wu built a temple for Jiang Ziwén on this mountain, hence it was called Jiang Mountain; also, because Zhou Yi of the Southern Qi Dynasty once lived in seclusion here, it was called Beishan; the mountain often had purple mist, so it was also called Zijinshan.
The names were unified to call it Zhongshan.
I have visited this mountain once before, but did not explore all its scenic spots. Now, I set out with enthusiasm to visit it.
Six or seven miles away from the mountain, the peaks were overgrown, and the cliffs were steep, as if hiding clouds and blocking the sun; waterfalls surged in the gorges, with clear and delicate streams.
Upon reaching the mountain, pine trees shaded the paths, and the cold waves roared in the sky; the wind blew down from the sheer cliffs, swaying the green leaves and creating a rustling sound.
Since the Jin Dynasty, when prefects retired from office, they would plant a hundred pine trees, hence the abundance of pines on the mountain.
After walking five miles along the mountain, I arrived at Linggu Temple.
The temple was originally located on Dulongfu, where Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty built a pagoda for the Zen master Baoshi; during the Song Dynasty, it was renamed Taiping Xingguo Temple; in the early Ming Dynasty, it was moved to the eastern side of the mountain and renamed Linggu.
The niches and murals were no longer as magnificent as before, except for the Baogong Pagoda in the Wuliang Hall, which remained intact.
We then went with the temple monks to admire the Jingyang Bell.
The bell was small and had a short sound, so it was unlikely to have been placed in the Jingyang Tower for long.
After paying respects at Baogong Pagoda, we asked the monks about the San Jue Stele, only to learn that it had long been destroyed.
To the south of the temple was Pipa Street, where stepping on it seemed to produce a sound.
From the pagoda, following the mountain path to the left, we reached Wang Anshi's study.
Next to the site of the former preaching platform of Baoshi Zen master was the Eight Virtuous Waters.
The vines and lianas were tangled, but we could not find the clear and cool water mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures.
Beyond this was Taizai Rock, the highest point on the mountain.
I climbed up and looked around, and the view was vast and open.
To the west, I could see Fuzhou, Jiming, and other mountains, winding like dark snails, with the rear lake visible in the distance.
Could this be the beauty of the Six Dynasties?
To the south, I could gaze down at the city of Nanjing, with thousands of households and their bustling life, like colorful brocade and embroidered cloth.
In the vast and desolate areas, the former palaces of the Six Dynasties must have been bathed in the setting sun.
To the north, the vast river stretched out, with the distant shore appearing dark and majestic.
The aura of the purple cap and yellow flag, symbolizing the emperors of the Six Dynasties, was still faintly visible.
Yet, the strategic landscape of Tiger's Roost and Dragon's Helix remained unchanged.
I alone sighed deeply over the rise and fall of the rulers of the Southern Qi and Liang Dynasties, lamenting their decline and disappearance here.
As I descended the mountain, the sun was nearing dusk.
I passed by the Sunrisen Cave, Shangbiao Pavilion, Zhou Shi's Cottage, and Wang Xizhi's Ink Pool, but these secluded places were all inaccessible.
After parting with the monks, I returned.
On the way back, the pine wind seemed to see me off, and the bright moonlight covered my clothes.
Strolling through the cool scenery, I felt as if I had lost something, forgetting the mountain's secluded and distant paths.
[Notes]
① Mount Heng refers to Mount Heng, the southern peak of the Five Great Mountains.
② Mount Lu refers to Mount Lu, also known as Mount Kuang, or Mount Lufu.
③ Mount Mao refers to Mount Mao, also known as Mount Jiuqu, or Mount Samao.
④ Mount Jiang refers to Mount Jiang, also known as Beishan, Zijinshan, or Shengyou Mountain; during the Wu Kingdom of the Three Kingdoms period, Jiang Ziwén was believed to have appeared as a deity here, hence the mountain was renamed Jiang Mountain.
