廬山記 5

English (machine translation) 5

Language: English

From the Jin, Song, Qi, Liang, Chen, Sui, and Tang dynasties down to the present dynasty, Mount Lu has seen nearly eight hundred years. During this time, records were kept of its decline and revival, its flourishing and decay, but as months and years stretched on, many were lost. For instance, the stele for Master Yuan composed by Yin Zhongkan was still seen in a poem by Guanxiu during the Tianyou era, yet today no trace remains. Herein are recorded the stelae, records, official ranks, native places, and dates composed by individuals before the Five Dynasties across five temples and abbeys from Taiping and Donglin downwards—forty-one in total. Most of their texts are omitted.

5.3

Taiping Abbey

5.4

Stele of the Spirit Shrine of the Emissary

5.5

Composed by Li Ci, a humble thatched-cottage subject beneath the rustic gate of the Eastern Mountain in Huangmei County, Jingzhou. Erected on the twenty-fifth day, jisi, of the first month, yisi, of the twentieth year of the Kaiyuan era, the year being renshen.

5.6

Record of the Efficacious Responses of the Emissary

5.7

Composed by Court Gentleman of Manifest Righteousness and Acting Sheriff of Pengze County, Pan Guan. Erected on the eighth day, xinhai, of the third month of the twentieth year of the Kaiyuan era, renshen. Re-erected in the third year of the Zhiping era.

5.8

Record of the Spiritual Official Zhang

5.9

Composed by Censor-in-Chief Xu Xuan; transcribed along with the seal title by Right Secretariat Drafter and Academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies Xu Kai. On the Shangyuan Festival day in the year guiyou.

5.10

Biography of Hu Ze

5.11

Composed and written down by Assistant Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Proofreader of the Hall of Assembled Worthies, and Controller-General of the Military and Prefectural Affairs of Jiangzhou, Zhang Min. It records the events of Hu Ze defending Jiangzhou in the eighth year of Kaibao.

5.12

Taiyi Abbey

5.13

Record of the Shrine of the Perfected

5.14

On the sixth day of the seventh month in the sixth year of Shengyuan, the year being renyin. By the Meritorious Subject Responsive to Fortune, Rector of the State, and Assistant to the Sage, Military Commissioner of the Ningguo Army, Xuanzhou Agricultural and Surveillance...

5.15

...Disposal Commissioner, Specially Promoted, Acting Grand Defender, concurrently Secretariat Director, Bearer of the Staff of Authority over All Military Affairs of Xuanzhou, Prefect of Xuanzhou, Upper Pillar of State, with a Fiefdom of 10,000 Households,...

5.16

...King of Han, [Xu] Zhizheng; written down along with the tablet title by Gentleman for Court Service, Acting Revenue Administrator of Xuanzhou in charge of Memorial Presentations, Probationary Collator of the Department of the Palace Library, bestowed the Scarlet Robe and Fish Pouch, Meng Gongchen.

5.17

Another copy.

5.18

In the eleventh month of the twelfth year of Baoda, the year being yihai. Composed by Ni Shaotong, Daoist priest of Zhuling on Mount Nanyue; calligraphy and seal title by Daoist priest Zhong Dezai.

5.19

Donglin Temple

5.20

Stele Inscription for Dharma Master Huiyuan

5.21

Composed by Xie Lingyun; preface by Zhang Ye. (Lacks the date and year of erection.)

5.22

Stele of the Song Chan Master Buddhabhadra

5.23

Erected on the fifteenth day, guimao, of the seventh month, whose new moon was jichou, in the year jisi, the seventeenth year of the Kaiyuan era of the Tang [729 CE].

5.24

Chan Master Wuwu

5.25

Text by Li Ne of Zhaojun, Secretariat Drafter; calligraphy by Zhang Tinggui, Grand Master for Golden and Purple Radiance with Gold Seal and Purple Ribbon, Acting Prefect of Tongzhou, Supreme Pillar of State, and Founding Baron of Fanyang County; erected by Liu Zhenwang of Hedong, Prefect of Jiangzhou.

5.26

In the bingwu year of the Yongtai era of the Tang, Yan Zhenqing inscribed the side of the stele, totaling one hundred and sixteen characters.

5.27

Stele and Preface of Donglin Temple

5.28

Composed and calligraphed by Li Yong of Jiangxia, former Prefect of Chenzhou. Erected on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the nineteenth year of the Kaiyuan era. Pei Xiu, Prefect of Hongzhou, inscribed: "Looking upon the writings of Beihai, I contemplate his refined bearing."

5.29

Record on the Reverse of the Stele

5.30

Third year of the Huichang era. Composed by Zhang Youxin, Prefect of Jiangzhou. On the thirtieth day of the fourth month of the tenth year of the Dazhong era, Pei Guangyuan inscribed the header in seal script.

5.31

Stele of the Portrait Hall of Master Yuan of Donglin Temple (with Preface)

5.32

Narrated by Li Yan of Longxi; header inscribed in seal script by Wang Yu, Administrative Aide of Jiangzhou; calligraphed by the monk Weisong of Toutuo Temple in Ezhou. First erected in the Zhenyuan era; re-erected on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the eighth year of the Dazhong era.

