廬山記 2.2.4

2.2.4

This is indeed the place. Above Yongtai, there is Daoren Hermitage, followed by Shengseng Cliff, then Shancai Cliff, and Luohan Cliff. These four hermitages and cliffs are spaced within five li of each other, where the cascading waterfall passes. Ascending another five li of perilous terrain brings one to Huangshi Cliff; popular tradition holds that Master Huangshi lived here, but this is erroneous. Its cliff walls are all yellow in colour, and in comparison to the previous three cliffs, it is uniquely flat and expansive, able to hold over a hundred people. In front of Yongtai, there is Mañjuśrī Terrace, rising and falling in height alongside Incense Burner Peak and Shuangjian Peak. In front of the waterfall at the foot of the mountain, everyone looks up at it from below, and it is certainly grand and majestic; yet when one reaches Mañjuśrī Terrace and views it on a level plane, only then does one realize that comparisons to booming thunder and flying white silk fall short of capturing its true likeness. East of Kaixian, halfway up the mountain, there is another small cascade, drifting and spraying no less than a hundred feet down, called Mawei Spring; this name conveys that its smallness prevents it from sharing the name of a full waterfall. From Kaixian, it is two li to Wanlin Cloister. It was first built in the second year of Jingde of our present dynasty. Formerly, an ancient stone cliff stood here. Before this, a monk named Taichao planted ten thousand cedars throughout the mountain. Someone spoke of this to the imperial court, which then bestowed funds to construct the cloister, along with land, Buddha images, and ritual vessels. When it was completed, Renzong granted an imperial seal-script plaque for its hall, reading 'Treasure Hall of the Golden Immortal.' Academician of the Hanlin Academy Qian Yi brushed the inscription for its gate plaque. Kept there are the imperial portraits of Emperor Renzong and Empresses Zhangyi and Mingsu, along with several brocade quilts, mattresses, and garments adorned with melted gold, all bestowed at the time. Taichao was also granted the title Grand Master Guangzhi. This cloister was formerly named Qingyun; during the Tiansheng reign era, an imperial decree changed it to its present name. A stele with a record by Xu Shi, Auxiliary Academician in the Hall of Worthies, still survives. Behind the cloister flows a spring, beside which stands the Dicuiting Pavilion; visitors inevitably linger there. Three li southeast of Wanlin is Lingyun Hermitage, formerly called Lingyun Study. The Jiujiang lu states: Liu Ke's study was beneath Lingyun Peak; he lived here in his early years. Surveillance Commissioner Lord Pei appreciated his talent and recommended him for a high examination pass to serve as a history official. His writings circulated widely in the world, and everyone from Han [Yu], Vice Minister of Personnel, on down esteemed him. There is also the study of Remonstrator Xue, which was formerly the residence of Investigating Censor Liu Yan. During the Huichang era, after completing his term as Secretary of Nanhai, Xue personally developed it; sitting there, one can see two waterfalls, and the springs, rocks, pines, and bamboos are exceptionally vast and secluded. When the prefect toured in spring, as well as when travellers passed by, many would visit it. The personal name of Remonstrator Xue is not recorded, and neither he nor the two Lius have biographies in the Tang histories. Ke passed the jinshi examination in the fourteenth year of Yuanhe. In the early Taihe era, he successively served as an Investigating Censor, and in the fourth year, transferred to Palace Censor. During the Kaicheng era, he was promoted to Assistant in the Palace Library and Compiling Academician of the Historiography Institute, later going out to serve as Prefect of Mingzhou. Many of the stelae and inscriptions at the Two Forests were brushed by his hand. The so-called Lingyun Hermitage is indeed the former site of Liu and Xue. Some say that Vice Minister He Qianyao was the first to turn the study into a residence for