Dongting Lake Chronicle

Author: / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-01-01
Features: The annotations to the Shui Jing by Li Daoyuan on the Waterways of the Five Rivers, compiled over several decades. As it required one person to thoroughly examine the waterways of the nine provinces, it took a long time. Now, discussing a corner of the waters in Chu should not be difficult. However, the Dongting Lake gathers waters not only from the Jiangxi River but also from numerous tributaries. Without a detailed analysis, how could one grasp the entire picture? Therefore, after carefully studying the Shui Jing and consulting with others, the text was revised four times before distinguishing the sources and branches and clarifying their convergences and divergences. It further highlights the remarkable comprehensiveness of Li Daoyuan's work!
Recorded: Waterways. Yuan River, according to the Shui Jing, originates from Gushi (pinyin: Ji) and Lannian County, flowing as the Pangou River, then eastward to Tancheng County as the Yuan River, and eastward through Wuyang County. Wuyang was an old county of the Wuling Commandery during the Han Dynasty. A river flows from southeast into the Yuan River, known as You River. Cai Shen's annotation to the Yu Gong mentions "the nine rivers are abundant," referring to Yuan River, which is a misreading of You River ("" was confused with "" due to their similar appearance). Yan River also originates from Gushi and Lannian, flowing to Wuyang and merging into the Yuan River, called Wukou. According to the Shu Wen, "Yan" is the ancient form of "Wu." Thus, Yan River is also called Wu River or Shu River. Later, "" was simplified to "," which was further misread as "," ultimately becoming the "Hot River" recorded in the Annotations to the Shui Jing. The Yuan River merges with Wu and also flows south to the Yun River, passing through Chenyang County. The county has Longxi River, which flows south from Longqiao Mountain and north into the heart. There is also Fu River, flowing south from Fuyang Mountain and also north to merge with the Yuan River. The Yuan River then eastward merges with Xuxi River. According to records, Wuyang is now Zuyang County of Zunyuan Prefecture in Guizhou. "Xu" is written as "Xu," later adding water to form Xupu County, where the river converges. Xushui, also known as Jing River, is one of the Five Rivers and originates from Luliang Mountain under Yiling Commandery, serving as the commandery's irrigation channel. It flows northwest through Fuling County and northwest into the Yuan River. The Yuan River merges with Zhu River, eastward through Chenyang County, and southward merges with Chen River. Chen River originates from the three valleys of Chenyang County, flowing southeast, with only Wu River flowing into it. Passing the northern side of Chen River is the line mentioned in the Chu Ci as "staying a few days in Chenyang." Here, it merges with the Yuan River, called the Chenxi River mouth. The Wuling Commandery has the Five Rivers, and Chen River is one of them. The river then passes west of Yuanling County, merging with Wuxi River, where Ma Yuan heard the flute. It merges with Shixi River and then with You River. You River originates from Linjiang County in Bashu Commandery, with its source mountain called Youyuan Mountain in Wuling Commandery. It flows southeast through the southern part of Wuyang's old county, then eastward through the boundary of Qianling's old county, winding into the Yuan River, called Shou River. The place where it enters is called Youkou. The Yuan River merges with You River, then with Dongxi River, Xi River, Fen River, Dongyi River, and Yiwangxi River. Further downstream are Mingyuechi, Baimibai, and Sanshi Jian. Eastward, it passes through Wanzhu and enters Longyang County, merging with Jianshui. Jianshui, also known as Dan River, according to the Annotations to the Shui Jing, originates from Yangshan Mountain in the west of Hanshou County, flowing south and then east, passing through the southern part of Hanshou County, which is the old city of Su County. It then eastward passes through various lakes and southward into the Yuan River, called Dingkou. Zi River originates from Wugang Prefecture of Baoying Prefecture at Lushan Mountain. According to the Annotations to the Shui Jing, it originates from Tangjiu You in Wuyang County, which is another name for Lushan Mountain, called Daxi River. It then flows south through Jianxing County, then through the southern part of Duliang, northward between the big