⑤ Jiang Ziwén was a native of Guangling in the Eastern Han Dynasty, serving as the magistrate of Miling. He chased thieves at the foot of Mount Zhong, injured his forehead, and died; he once claimed his bones were precious and that he would become a deity after death. When Sun Quan moved the capital to Jianye, Jiang Ziwén appeared in the form of a white horse holding a white feather fan, claiming to be the local deity of this land. Sun Quan then enfeoffed him as the Duke of Zhongdu and renamed Mount Zhong as Jiang Mountain to commemorate his divine deeds.
⑥ Zhou Shi refers to Zhou Yi of the Southern Qi Dynasty, a phonetic (phonetician) with the courtesy name Yanyun, from Runan (now Runan County, Henan Province). He held various local government positions, including magistrate of Shan County and magistrate of Shanyin County. During the Jianyuan era (reign of Emperor Gao of the Southern Qi), he served as the military advisor of the Prince of Shixing and was a direct attendant in the palace. He later became a professor at the Imperial Academy. He once built a cottage in seclusion on Mount Zhong, but he did not actually withdraw from society and was mocked by Kong Yaji in his "Moving Essay on Beishan."
⑦ Prefect refers to a government position established by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, overseeing six inspections to monitor the provinces, similar to the Ming Dynasty's censors. The position held significant authority. After the Sui and Tang dynasties, the term was also used for the heads of prefectures and counties.
⑧ Baoshi Zen master refers to a famous monk of the Six Dynasties period, a native of Jincheng (now Gaolan County, Gansu Province) from the Zhu family. He studied Zen under Monk Jian and practiced Zen Buddhism. During the transition between the Song and Qi dynasties, he was known for his miraculous deeds. Emperor Gao of the Qi Dynasty accused him of misleading the people and had him arrested. He appeared in daylight, wandering in the streets, but upon investigation, he was still in prison. He was then brought to the Hualin Garden and was highly respected by Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty, who called him "Yan Gong" or "Baogong." A pagoda was built for him, and he passed away peacefully without illness during the Tianjian era (reign of Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty).
⑨ Jingyang Bell refers to the Jingyang Tower and Jingyang Pavilion of the Southern Dynasties. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Qi Dynasty, a bell was placed in the Jingyang Tower. Every night at five o'clock and three o'clock, officials would hear the bell and get ready to dress.
⑩ San Jue Stele refers to the Wei Dynasty's "Receiving the Mandate Stele," with text by Wang Lang, calligraphy by Liang Hu, and carving by Zhong Yao, known as the "Three Perfections." Another theory suggests it refers to the Wei Dynasty's Confucius Temple Stele, with text by Cao Zhi, calligraphy by Su Hu, and carving by Zhong Yao. Another theory claims it refers to Emperor Wu of the Southern Qi's self-composed praise for the portrait of Confucius, with him writing and calligraphy. Another theory suggests it refers to the brocade, embroidery, and silk curtains of Empress Zhao of the Wu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period.
? Its refers to Baoshi Zen master.
? Eight Virtuous Waters refer to the waters of the Eight Virtuous Pools in the Western Heaven of Buddhist paradise, described as clear, fragrant, and sweet as nectar.
? Extremity refers to the far shore in the "Nine Songs · Xiangjun" of the Chu Ci: "Gazing at Cenyang, to the extremity of the shore." Extremity means far, and Di refers to the water's edge.
? Purple Cap and Yellow Banner refer to the aura of emperors, as mentioned in the Notes to the Records of the Three Kingdoms · Wu Volume · Biography of Sun Hao: "The purple cap and yellow banner appeared in the southeast. The one who will eventually rule the world is the ruler of Jing and Yang!"
? Tiger's Roost and Dragon's Helix refer to the majestic strategic landscape of the Zhongshan area in Nanjing, as mentioned in Six Dynasties Affairs: "Zhuge Liang discussed the terrain of Jinling and said, 'Zhongfu is like a dragon coiling, and Shicheng is like a tiger crouching—truly the abode of emperors.'"
? Shangbiao Pavilion refers to Fengqiu Pavilion. Shang refers to the metal sound in the five tones, and its sound is mournful, associated with autumn. Biao refers to a gale.