經律異相 1.94

1.94

The moon's rampart city is one thousand nine hundred and sixty li wide and long, and its height is the same. It is upright and square, but appears round when seen from afar. Two parts are celestial silver and one part is vaidūrya; inside and outside it is pure and clear, and its light shines far away. It is supported by five winds. The throne of the moon king is twenty li square in a palace of the seven treasures. Boundless gods with bright radiance and courtesan musicians precede and follow in his retinue. Its parks, pools, and amusements are like those of the Trāyastriṃśa heaven. The lifespan of the gods is five hundred years; generation follows generation down to the end of a kalpa. The moon waxes and wanes: when it wanes, it moves with one corner tilted at night so that it is gradually shadowed and turned sideways, and therefore it is seen as deficient. It is also said that at the side of the moon city there is a god whose color is deep blue and whose clothes are also blue; the side where he resides casts blue light upon the city, and therefore it wanes. When it is full, the moon's course gradually turns upright; moreover, on the fifteenth day the blue god enters the moon city and meets with the king. Furthermore, on the earth south of Mount Sumeru there is a great tree named Jambū, four thousand li high with branches spreading two thousand li of shade, whose reflection appears in the moon. (From the Dīrgha-āgama, fascicle 22; also from the Loutan jing.)