river, and through Fuyang County's old Gufu County. It then northeastward merges with Shaoling River mouth, and eastward through the northern part of Yiyang County, called Zi River. It splits into three branches at Maojia River, one northward to Nanhu Zhou, another eastward through Xuhou River into the Yuan River, a major river flows out from Budaikou, and the middle branch flows through Guan Gong Tan, Baima Temple, and Sai Zimo Temple, then after another forty li, it exits Linzi Kou and merges with Xiang River into the lake. Xiang River originates from the border of Xing'an and Lingchuan counties in Guangxi at Haiyang Mountain, with a dividing peak. The southern flow becomes Lixi River, and the northern flow becomes Xiang River. Luo Han's Record of the Five Rivers in the Central Chu states: "When Xiang River flows out from Yangshuo, people hold a banquet, setting sail, as if the sun and moon rise and set within it." It also says: "Xiang River is extremely clear, even if it is five or six zhang deep, the bottom can be seen clearly [distinctly, with pebbles], like dice, with five-colored stones bright and white sand like frost, the banks like morning clouds." As it flows, it first merges with Zhaocheng Jiao River, then merges with Guan River, called Guankou. It then northeastward merges with Tao River, and then with Ying River, passing through Jiuyi Mountain. It then northeastward merges with Ying River, winding to Lingling County in Yongzhou Prefecture, merging with Xiao River. Xiao River originates from Zhuoming Peak in Jiuyi Mountain. According to the Unified Gazetteer, Xiao River originates from Jiuyi Mountain, flowing south to Sanjiang Kou, then northeastward merging with (tuo)[] River, or sometimes merging with Puluang River. It then northeastward to the outside of Yongzhou City at Xiangkou, merging with Xiang River, forming Xiaojiang. It then passes through Qiyang County and reaches the northern suburbs of Hengzhou Prefecture, merging with Zheng River. Zheng River originates from Yejiang Mountain in Shaoyang County of Baoyiing Prefecture, winding into Hengyang County. The river's vapor is like steam, hence its name. Today, it enters Xiang River at Caoqiao River mouth in the northern suburbs of Hengyang County, forming Zhengxiang. It then passes through Hengshan, Xiangtan, Shanhua, and Changsha, merging with Zizhou River at Linzi Kou in Xiangyin County, and then merges with Yuan River to flow into Dongting, forming Yuanxiang. These are the origins of the Three Xiangs. Li River originates from Lishan Mountain in the east of Cheng County of Wuling Commandery, passing through the southern part of the county, and merging with Wen River at the northern part of Lingyang County. It then eastward merges with Lingxi River, then eastward, Jiudu River flows into it, then eastward, it merges with Lou River. It reaches Liyang, where it merges with Xie River on the right and Huang River on the left. It then eastward passes through Zuotang County (now Anxiang County), merging with Fu River on the left and eastward merging with Dan River, turning to Huarong Fuji Jiao and entering the lake. The Five Rivers, according to the Annotations to the Shui Jing: "Xiang River merges with Shengkou on the left, now called Linzi Kou, which is Zi River"; "Xiang River merges with Yuan River on the left, called Hengfang Kou"; "On the right, it belongs to Wei River, which flows through the area known as Xiaojun in the north of Xiangyin, an ancient Xiaojun land. It flows west into the river, called Milu Kou." "Mi" and "Wei" have similar pronunciations; Xiang River merges with Li River on the left, known as Wuling River, all flowing into Dongting, merging north with the Yangtze, called the Five Rivers." Wei River is in Bailin County. According to the Shui Jing, "Xiang River then northward passes through Xiaojun County, and Wei River flows from the east to merge with it." Li Daoyuan notes: "On the north side of Xiangpu, there is Wanshi Fort, now Wanshi Lake. Xiang River merges with Yuan River on the left, called Hengfang Kou, now Budaikou, eastward facing Weihu, sometimes called Milu. On the right, it belongs to Wei River, known as Wei River flowing through Xiaojun." Xia River, also called Tuo River, is one li north of Huarong County, also known as Huarong River. According to the Biography of Du Yu in the Jin Shu, Du Yu considered Baqiu Lake, the meeting point of Yuanxiang, as the reliance of the Jing. He opened Yangkou, dug Xia River, reaching Baoling, diverting the dangers of the Yangtze River inward and connecting the