法苑珠林 31.30

31.30

漢永平五年。剡縣劉晨阮肇。共入天台山。迷不得返。經十三日糧乏盡飢餧殆死遙望山。上有一桃樹。大有子實永無登路。攀緣藤葛乃得至上。各噉數枚而飢止體充。復下山持杯取水欲盥嗽。見蕪菁葉從山腹流出。甚鮮新。復一杯流出有胡麻飯糝。便共沒水逆流。行二三里得度山出一大溪邊。有二女子。姿質妙絕。見二人持杯出。便笑曰。劉阮二郎捉向所失流杯來。晨肇既不識之。二女便呼其姓如似有舊。相見而悉問。來何晚。因要還家。皆銅瓦屋。南壁及東壁下各有一大床。皆施絳羅帳。帳角懸鈴金銀交錯。床頭各有十侍婢。勅云。劉阮二郎經涉山岨。向雖得瓊實猶尚虛弊。可速作食。食胡麻飯山羊脯牛肉甚甘美。食畢行酒。有一群女來。各持五三桃子。笑而言。賀汝婿來。酒酣作樂。至暮令各就一帳宿。女往就之。言聲清婉。令人忘憂。遂停半年。氣候草木是春時百鳥啼鳴。更懷悲思。求歸甚苦。女曰。罪牽君當可如何。遂呼前來女子。有三四十人。集會奏樂。共送劉阮指示還路。既出親舊零落。邑屋改異無復相識。問訊得七世孫。傳聞上世入山迷不得歸。至晉太元八年。忽復去不知何所。

In the fifth year of the Yongping era of the Han, Liu Chen and Ruan Zhao of Shan County entered Mount Tiantai together, got lost, and could not return. After thirteen days, their provisions were exhausted, and they were starving to death. Looking toward the mountain from afar, there was a peach tree atop it laden with large fruits, but there was no path to climb. Clinging to vines, they finally reached the top, each ate several peaches, and their hunger ceased and their bodies were revitalised. They descended the mountain again carrying cups to fetch water, wishing to wash and rinse. They saw turnip leaves floating out from the belly of the mountain, exceedingly fresh. Then another cup floated out containing sesame and cooked rice grains. Together, they waded through the water against the current, traveling two or three li, and crossed the mountain to emerge beside a great stream. There were two women of peerless beauty. Seeing the two men emerge carrying cups, they smiled and said, "Liu and Ruan, you two gentlemen have brought back the floating cups lost earlier." Although Chen and Zhao did not recognise them, the two women called them by their surnames as though they were old acquaintances. Meeting them, they asked in detail, "Why have you come so late?" They then invited them to their home, which had copper-tiled roofs. Beneath the southern and eastern walls there was a large bed each, both fitted with crimson gauze curtains, with bells suspended from the corners of the curtains intertwined with gold and silver. At the head of each bed were ten serving maids. The women instructed, "Liu and Ruan, the two gentlemen, have traversed rugged mountains. Although they just obtained jade-like fruit, they are still weary and depleted; prepare food quickly." They ate sesame rice, dried mountain-goat meat, and beef, which were exceedingly sweet and delicious. When the meal was finished, wine was served. A group of women came, each holding three to five peaches, and said with a smile, "Congratulations on the arrival of your bridegrooms!" In the midst of drinking wine, they made music. When night fell, they had each go to a curtained bed to sleep. The women went to join them, their speech clear and gentle, making one forget all sorrows. Thus they stayed for half a year. The climate and vegetation showed it was spring, and the hundred birds were singing; they were seized again by sorrowful thoughts and begged earnestly to return. The women said, "If your sins draw you back, sir, what can be done?" They then called the women who had come earlier, thirty or forty in all, who gathered to play music and together escorted Liu and Ruan, pointing out the return path. Once they emerged, their kin and acquaintances had passed away, the town and houses had changed, and none recognised them any longer. Inquiring, they found a descendant of the seventh generation, who said he had heard handed down that ancestors had entered the mountains, became lost, and could not return. In the eighth year of the Taiyuan era of the Jin, they suddenly left again, and no one knows where they went.