鐔津文集 12.6

12.6

由山之麓而上百步許。則東趨抵于霽雲亭。西趨則傴僂。過小石門抵于積翠亭。由霽雲亭益東至于幽居洞。洞之東則深林茂草也。由積翠亭益西則入于叢竹之間。陰陰森森殆不可勝數。有石座環布中可函丈。由積翠亭西曲折而上抵于發幽亭。視錢唐城郭若見諸掌。差發幽亭而東至于白雲亭。由白雲亭之東厥徑枝分。所往皆入乎茂林修竹。不知其極矣。由發幽亭又曲折而上。援蘿蔓陵層崖。履危磴至于山之巔。一顧四達廓如也。吳江越岫儼然在乎眸子。其山控鳳凰城之西偏南走湖上。高視靈鷲而俯揖胥山。大約從麓至頂。岩石皆奇。殊形詭狀世所無有。如人物禽獸飛走騰踴。往往至乎雲氣歘作交相掩映。真若神鬼效靈。千變萬化眩人心目。或聞是山者初棄於莽蒼。雖樵蘇竪子莫之肯顧。培塿丘垤尚恐不得與之為比。一日為好事者所知。闢而發之。杭人之來視莫不驚怪。以為天墜地湧。皆恨所以得之太晚。游觀者於是推高。是山雖瀕湖。千巖萬壑莫出其右者。至於名聞京邑。而賢士大夫皆樂為是游。故有來江東者。不到南屏山以謂不可。余因思天下四方有道之士。晦昧于世與俗輩浮沈。如南屏之始者抑亦多矣。彼有道者必抱奇材異德卓卓絕類。使會知己者引而振之。資其輔相聖人之道而刑儀人倫。不亦偉乎。可觀與夫山石游物。又不可同日而語哉。余嗜山水之甚者也。始見南屏山。且喜以謂。一遊無以饜吾之心。不若栖其陰藪常游其間。故今年樂來息肩于此。日必策杖獨往。至其幽處也。思慮冲然。天下之志通。至其曠處也思慮超然。天下之事見。至其極深且靜處也（或無極深且三字）冲寞涔寂神與道合。乘浩氣沐清風。陶然嗒然若在乎萬物之初。是故誌之。以示其將來有慕我而為游者也。

Ascending about a hundred paces from the foot of the mountain, one turns east to arrive at Jiyun Pavilion. Turning west, one stoops down and passes through a small stone portal to reach Jicui Pavilion. Going further east from Jiyun Pavilion, one reaches Youju Grotto. East of the grotto are deep forests and lush grasses. Going further west from Jicui Pavilion, one enters amid clumps of bamboo, shaded and dense, so numerous they can hardly be counted. There are stone seats arrayed in a circle, accommodating about ten feet square. Winding upward to the west from Jicui Pavilion, one reaches Fayou Pavilion; looking toward the city walls of Qiantang, they appear as if in the palm of one's hand. Veering slightly east from Fayou Pavilion, one reaches Baiyun Pavilion. East of Baiyun Pavilion the path branches off: wherever one goes, one enters lush forests and tall bamboos, without knowing their end. Winding upward again from Fayou Pavilion, pulling oneself up by creepers and vines, scaling tiered cliffs, and treading precarious stone steps, one reaches the mountain summit. Looking around in all four directions, all is vast and open: the waters of the Wu River and the peaks of Yue stand clearly before one's eyes. The mountain dominates the western side of Fenghuang City, running south along the lake; it looks high upon Lingjiu and bows down toward Mount Xu. In general, from the foot to the summit, the boulders and crags are all extraordinary, in strange shapes and bizarre forms never found anywhere else in the world, resembling people, objects, birds, and beasts, flying, running, leaping, and vaulting. Often, when clouds and mists suddenly arise and interlace their shades, it truly seems as though spirits and ghosts were displaying their numinous powers, transforming in a myriad ways to dazzle one's mind and eyes. Some have heard that this mountain was originally abandoned amid wild overgrowth, so that not even woodcutters or herd boys cared to look at it, and people feared it could not even compare to mere mounds and ant-hills. One day, it became known to connoisseurs, who cleared and opened it up. When the people of Hangzhou came to view it, none failed to be startled and amazed, taking it to have fallen from heaven or welled up from the earth, all regretting only that they had discovered it so late. Sightseers consequently exalted it: though this mountain borders the lake, among thousands of crags and myriad ravines none surpasses it, to the point that its fame reached the capital, and worthy gentlemen and grandees all delighted in visiting it. Therefore, of those who come to Jiangdong, none considers their trip complete without visiting Mount Nanping. I then reflected that throughout the world in the four quarters, men of the Way who are obscured in the world and drift along with the vulgar—just like Nanping in the beginning—are surely many. Those who possess the Way must harbor extraordinary talent and unique virtue, standing preeminent above the crowd. If they meet an understanding patron who draws them forth and elevates them, employing them to assist the Way of the sages and to set a model for human relations, would that not be magnificent? How could viewing mere rocks and mountains compare to this? I am someone who is exceedingly fond of landscape. When I first saw Mount Nanping, I rejoiced and thought that a single visit would never satisfy my heart; it would be better to dwell in its shaded groves and constantly wander amid them. Thus this year I was pleased to come and rest my shoulders here. Every day I surely lean on my staff and go forth alone. When I arrive at its secluded spots, my thoughts become serene, and the aspirations of the realm become accessible. When I reach its spacious vantage points, my thoughts become transcendent, and the affairs of the realm become visible. When I reach its deepest and most tranquil recesses, in desolate quiet and profound stillness, my spirit merges with the Way; riding upon the vast breath and bathed in the pure wind, intoxicated and detached as if at the very beginning of the myriad things. For this reason I have recorded it, to show it to those in the future who may admire me and make this journey.