新華嚴經論 14.33

14.33

一舉佛剎方面者，在東方。東方者，為震卦、為春生、為初，明長男；為頭首、為青龍、為吉慶、為震動，明法事作業動用之初故，道俗通以用之故，先舉東方為首故。方者，法也，但取方法之義。動用之始，非如世所見，執東西南北可得之方。一切處東方、一切處南方，但取其法故。餘准此。

First, regarding specifying the cardinal direction of the buddha-lands: it is in the east. The east represents the Zhen hexagram, spring generation, the beginning, and signifies the eldest son; it is the head, the azure dragon, auspicious celebration, and shock and movement, signifying the beginning of the functioning and activities of Dharma matters. Because it is used commonly by both the religious and the secular, the east is first adduced as the foremost. 'Direction' (fang) means 'method' or 'principle' (fa); it merely takes the meaning of method and approach. It is the beginning of dynamic activity, not like what is seen in the mundane world, where one clings to the directions of east, west, south, and north as graspable entities. The east is in all places, the south is in all places; it merely adopts its Dharma-significance. The rest are to be understood accordingly.