transport of Ling and Guilin outward. The people of the south sang of it. See Sun Yu Hou's Record of Huarong County in the Ming Dynasty. Now, according to Cai's Book of Transmissions, Huarong County has Xia River, originating from the Yangtze River and flowing into the Min River, also called Tuo. Thus, what Du Yu dug likely started from Jiangling. Today, the Huarong River flows from Shishou, drying up in winter and flowing in summer, so it was called Tuo or Xia at the time, not the Changxia River of Meiyang. Yong River is in the south of Huarong County. According to the Shui Jing, the Yangtze River flows southeast, and Yong River originates from the south of Huarong County. Li Daoyuan notes: "The water flows from Xia River, south to the Yangtze, called Yongkou." In the Spring and Autumn Annals, it is said: "A Chu minister, Yan Ao, swam in Yong River," and the supplementary notes say: "Yong River is in Huarong." According to records, this river originally flowed into the Yangtze, but during the autumn floods of Dongting, it also connected with the lake. Gui River is in the southeast of Huarong County. See the Classic of Mountains and Seas. Xiu River is in the northwest of Huarong County, flowing into Changyan Lake and returning to Dongting. Jing River flows from Anxiang County to the southwest of Huarong County, merging with Jinggang, called Jingkou, flowing through Dujiatan and entering the lake. Zhi River is in Longyang County. According to the Record of Famous Places, Zhi River is a branch of the Yuan River, with many Duheng and Baizhi plants, hence the name. Shou River is in Longyang County. According to the Annotations to the Shui Jing, the Yuan River flows eastward, passing the northern side of Longyang County's city wall; the Yuan River then eastward merges with Shouxi River, internally connecting to Daxikou. Cang River and Lang River are in Longyang County. According to the Record of Famous Places, Cangshan and Langshan each have a river flowing out, merging and flowing into the Yuan River. This is the "Canglang River" mentioned in the Chu Ci. Liang River is in the southwest of Longyang County seventy li away, with Liang Mountain, from which Liang River originates. The Yueyang Tower is on the city wall of the west gate of Yue Prefecture. Its construction date is unclear, but in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Yan Yanian's poem "Clear Atmosphere at Yueyang" already mentioned it. In the Song Dynasty, the military governor rebuilt it, with a preface by Fan Zhongyan. During the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty, the censor Wu Chen and the prefect Wu Jie, and during the Jiajing period, the prefect Han Shiyi and Li Linyang, successively repaired it. In the 12th year of the Chongzhen era, the assistant magistrate Tao Zong (jiu)[kong] built a memorial for it. In the seventh year of the Shunzhi era, the prefect Li Ruoxing rebuilt it; in the 14th year, it was damaged again, and in the 22nd year of the Kangxi era, the prefect Li Yushi and the county magistrate Zhao Shiheng jointly donated to rebuild it. In the 27th year, it was damaged again, and in the 40th year, the prefect Sun Daolin proposed to build it, but it was washed away before completion. In the fifth year of the Qianlong era, the viceroy Ban Di recommended allocating over 6,000 taels of silver annually to repair Yuecheng and build the tower, with the prefect Tian Eri and the county magistrate Zhang Shifang overseeing the construction, which is the current structure. In the seventh year, the prefect Huang Ningdao donated to build the front hall of the guesthouse, and in the eighth year, envoys were sent to seek a memorial by Zhang Zhao, the minister of justice, inscribed on the tower screen. Examining the tower, since the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty, when Zhang Shuo governed this prefecture and scholars climbed the tower to compose poems, the tower's name became famous. By the Song Dynasty, with's repair of the tower, Fan Zhongyan's preface, Su Dongpo's calligraphy, and Shao Song's seal inscription, it was then known as the "Four Great Wonders of Yueyang," gaining fame throughout the world. According to records, Zhang Shuo's poems only mention the "Southern Tower" without "Yueyang Tower," in his poem "Ascending the Southern Tower with Zhao Dongxi [Yin Mao, Zi Jun]," he writes: "The perilous tower pours into Dongting, accumulated water reflects the city corner," which perfectly matches the terrain of Yueyang Tower. Also, Cui Lu's poem mentions "Dongting Tower," and