5.33

Stele Inscription of the Late Tang Vinaya Bhadanta, Great Master Xiyi of Donglin Temple (with Preface)

5.34

Composed by Xu Yaozuo, Acting Investigation Officer of the Regional Militia and Vice Prefect of Qianzhou; calligraphed and header inscribed in seal script by Li Xingyan, Court Gentleman for Ceremonial Service and former Magistrate of Zhenyang County in Caizhou. Erected in the bingzi year, the twelfth year of the Zhenyuan era. Re-erected on the twenty-third day of the seventh month of the eighth year of the Dazhong era.

5.35

Stele Inscription of the Sūtra Repository of Donglin Temple (with Preface)

5.36

Composed by Li Zhao, Gentleman of Court Consultation and Probationary Harmonizer of the Office of Imperial Sacrifices. Erected on the fifteenth day, gengwu, of the ninth month, whose new moon was bingchen, in the year renchen, the seventh year of the Yuanhe era. On the eighth day of the seventh month of the thirteenth year of the Dazhong era, Feng Zhuan, a Local Tribute and Jinshi Scholar, re-calligraphed the text and inscribed the header in seal script.

5.37

Stele Inscription of the Late Tang Vinaya Bhadanta Master Can of Donglin Temple (with Preface)

5.38

Composed by Xu Yaozuo, Supernumerary Acting Revenue Manager with Substantive Rank of Jizhou. Calligraphed and header inscribed in seal script by Lu Weizhi of Wujun. Erected on the Dragon Boat Festival in the guisi year of the Yuanhe era. Re-erected on the twenty-second day of the seventh month of the eighth year of the Dazhong era.

5.39

Stūpa Inscription of the Late Bhadanta Who Presided over the Ordination Altar of Donglin Temple on Mount Lu (with Preface)

5.40

Composed in the tenth month, winter, of the tenth year of the Yuanhe era by Liu Ke. Calligraphed by the disciple Yungao. Re-erected on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the eighth year of the Dazhong era.

5.41

Tablet Inscription of the Stūpa of the Vinaya Bhadanta Master Cou of Xingguo Temple on Mount Lu of the Tang (with Preface)

5.42

Composed by Bai Juyi, Prefect of Zhongzhou; calligraphed by the monk Yungao. Erected on the first day of the intercalary tenth month of the second year of the Changqing era. Re-erected on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the eighth year of the Dazhong era.

5.43

Funerary Stone Inscription of the Late Tang Vinaya Master of Donglin Temple (with Preface)

5.44

Composed by Hou Gao of Shanggu; calligraphed by the monk Yungao. Erected on the thirteenth day of the fifth month of the jiachen year of the Changqing era.

5.45

Stele of the Late Bhadanta Vinaya Master Pin of Qixia Temple of the Tang (with Preface)

5.46

Composed by Liu Ke, Attendant Officer of the Fujian Surveillance Commission, Gentleman of Court Discussion, Probationary Investigating Censor, and Supreme Pillar of State; calligraphed by the śramaṇa Yungao; header inscribed in seal script by Qi Yu, Acting Revenue Officer of the Superior Area Command of Hongzhou, Gentleman for Court Proclamation, and former Sheriff of Huaining County in Shuzhou. Erected on the eleventh day of the seventh month of the fourth year of the Dahe era. Re-erected on the twenty-third day of the seventh month of the eighth year of the Dazhong era. On the reverse of the stele there is a poem by Cao Fen, inscribed on the thirteenth day of the seventh month of the third year of the Huichang era.

5.47

Record of the Literary Collection of Mr. Bai at Donglin Temple

5.48

In the summer of the ninth year of the Dahe era. Recorded by Bai Juyi, Letian, of Taiyuan, Mentor to the Crown Prince and Founding Baron of Jinyang County; the tablet was erected by order of the Vice Minister by Zhao Fan, Grand Master for Closing Court, Prefect of Jiangzhou, and Supreme Pillar of State; calligraphed by the monk Yungao.

5.49

Stūpa Stele of the Late Great Vinaya Master Baocheng of Donglin Temple on Mount Lu of the Tang

5.50

Composed by Liu Ke, Gentleman of Court Discussion, Assistant in the Palace Library, Senior Compiler of the Historiographical Institute, and Supreme Pillar of State; calligraphed by Chen Qiji, Supernumerary Acting Revenue Manager with Substantive Rank of Jiangzhou; header inscribed in seal script by Li Shanxi, former Staff Officer of Zhenwu Military Command and Probationary Assistant Minister of Sacrifices of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Erected on the twenty-seventh day of the fourth month of the fourth year of the Kaicheng era. Re-erected on the twenty-third day of the seventh month of the eighth year of the Dazhong era.

