集神州三寶感通錄 2.53

2.53

49. In the first year of the Longshuo era of the Tang, an imperial decree ordered the monk Huize of Huichang Temple to go to Mount Wutai to repair the temples and stūpas. The mountain belongs to Wutai County in Daizhou. It features five terraces, among which the Central Terrace is the highest. Looking out as far as the eye can see for a thousand li, the mountains and rivers appear as if in the palm of one's hand. Upon it are several thousand stone stūpas, piled from thin stones. These were all erected by Emperor Xiaowen, Gaozu of the Wei dynasty. North of the terrace, the tracks of men, horses, and hounds impressed into the stone show clear marks as if new. On the summit is a large pool named the Taihua Spring. There are also smaller springs connecting one after another in succession. Flanking the spring stand two stūpas, within which are images of Mañjuśrī. Tradition relates that Mañjuśrī and five hundred immortals went to Mount Qingliang to preach the Dharma; therefore this mountain is extremely cold, and no trees grow upon it. All the pine forests flourish dense and tall down in the lower valleys. The south of the mountain is called Qingliang Peak, and beneath the mountain is the Qingliang Administrative Office, where the remnants and foundations from ancient and modern times remain visible and intact. Descending some thirty li from the eastern face of the terrace, there is the ancient Dafu Lingjiu Temple. At present it has eastern and western bodhimaṇḍas, fully equipped for Buddhist services. The village elders hand down the tradition that it was built by Emperor Ming of the Han. To its south is a flower garden of some three qing; rare blossoms bloom among them, radiant and dazzling to the eye, truly a dwelling place of divine immortals. Frequently monks appear there, vanishing abruptly so that they are difficult to seek out; holy traces and miraculous temples appear and disappear from time to time. In the second year of Longshuo of the present emperor, he again ordered [Hui]ze to go, along with corvée laborers, funds, and silk, to repair the old temples. Ze, together with the deputy magistrate of Wutai County and an entourage of more than twenty men, went straight to the Central Terrace. They saw a stone image leaning over the cliff, moving its body and hands. When they reached the place of the image, it was merely a square stone; mournful and deeply moved, they lamented with regret for a long time. He ordered craftsmen to repair the two stūpas and the image of Mañjuśrī. As they lingered beside the stūpas, they suddenly heard a bell chime vigorously from between the stūpas, struck repeatedly without ceasing. They also smelled an extraordinary fragrance billowing gently, arriving again and again. Clergy and laity alike sighed in admiration at what had never occurred before. They also proceeded to the Western Terrace, where they saw in the distance a monk riding a horse up from the east, galloping at great speed. Ze and the others stood waiting for him to arrive. When after a long time he did not reach them, they went forward to meet him, but he had transformed into a dead tree stump, leaving them with endless regret. Thus the marks of the images respond with sympathetic resonance, appearing and disappearing at times, while the sounds of bells and the fragrances are constantly heard in succession. At the southeastern foot of its upper perimeter, three hundred li in extent, lies Mount Heng; at its northwestern foot is Hengtian. Within it are Mount Foguang, Mount Xianhua, the Prince's Stūpa, and six ancient temples; the remnants, meditation caves, and physical likenesses of Chan Master Jietuo and Chan Master Sengming still remain there, as detailed in separate records.