集神州三寶感通錄 3.7

3.7

晉初河州唐述谷寺者。在今河州西北五十里。度風林津登長夷嶺。南望名積石山。即禹貢導之極地也。眾峯競出各有異勢。或如寶塔。或如層樓。松柏映巖丹青飾岫。自非造化神功。何因綺麗若此。南行二十里。得其谷焉。鑿山構室接梁通水。遶寺花藥果菜充滿。今有僧住。南有石門。濱於河上。鐫石文曰。晉太始年之所立也。寺東谷中有一天寺。窮討處所略無定指。常聞鍾聲。又有異僧。故號此谷名為唐述。羌云。鬼神也。所以古今諸人入積石者。每逢仙聖。行往恍惚現寺現僧。東北嶺上出於醴泉。甜而且白服者不老。

As for the Tangshu Valley Temple of the early Jin in Hezhou: It is located fifty li northwest of present-day Hezhou. Crossing the Fenglin Ford and ascending Changyi Ridge, looking south one sees Mount Jishi, which is the ultimate limit reached by the channeling of waters in the Tribute of Yu. Myriad peaks vie in rising up, each having a distinctive shape: some resemble jeweled stūpas, others multi-storied pavilions; pines and cypresses reflect upon the cliffs, while cinnabar and azure adorn the peaks. Were it not for the divine craftsmanship of nature, how could it be so magnificent and lovely? Walking south for twenty li, one reaches its valley. Rooms were hewn into the mountain, spanning beams channeled water, and the temple was surrounded and filled with flowers, medicinal herbs, fruits, and vegetables. At present monks dwell there. To the south is a stone gate bordering the river, on which is carved an inscription saying that it was established in the Taishi era of the Jin dynasty. In the valley east of the temple is a Heavenly Temple, but thoroughly searching for its location yields no definite spot; the sound of bells is constantly heard, and there are extraordinary monks. Therefore, this valley is called Tangshu, which in the Qiang tongue means 'ghosts and spirits.' Thus, whenever various people in ancient and modern times enter Jishi, they frequently encounter immortals and sages, their traveling paths dim and indistinct, as temples and monks appear before them. On the northeastern ridge a sweet spring gushes forth; it is sweet and white, and those who ingest it do not age.