5.51

Record of the Guanyin Abbot's Quarters of Donglin Temple on Mount Lu

5.52

Spring, on the fifteenth day of the second month, the renshen year, the sixth year of the Dazhong era of the Tang. Recorded by the monk Yuanchu of Jiangxia; calligraphed by the Retired Recluse of Chongji in Taixuangu from the Oceanic Isles of the Eastern Barbarians.

5.53

Stone Stūpa Stele Inscription of the Late Vinaya Bhadanta, Upādhyāya Shanghong of Jingyun Temple in Fuzhou of the Tang (with Preface)

5.54

Composed by Bai Juyi, Vice Prefect of Jiangzhou; calligraphed by Li Kegong, Acting Officer of the Huainan Surveillance Commission, Probationary Reviewer of the High Court of Justice, and Investigating Censor; header inscribed in seal script by Duan Quanwei, Staff Officer of the Huainan Military Command and Probationary Investigating Censor. Re-erected on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the eighth year of the Dazhong era.

5.55

Stele Inscription on the Restoration of Donglin Temple

5.56

Calligraphed by Liu Gongquan, Military Commissioner and Surveillance-and-Disposition Commissioner of Hunan, Grand Master of the Palace, Commissioner with Imperial Scepter, Commander-in-Chief of Military Affairs in Tanzhou, Prefect of Tanzhou, Grand Master for Golden and Purple Radiance with Gold Seal and Purple Ribbon, Senior Policy Advisor, Supreme Pillar of State, and Founding Duke of Hedong Commandery with a fiefdom of two thousand households. Erected on the twenty-sixth day, guisi, of the fourth month, whose new moon was wuchen, in the year dingchou, the eleventh year of the Dazhong era of the Tang.

5.57

Record on the Reverse of the Sūtra Repository Stele of Donglin Temple

5.58

Composed by Cai Jing, Gentleman of Court Discussion, Acting Bureau Director of the Bureau of Public Works in the Department of State Affairs, Commissioner with Imperial Scepter, Commander-in-Chief of Military Affairs in Fuzhou, Prefect of Fuzhou, Investigating Censor, Pillar of State, bestowed with the Crimson Fish Bag. Erected on the twenty-ninth day of the fifth month of the fourteenth year of the Dazhong era.

5.59

Eulogy on the Portrait of the Late Lord Wei, Duke of Wuyang, Surveillance Commissioner of the Jiangxi Circuit

5.60

Composed by his maternal grandnephew Miao Shen, Acting Vice Commissioner of Zhennan Military Command, Grand Master for Closing Court, Commissioner with Imperial Scepter, Commander-in-Chief of Military Affairs in Jiangzhou, Prefect of Jiangzhou, and Supreme Pillar of State. Written on the eighth day of the fourth month of the eighth year of the Xiantong era.

5.61

Stele Inscription of the Late Chan Bhadanta upon the Rebuilding of Donglin Temple on Mount Lu of the Great Tang (with Preface)

5.62

Composed by Miao Shen, Grand Master for Closing Court, Commissioner with Imperial Scepter, Commander-in-Chief of Military Affairs in Jiangzhou, Prefect of Jiangzhou, Pillar of State, bestowed with the Purple Gold Fish [Bag]. Calligraphed and header inscribed in seal script by Pei Guangyuan, Gentleman of Court Discussion, former Erudite of the National University of the Directorate of Education, and Pillar of State. Erected on the thirteenth day, renshen, of the twelfth month, whose new moon was gengshen, in the year wuzi, the ninth year of the Xiantong era.

5.63

Record of the Former Causes of the Duke of Guangping

5.64

Composed by Xue Zhengji, Secretary of the Xuan-She Military Command, Gentleman for Fulfilling Duties, Probationary Reviewer of the High Court of Justice, bestowed with the Crimson Fish Bag; calligraphed and header inscribed in seal script by Liu Xun, Grand Master of the Silver and Blue with Gold Seal and Blue Ribbon, former Vice Prefect of Qingzhou, and Palace Censor; erected by Song Shixi, Army Supervisor of Jiangxi, Grand Master of Palace Leisure, Acting Palace Attendant of the Palace Domestic Service with substantive rank, Supreme Pillar of State, bestowed with the Purple Gold Fish Bag. The twenty-first day of the sixth month of the second year of the Guangqi era.

5.65

Record of the Great Master Hall of Donglin Temple on Mount Lu

5.66

Third year of the Dahe era. Military Commissioner and Surveillance-and-Disposition Commissioner of Fenghua Military Command and Jiangzhou, Specially Advanced, Acting Grand Defender and Director of the Chancellery, Commissioner with Imperial Scepter, Commander-in-Chief of Military Affairs in Jiangzhou, Prefect of Jiangzhou, Supreme Pillar of State, Prince of Dehua with a fiefdom of three thousand households, Yang Che; Staff Adjutant and Administrative Assistant for Military and Prefecture Affairs, Gentleman of Court Discussion, Acting Vice Director of the Bureau of Rites in the Department of State Affairs, and Concurrently Palace Censor, Commandant of Fleeting Cavalry, bestowed with the Purple Gold Fish Bag, Yuan Hao; Administrative Patrol Inspector, Gentleman for Fulfilling Duties, Probationary Reviewer of the High Court of Justice, in charge of Memorials, bestowed with the Crimson Fish Bag, Ni Kuangming, calligraphed and inscribed the header in seal script.