monks; Qianyao's lineage is also not clearly known. Today his tomb lies in Qianying Valley. From Wanlin, it is three li to Zhenjiao Cloister, formerly named Yunfeng. The previously mentioned ancient stone cliff lies behind it, jagged like a screen. From Zhenjiao, it is three li to Jingde Cloister, formerly named Gaoyao. From Jingde, it is one li to the study of Li Zhenggu. During the Baoda era, Zhenggu served up to Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs; implicated in the faction of Song Qiqiu, he was ordered to commit suicide. Four li above the Li family study is Xiangji Cloister, situated beneath Wuru Peak. From Xiangji, it is two li to Jūti Hermitage. Beside Jūti is Guanyin Hermitage, and about half a li further is Qiyun Hermitage. From Qiyun, it is three li to Wolong Hermitage. Mount Lu's fame throughout the realm is largely due to the waterfall of Kaixian, which appears in the poems of Xu Ning and Li Bai, and the waters of King Kang, which appear in Lu Yu's Classic of Tea; as for its secluded depths and perilous precipices, all possess the beauty of water and stone. To the west of this hermitage, dark cliffs rise on four sides, an angry waterfall cascades down the middle, and a great ravine plunges profoundly, inspiring solemn dread. Several tens of feet of yellow rock, faintly visible and interconnected, lie amidst the surging waves; gazing at them makes one's eyes spin, as if they are writhing and dancing, hence the name Wolong ('Crouching Dragon'). This is an especially scenic spot of mountain and water. Five li below Wolong is Qinglian Cloister, formerly named Baiyun Hermitage. During the Southern Tang, the monk Chongzhao was titled Chan Master Huiwu; Tang Yue composed an encomium for his portrait, and Xu Xuan's seal-script stone carving still survives. Beside Qinglian is Lingfeng Hermitage, formerly named Xiayan Terrace Āraṇya. From Lingfeng, it is five li to Daolin Hermitage. Beside Daolin is Chanjing Cloister, formerly named Zhongxing Hermitage. Among all the hermitages, Chanjing alone lacks a flowing spring; they dig a well to drink, and having no farmland, they sell blood-activating pills to support themselves. Yet its halls and buildings are especially intact and immaculate. Next is Baoqing Hermitage, followed by Jingyin Cloister, formerly named Baofeng Hermitage. Twin torrents emerge from within it; when the spring rains swell, they scour the rapids and roar angrily, making it a fine place of water and stone as well. In the western torrent stands the hermitage of Layman Liu. The layman's name was Huan, courtesy name Ningzhi, a native of Junzhou. In the eighth year of Tiansheng, he was selected as a jinshi; holding office, he possessed an unbending integrity, and dismissing [worldly affairs], he promptly abandoned his post. Divining a residence at Xingzhu, he often rode a yellow calf back and forth in the mountains, especially loving this torrent. Thereupon, the mountain monks thatched a cottage to await his visits. From Daolin to Baofeng, the three cloisters are each one li apart. Proceeding to Zujiao Cloister, formerly named Shangyan Terrace; to its south are Panlong Hermitage and Xiyuan Hermitage, and behind it is Baolun Hermitage, none more than a hundred paces away. From Baolin, it is three li to Choumu Hermitage, one li from Choumu to Yousui Hermitage, and one li from Yousui to the stūpa of Chan Master Chiyan. The Chan master was the so-called Chiyan of Guizong who passed away and was buried beneath Zhiren Peak on this mountain; a stone statue was made of him, imposing as if alive. In the second year of Jianlong, he was posthumously titled 'Stūpa of Wondrous Form of Chan Master Zhijue.' From the stūpa cloister, it is ten li to Xixian Chan Cloister. Along the way, for three li tall trees cast dense shade, sheltering travellers above from the scorching sun; travellers passing through inevitably delight in it and rest. Beside the road, one passes the vegetable gardens of Xixian, whose broad plots and ridges are also quite a sight. In total, from Xiangji Cloister beneath Wuru Peak to this place, there are eighteen sites.