Li Qunyu's poem mentions "Dongting Yilu Tower." Could it be that the tower's name was not yet determined at the time, and the Southern Tower was the Yueyang Tower? The place mentioned as south of the prefecture office was west of the city in terms of direction, named so based on the prefecture office's orientation! Thus, Cui and Li's "Dongting Tower" both refer to this tower. Otherwise, Zhang Shuo never wrote a poem about Yueyang Tower, yet how could the tower be named after him? And why did carve Zhang Shuo's poem on the tower? The old records of Yue Prefecture separately list the Southern Tower, seemingly misinformed. The Ming Unified Gazetteer states: "The Yan Gong Tower is north of Yueyang Tower. Tang Zhang Shuo was enfeoffed as Duke of Yan and served as the prefect of Yuezhou, so the people named the tower after him (now abandoned)." Song Chen Yuyi wrote a poem about it, listed in the Record of Literary Works. The Happy Tower, according to the Comprehensive Gazetteer, is in the prefecture office of Yue Prefecture, built in the Song Dynasty, taking the meaning of "worrying first and enjoying later" from Fan Zhongyan. Now abandoned. The West Pavilion, according to the Comprehensive Gazetteer, is in the city of Yue Prefecture. The Record of Yue Prefecture states: "Zhang Jiuling wrote a poem 'Ascending the West Pavilion,' and Li Bai wrote a poem 'Ascending the West Pavilion and Gifting to Yue Monk,' listed in the Record of Literary Works. The West Pavilion, according to the Record of Yue Prefecture, was built by Tang Jiazhi with a poem 'Spring View at the West Pavilion,' listed in the Record of Literary Works. The old records of Yue Prefecture do not list it, and its exact location is unclear. However, as it is called the West Pavilion, it must be west of Yue City. From the poem's meaning, it is also not far from Yueyang Tower. The Xianmei Pavilion is in Yuezhou Prefecture. In the 12th year of the Chongzhen era, the Yueyang Tower was destroyed, and later a child found a stone under the tower foundation with a plum shape, with branches and stems rising prominently, smooth without traces, over two zhang long and two inches thick. An Xianmei Pavilion was built to cover it on the left side of the tower. Assistant magistrate Tao Zong (jiu)[kong] wrote a memorial for it. In our dynasty, the pavilion was twice destroyed by fire, and the stone suddenly disappeared. In the 41st year of the Qianlong era, the magistrate Xiong Maojiang rebuilt the pavilion to restore its former glory. The construction was nearing completion when villagers found the stone under their stove and presented it. Onlookers thought it resembled the old stone, though it was almost shattered, with only the plum shadow remaining. Magistrate Xiong, skilled in painting, copied the image onto the stone and placed it in the pavilion, writing a memorial himself about the event, which has been widely circulated. The Xibo Pavilion, according to the Ming Unified Gazetteer, is in the north of Sanjiang Kou in Bailin County, also known as Hejiang Pavilion, built in the Song Dynasty, but long abandoned. The Siwang Pavilion, according to the Ming Unified Gazetteer, is in the seat of Yue Prefecture, occupying the head of the inner city. Built by Song prefect governor. Now abandoned. The Dongting South Lodge is in the south of Yue Prefecture, facing the lake. Tang Zhang Hu's poem "Dongting South Lodge" reads: "The land extends to the corner of Yunmeng, the mountains stabilize the heart of Dongting." Song Kong Wuzhong wrote a poem "West Lodge in Rain," listed in the Record of Literary Works. The Record of Yue Prefecture does not list it, and its exact location is unclear. The Wanghu Pavilion, according to the Record of Literary Works, has a poem by Tang Cui Lu, listed in the Record of Literary Works. The Record of Yue Prefecture does not list it, and its exact location is unclear. The Yunmeng Lodge, according to the Record of Literary Works, has a poem by Song Ouyang Xiu staying at Yunmeng Lodge, listed in the Record of Literary Works. The Record of Yue Prefecture does not list it, and its exact location is unclear. The Yunmeng Pavilion, according to the Record of Literary Works, has a poem by Tang Cui Lu, listed in the Record of Literary Works. The Record of Yue Prefecture does not list it, and its exact location is unclear. The Lushan Pavilion, according to the Record of Literary Works, has a poem by Song Kong Wuzhong, listed in the Record of Literary Works. The Record of Yue Prefecture does not list it, and its exact location is unclear.