5.67

Record on the Prince of Dehua's Re-establishment of the Literary Collection of Mr. Bai at Donglin Temple (with Preface)

5.68

Calligraphed by Yu Wenzhen, Acting Surveillance Patrol Officer and Probationary Assistant of the Palace Library. Recorded on the twelfth day, gengchen, of the eighth month, whose new moon was jisi, in the year jiawu, the sixth year of the Dahe era, by Kuangbai, Monk Administrator within the Jurisdiction, Bhadanta Expounder of Sūtras and Śāstras, and Śramaṇa Bestowed with the Purple Gold [Robe].

5.69

Header inscribed in seal script by Ni Kuangming, Administrative Patrol Inspector, Officer in charge of Prefectural Affairs, bestowed with the Purple Gold Fish Bag.

5.70

Record of the Hall of the Ascent and Rebirth of Maitreya Bodhisattva

5.71

Composed by Yang Bi, Gentleman for Fulfilling Duties, Manager of Works of Jiangzhou, in charge of Memorials and Petitions, and Probationary Collator of the Palace Library; erected on the twentieth day of the second month of the third year of the Baoda era by Du Changye, Meritorious Minister of Assisting the Sage, Military-and-Surveillance Commissioner of Jiangzhou, Grand Master for Golden and Purple Radiance with Gold Seal and Purple Ribbon, Acting Grand Preceptor, Prefect, and Founding Viscount of Jingzhao County with a fiefdom of five hundred households; calligraphed by the Benefactor Muzhuang, Bhadanta Expounder of Śāstras.

5.72

Record of the Śarīra Stūpa of the Chan Master of the Upper Cloister

5.73

Composed and header inscribed by Peng, Grand Master for Closing Court, Vice Director of the Bureau of Water Conservancy in the Department of State Affairs, and Commandant of Militant Cavalry; calligraphed by Yi Congdao, Grand Master of the Silver and Blue with Gold Seal and Blue Ribbon, Acting Chancellor of the Directorate of Education, Concurrently Investigating Censor, and Supreme Pillar of State. Erected on the gengshen day in the tenth month of the bingchen year, the fourteenth year of the Baoda era.

5.74

Xilin Temple

5.75

Stele Text of the Sanctuary of Xilin Temple

5.76

Composed by Ouyang Xun of Bohai, Erudite of Imperial Sacrifices of the Great Sui dynasty. Erected on the fifteenth day, renchen, of the tenth month, whose new moon was wuyin, in the year dingchou, the thirteenth year of the Daye era. In the bingwu year of the Yongtai era, Yan Zhenqing inscribed its stele header, totaling one hundred and twenty characters. On the reverse of the stele there are five signatures dated to the tenth year of the Dazhong era.

5.77

Stele of the Late Vinaya Bhadanta, Upādhyāya Qilang of the Water Pavilion Cloister of Xilin Temple on Mount Lu of the Tang (with Preface)

5.78

Composed by Zheng Suqing, former Jinshi of the Guangwen Academy; calligraphed by the śramaṇa Daozhen of Anding. Erected on the sixth day, jisi, of the third month, whose new moon was jiawu, in the year renzi, the sixth year of the Dahe era. Re-erected on the twenty-seventh day of the eleventh month, winter, of the eighth year of the Dazhong era (inscribed on the reverse of the stele). Pei Feng, Acting Director of the Bureau of Honors and Prefect of Jiangzhou, on the eighth day of the fourth month of the fourteenth year of the Dazhong era, brought his family to tour together, with Chaohua accompanying (also inscribed on the reverse of the stele).

5.79

Jianji Abbey

5.80

Stele of Jianji Abbey on Mount Lu

5.81

Composed by Shen Xuan of Wuxing, Right Director of the Ministry of Education, Supervisor of the Household of the Crown Prince, and Founding Marquis of Jianchang County; erected in the eleventh month of the fourteenth year of the Tianjian era of the Liang; rebuilt on the fifteenth day of the first month of the jiayin year, the twelfth year of the Baoda era of the Tang; calligraphed and header inscribed by Hu Weichu of Anding.

5.82

Tombstone of Venerable Master Xiong of Jianji Abbey on Mount Lu under the Tang

5.83

Composed by his disciple of the Three Caverns, Grand Master for Closing Court, Commissioner with Imperial Tally for the Military Affairs of Hangzhou, Acting Prefect of Hangzhou, and Pillar of State Yu Dehui. Calligraphy by Fan Shanghao.

5.84

Record of the Reconstruction of the Great Hall of Jianji Abbey on Mount Lu

5.85

Recorded by Meritorious Official of Pledged Loyalty and Sustaining the Sagely, Grand General Pacifying the West, Military Commissioner of Desheng Army, Circuit Surveillance and Administrative Commissioner of Luzhou, etc., Specially Advanced, Acting Grand Commandant, Jointly Facilitating Affairs with the Secretarial and Chancellery, Commissioner with Imperial Tally for the Military Affairs of Luzhou, Prefect of Luzhou, Grand Censor of the Censorate, Upper Pillar of State, Founding Marquis of Qinghe Commandery with a Fief of Two Thousand Households, Zhang Chong, on the first day, guichou, of the first month, a dinghai year, the tenth year of the Shunyi era.

5.86

Record of the Newly Built Stone Altar at Jianji Abbey on Mount Lu

5.87

Composed and inscribed by Administrative Assistant for Circuit Surveillance in Xuanzhou, Gentleman for Service, Acting Vice Director in the Ministry of Works Department of Parks and Ponds, awarded the Crimson Fish Casing, Chen Jue.

5.88

Stele of Master Jianji, Mr. Lu

5.89

Text and calligraphy by Wu Yun, Daoist Priest of the Central Peak and Hanlin Academician Waiting upon the Emperor. Erected on the third day, bingchen, of the sixth month, which began on jiayin, the fifth year of Baoda under the Tang, a dingwei year.

5.90

Record of the Renovation of the Lingbao and Abstinence Halls of Jianji [Abbey] on Mount Lu

5.91

Composed and inscribed by imperial decree by Wang Lu, Palace Receptionist and Controller of Salt Investigation Office Affairs, Grand Master of the Silver-Blue Glories, Acting Minister of Works, Censor-in-Chief, and Pillar of State, on the fifteenth day, jiayin, of the second month, which began on gengzi, the yimao year of Baoda under the Tang.

5.92

Record of the Repair of the Stone Path at Jianji Abbey on Mount Lu

5.93

Narrated and titled by Gentleman for Rendering Service, Acting Case Reviewer of the Supreme Court of Justice, Secretary for the Generalissimo's Memorials, awarded the Crimson Fish Casing, Xu Xian. Calligraphy by Sun Ai, Grand Master of the Silver-Blue Glories, Acting Chancellor of the National University, Vice Censor-in-Chief, and Upper Pillar of State. Recorded on the fifteenth day, renwu, of the fifth month, which began on wuchen, the thirteenth year of Baoda, an yimao year.

5.94

Stele of the Rhapsody on Mount Dagu at Jianji Abbey

5.95

Text by Li Deyu, Specially Advanced, Grand Commandant, Facilitating Affairs, and Duke of the State of Wei. Erected on the gengyin day of the fourth month of the fifth year of Huichang by Zhou Chi, Military Trainer and Circuit Surveillance and Administrative Commissioner of Jiangnan West Circuit, Grand Master for Court Discussion, Prefect of Hongzhou, and Censor-in-Chief.

5.96

Stele of the Newly Built Kaiyuan Chan Cloister on Mount Lu under the Great Tang

5.97

Composed by imperial decree by minister Feng Yanji, Military Commissioner of Zhaoyi Army, Specially Advanced, Acting Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, Upper Pillar of State, and Founding Marquis of Shiping Commandery with a Fief of One Thousand Households. Calligraphy and header inscription by imperial decree by minister Xu Xun, Military Commissioner of Pinglu Army, Grand Master of the Golden Glories, Acting Grand Preceptor, Minister of Justice, Upper Pillar of State, and Duke of Shangrao Commandery with a Fief of Two Thousand Households. Erected on the tenth day, yiyou, of the first month, which began on bingzi, the twelfth year of Baoda, a jiayin year.

5.98

Record of the Li Family Study

5.99

Recorded on the tenth day of the fifth month, a renzi year, the tenth year of Baoda under the Great Tang, by Li Zhenggu, Grand Master of the Silver-Blue Glories, Acting Minister of Education, Commissioner with Imperial Tally for the Military Affairs of Yuanzhou, Acting Prefect of Yuanzhou, Censor-in-Chief, and Pillar of State. Calligraphy by Wang Yi of Taiyuan.

5.100

Chapter 8: Inscriptions of Names by the Ancients

5.101

When I traveled to Donglin, I was quite fond of the inscriptions of names made among its rooms since the Tang. The monastery monks therefore told me: 'In former years, when the buildings were renovated and rearranged, there were several hundred square wooden panels; their inscriptions had grown dim and obscure, and they were piled up in neglected corners, no longer cherished. All of these have merely had the good fortune of not yet being thrown out or planed down.' Alas! In the past, people lamented that many worthy and distinguished gentlemen climbed mountains to gaze into the distance, yet all sank into oblivion without being heard of. This is very nearly the same case! Now I have gathered the visible name inscriptions of seventeen persons from the Yongtai era onward, beginning with Duke Yan of Lu, and set them down here to provide against their being lost.

5.102

"In the bingwu year of the Yongtai era of the Tang, because of an offense, I, Yan Zhenqing, was demoted to serve as assistant in Jizhou. In summer, the sixth month, on renyin, together with Yin Liang, Wei Boni, and Jia Yi, I lodged at Donglin Temple. Also present were Master Xiyi, the two Vinaya masters Huixiu and Zhengyi, as well as Quan and Yang Su. Looking up at the Incense Burner Peak of Mount Lu, we recalled the lingering legacy of Master Yuan. Outside the Shenyun Hall, we paid homage to the saṅghāṭī robe, viewed the chowry fan of Dharma Master Zhu Daosheng, and saw the palm-leaf Sanskrit folios of the Nirvāṇa Sūtra translated by Xie Lingyun. Since our joy and admiration could not be satisfied, I merely made this engraving on the side of the stele for the Two Gentlemen Zhang and Li and Dhyāna Master Yaśa. Recorded by Yan Zhenqing of Lu Commandery." (The carved stone is beside the stele of Dhyāna Master Yaśa at Donglin Temple.)

5.103

"In the bingwu year of the Yongtai era of the Tang, having been demoted due to negligence and clumsiness to serve as assistant in Jizhou, in summer, the sixth month, on guihai, together with Yin Liang, Wei Boni, Jia Yi, and Yang Su, I rested at Xilin Temple. There was Vinaya Master Fazhen, who had deeply probed the pure study of the vinaya; he was the foremost disciple of the Vinaya Patriarch Master Zhien, and the ācārya of my wife's younger brother Zhengyi. Recalling the lingering legacy of the two masters Yuan and Xian, he guided me to ascend the multi-storied pavilion, and showed me the image of Vairocana Buddha painted by Zhang Sengyou and the gathered-thread embroidered bowl bag of Emperor Wu of Liang. Thereupon I lodged an inscription on the back of the stele for Master Yong composed by Duke Ouyang. Inscribed by Yan Zhenqing, Duke of Lu." (The carved stone is atop the stele for Chan Master Yong at Xilin Temple.)

5.104

"Zide of Longxi, Zishen of Qiaoguo, Xuzhong of Henan, Xiyuan of the Jingzhao capital district, and Maoshang of Longxi. Toured together on the eleventh day of the fourth month of the tenth year of Dazhong; inscribed by Maoshang." (The carved stone is at Xilin Temple.)

5.105

"Wei Zhou, Junior Minister of the Supreme Court of Justice, Vice Censor-in-Chief, awarded the Purple and Gold Fish Casing. In the twelfth year of Dazhong, in accordance with an imperial edict to proclaim inquiries in Lingnan, on the twenty-second day of the seventh month, I again passed by this sūtra canon. It had originally been established long ago, but had fallen into ruin along with the monastery. Fortunately, Master Daoshen hid them in a stone chamber, and the Eminent Yan and Eminent Ming repaired the deficiencies. Having been able to view both the old and the renewed, my stirred feelings broke down in sorrow. I donated three hundred thousand [cash] to rebuild the halls. At that time, both Hunan and Jiangxi were in turmoil. Once departing the imperial capital, I trod thrice into perilous lands. Arriving here for a few moments, I conversed on the Way with Yan and Ming, and then set off northward by chariot. My son Ze attended me." (The carved stone is at Donglin Temple.)

5.106

"In the seventh month of this year, having received the imperial order to inspect and soothe Lingnan, I departed from Panyu at the beginning of the middle ten days of the month to return to the imperial court, when the troops of Hongzhou fell into great rebellion. I thus hastened straight to Zhongling. Having arrived, I stayed for one night, investigated their hidden plots, and came to know their full circumstances. The next day, I crossed the Zhang River, and on the twenty-ninth day rested here. I talked of the dark mystery with the two eminences Yan and Ming, and also visited the remaining foundations of the sūtra canon; on a clear evening, I went west. Sixty-four days later, I was appointed to investigate Jiangxi, and still led the four armies of Xiang, E, Xu, and Cai to proceed to the garrison. On the twenty-seventh day of the eleventh month, our troops halted at Beitian. Although I was wearing armor and occupied with military affairs, as I was passing through the Pine Gate, I lingered and could not bear to leave. To prolong my leisure, I therefore halted the vanguard at the hillside, and once again roamed with Master Yan. At that time, the Eminent Ming had already passed away; I grieved for a long time, then remounted my horse and rode forward. I therefore wrote of this journey and inscribed it on the wall of the Water Hall. Inscribed on the twenty-seventh day of the eleventh month of the twelfth year of Dazhong by Wei Zhou, Circuit Surveillance and Administrative Commissioner of Jiangnan West Circuit, etc., and Vice Censor-in-Chief. Attending him on the journey were Zhou Qing, Investigation Officer of Circuit Headquarters, Gentleman for Court Service, and Acting Revenue Officer of Tanzhou; Zhang Zimuxi, Investigation Officer of Circuit Headquarters and former Probationary Ritual Master of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices; and his son Sheng, Administrative Assistant of the Rouyuan Army of Annam and Probationary Weapons Officer of the Left Guards of the Heir Apparent."

5.107

"Chen Nian, Prefect of Jiangzhou. On the eighth day of the eleventh month of the third year of Qianfu, as I was about to leave Penpu, together with the retired scholar Deng Siqi, I came to pay a farewell visit to the two bhadantas Sicong and Zongyi. Meritorious Official of Pledged Loyalty and Sustaining the Sagely, Grand General Pacifying the West, Military Commissioner of Wuning, Pingnan, and other armies, Circuit Surveillance and Administrative Commissioner of Luzhou, Pacification and Reinforcement Commissioner of the Southwest Front, Grand Master of the Golden Glories, Acting Grand Preceptor, Censor-in-Chief, Upper Pillar of State, and Founding Marquis of Qinghe Commandery Zhang Chong passed by here on imperial orders during a military expedition. On the twenty-seventh day of the eleventh month of the first year of Wuyi, Gentleman for Court Discussion, Acting Minister of War, awarded the Purple and Gold Fish Casing, Duke of Shangdang Commandery with a Fief of One Thousand Households Jing Tiao, accompanied his paternal uncle from the capital; returning to the commandery along the river, I was able to accompany my elder brother, the Duke of Guiyang Commandery, to visit this peerless scene. At that time, the spring grove vied in fragrant bloom, and the evening rain had newly cleared. Wandering on foot, we forgot our weariness, and our worldly minds were instantly purified. Only at the end of the day did we return, and so we record it here. Inscribed on the twenty-third day of the third month, a yihai year, the third year of Shengyuan. Xia Qian, Commissioner of the Western Palace Gate, Grand Master of the Gold and Purple Glories, Acting Minister of Education, Acting Grand General of the Right Martial Guard, Censor-in-Chief, Loyal, and Upper Pillar of State, having presumptuously received the imperial decree to invest a mighty feudatory, anchored for over ten days as the year was about to turn. Having repeatedly received the royal favor and bathed ever more deeply in the imperial concern, and furthermore being permitted to accompany the royal carriage and roam this transformed realm, on the twenty-eighth day of the first month of the second year of Shengyuan, I therefore left this inscribed record."

5.108

"Yan Xu, Military Commissioner of the Fenghua Army, Field Agriculture and Circuit Surveillance and Administrative Commissioner of Jiangzhou, Grand Master of the Gold and Purple Glories, Acting Grand Preceptor, Jointly Facilitating Affairs with the Secretarial and Chancellery, Upper Pillar of State, and Founding Earl of Fengyi County with a Fief of Seven Hundred Households under the Tang. In the first month of autumn, a yiyou year, the seventh year of Baoda, I came to garrison this land; by the ninth month, I also spent a day touring the vihāras of the Two Lin [Temples], surveyed the ancient traces, and returned. Thus I merely record its year and month."

5.109

"Meritorious Official of Pledged Loyalty and Honoring the Sovereign, Military Commissioner of the Fenghua Army, Field Agriculture and Circuit Surveillance and Administrative Commissioner of Jiangzhou, Grand Master of the Golden Glories, Acting Grand Commandant, Commissioner with Imperial Tally for the Military Affairs of Jiangzhou, Prefect of Jiangzhou, Valiant Cavalry General, Censor-in-Chief, Upper Pillar of State, and Founding Earl of Anding County with a Fief of Seven Hundred Households, Huangfu Hui, prostrating, received an imperial decree to specially visit the Baoda Kaixian Chan Cloister. Passing through the precious monastery, the pines and junipers were enshrouded in mist, and the mountain peaks were layered in azure. As I surveyed the exquisite scenes, my breast was greatly opened. At that time, an inscription recorded on the fifth day, yimao, of the second month, which began on xinhai, a guichou year, the eleventh year of Baoda under the Great Tang."

5.110

"Wang Yan, Grand Master of the Gold and Purple Glories, Acting Minister of Education, former Commissioner with Imperial Tally for the Military Affairs of Yunzhou, Acting Prefect of Yunzhou, Censor-in-Chief, Upper Pillar of State, and Founding Baron of Taiyuan County with a Fief of Three Hundred Households, relinquished his seal of office and returned to the capital. Touring the various scenic places, I therefore made this record. Written at that time on the twenty-fourth day of summer, the fourth month of a guichou year."

5.111

"Meritorious Official of Dedicated Sincerity and Defeating the Enemy, Military Commissioner of the Fenghua Army, Field Agriculture and Circuit Surveillance and Administrative Commissioner of Jiangzhou, Grand Master of the Golden Glories, Acting Grand Commandant, Commissioner with Imperial Tally for the Military Affairs of Jiangzhou, Prefect of Jiangzhou, Censor-in-Chief, and Founding Earl of Jiangxia County with a Fief of Seven Hundred Households Huang Yanqian, since arriving to assume office in this commandery, has always revered this renowned mountain; now at the close of autumn, he specially went to pay homage. Recorded on the sixteenth day of the ninth month of the fifteenth year of Baoda. Meritorious Official of Pledged Loyalty and Repelling the Enemy, Military Commissioner of the Fenghua Army, Field Agriculture and Circuit Surveillance and Administrative Commissioner of Jiangzhou, Grand Master of the Golden Glories, Acting Grand Commandant, Jointly Facilitating Affairs with the Secretarial and Chancellery, Commissioner with Imperial Tally for the Military Affairs of Jiangzhou, Prefect of Jiangzhou, Upper Pillar of State, and Founding Marquis of Fuchun Commandery with a Fief of One Thousand Households Sun Hanhui, on the eighth day of mid-autumn in the fifth year of Xiande, commanded Army Supervisor Lord Chen of Yingchuan, along with the staff officers, to pay joint homage to the True Shrine of the Emissary. Its grounds being close to the Two Lin [Temples], they accordingly toured the scenic landscapes, were pleased to survey them all, and merely recorded the date and time."

5.112

Record of Mount Lu, Fascicle 5

5.113

[The text has been] proofread once; do not alter a single character.

5.114

The Kōzanji edition of the five-fascicle Lushan ji: fascicles two and three are Song woodblock printings, while the remaining three fascicles are supplied from old hand-copies. However, for Song imperial taboos, strokes are omitted in all of them, so they must also derive from a Song edition. In the text, the tabooed characters end with the tabooed name of Emperor Gaozong, Zhan (栴), whereas Dun (敦), the similar-sounding name of Emperor Guangzong, does not omit strokes. It was likely printed between the reigns of Gaozong and Guangzong. In our country, the Shoushangel congshu edition, which printed the Siku [quanshu] text of this book, preserves only the first three chapters as one fascicle; the [Siku] editors stated that the fourth and fifth chapters were lost. Now the Song woodblock edition in fact has eight chapters in five fascicles: the first and second chapters form fascicle one; the third chapter forms fascicle two; the fourth and fifth chapters form fascicle three; the sixth chapter forms fascicle four; and the seventh and eighth chapters form fascicle five. The Shoushangel edition not only lost everything from the fourth chapter onwards, but its division into fascicles was also not the original arrangement of that time. The editors, seeing that in the present edition each chapter forms one fascicle, consequently suspected that the lost ones were only the fourth and fifth chapters, which was yet another error. It is unknown when more than half of the complete edition of this book was lost; the editors stated that the Yongle dadian edition also had only three chapters, so it was already lost by the early Ming. As for the editions printed in the Eastern Realm [Japan], besides the Song woodblock printing, there is also an edition printed in the tenth year of Genroku, both of which are complete. Now, comparing the two printings of Genroku and Shoushange against the Song edition, one knows that although the Genroku edition is complete, it also has errors and omissions, whereas the Shoushangel edition has even worse errors and lacunae. In the first chapter, the Shoushange edition omits several tens of lines from Master Huiyuan's 'Lushan ji lüe' down to 'lueju qiyi er' (not omitted in the Genroku edition). In the second chapter, from 'yingtu zhe' onwards, the Genroku edition has transposed slips of over ten lines (not erroneous in the Shoushange edition); but from 'Yuangong ji yun' down to 'yishang gai shu Shimen zhi sheng' (over ten lines), and from 'Yuangong shangji yun' down to 'wei aluohan zhi lei ye' (three lines), both are lost and omitted in the Shoushange edition. In the third chapter, the Shoushange edition omits thirteen characters from 'Xi Donghai seng Miao yunyun', and another twenty-eight characters from 'yuan you fu yunyun'. In the sixth chapter, the Genroku edition omits half a leaf of poems on Luoxing Temple. In the seventh chapter, the Genroku edition's account of the various stelae at Donglin Temple contains errors, placing the inscription on the scripture library of Donglin Temple and the stele inscription for the Bhadanta Master Can before the three stelae for Master Huiyuan and others; thus one knows that the Genroku edition is indeed not without faults. In this edition, the second leaf of fascicle one is missing, and the twenty-first and twenty-eighth leaves of fascicle four are missing. Furthermore, in fascicle one, the margin of Li Chang's preface is marked 'third leaf', which indicates that two leaves before this must also be lost. Now the second leaf of fascicle one has been supplemented according to the Genroku edition; as for the other leaves, the Genroku edition also lacks them, and it is regrettable that there is no other edition in the world to rely upon for supplementation. I have long loved this book, whose narrative is elegant and rich, like clear moss in a mountain stream, but had never seen a complete copy. In the first year of Xuantong, while traveling in Tokyo, I suddenly came across this Song woodblock edition in Mr. Tokutomi's Seikitō Bunko. I was overjoyed beyond measure and could not put it out of my mind for a long time. In the winter of last year, I sent a letter to Master Sohō to borrow it for printing, and having obtained permission, I have inscribed the precious value of this Song woodblock edition at the end of the scroll, which indeed lies not merely in having no lost fascicles. In the first month of the dingsi year of Xuantong, Luo Zhenyu, a native of Yongfeng, wrote this at the Sishi Jiazhi Xuan of his temporary residence in Higashiyama.

Linked texts (1)

廬山記 — Classical Chinese