Chapter 6 Revisiting Jade Emperor Mountain

After handing over the test papers and score sheets, the semester finally came to an end.Tiredness and depression filled my body, and I really wanted to take a breath. The four-way car that only came once every hour just passed by, and I stood impatiently waiting, so I paced along the road.On the bank of West Lake, at the foot of Wushan Mountain, the scenery is really good.I am usually busy, although I have passed by many times, I am not interested.Once you are free, you will feel that everything is impressive. The mountains and forests are eye-catching, the scenery is attractive, and you can enjoy it on foot. Soon, you arrive at the Wangxian Pavilion and know that it is the day to go to Yuhuang Mountain.I have always been struggling with human affairs and lacked opportunities to enjoy the natural scenery. I used to live in Hangzhou for more than ten years, and I have never even been to the North and South Peaks, Longjing, and Tianzhu.

I used to swim in Yuhuang Mountain. In 256, Li Qingya's family came to Hangzhou and was invited by Yu Dafu's family to play. The seven-star tank and Bagua field still left an impression on them.The wideness of the mountain road reminds me of Gushan Mountain in Fuzhou; the clean stone steps remind me of Wuyou Mountain in Jiading, Sichuan. By the Qiantang River, by the West Lake, and on famous mountains, there are probably monasteries, such as Yunqi, Wuyun, Longjing, Hupao, Lingyin, Tianzhu, Taoguang, and Beifengfeng, all presided over by monks.Huanglong Cave and Yuhuang Mountain are presided over by Taoist priests, so the mountains are marked with "Huang Lao Relics", and those buildings with yellow walls are called Guan.Taoists pay attention to alchemy to become immortals; at the foot of the mountain, the pavilion is also known as "Wangxian".Not to mention how to make alchemy and whether one can become a fairy, the quiet life on the mountain is always real.It's no wonder that people who love peace and tranquility go into the mountains for fear that they will not go deep.Listening to the gurgling stream, there is a general feeling that "birdsong mountain is more secluded".I thought that when I came to this kind of mountain, I couldn't smell any gunpowder smell, so I could stop shouting.But before reaching the mountainside, I saw a Taoist priest in his prime panting and reporting to the old Taoist priest, holding a thick bamboo pole in one hand, looking majestic; he said that many people from the army came up to chop bamboo and wood, and they couldn't stop talking Dao Fu, finally said that the scenic spots and historic sites should be preserved, and then retreated.It can be seen that to be a Taoist priest on the mountain, you have to fight hard.Originally, Taoism advocated returning to the original, just to let nature take its course, not to preserve any historical sites.Nowadays, the Taoist priests on this mountain, the so-called scenic spots and historic sites, are directly or indirectly related, but they are always related to their lives. The technique of "Bigu" has not yet been completed, and there is no direct production equipment on the mountain except for growing some vegetables; for food, I am afraid that it must be done like ordinary monks from "incense", at least it must be able to move people's hearts.The religious man's means of touching the heart, besides the beauty of greatness, solemnity and tranquility, is mystery, so as to stimulate curiosity.Curiosity solidifies human feelings, and mystery helps faith. The monks by the lakeside of the West Lake use the mysterious and moving spirit to reveal the ray of sky and the ancient well of Yunmu in Jingci Temple.A line of sky is nothing more than a gap in the rock, so small that it is difficult to see.

Those who say that they are kind-hearted can see the Buddha through this; some people say that they have indeed seen the Buddha. The mystery of this can be understood by those who have read "The Emperor's New Clothes".There is a piece of wood in the bottom of the ancient well for transporting wood. It is said that before the monk Jidian became a Buddha, he transported a lot of wood from this well to build temples.Probably because the wood grows up, it is not easy to transport it by ordinary methods, so this mythical legend came about.The monk said it as if he was serious, and most of the people who listened seemed to believe it.As soon as candle money is to be paid, this becomes a money well.In addition to the mysterious and inherent seven-star tank and Bagua field on Yuhuang Mountain, there is a new arrangement of Zilai Cave.The gossip field is at the foot of the mountain. Looking at it on the ground, it is only a few acres of land. It looks a bit like a gossip when viewed from a distance from Yuhuang mountain.In fact, it is just a bit similar, and the conditions for gossip are not really fulfilled, and the Taiji diagram is not even rounded.Although the seven-star vat has built the Seven-Star Pavilion, the seven rusty iron vats are still placed crookedly in the open air, and the newly arranged Zilai Cave is neatly arranged in the vicinity; The lion roared at the sky and gave many rocks new names.Zilai cave is managed by Zidong Taoist priests. "Purple Qi comes from the east" is indeed a Taoist allusion. "Guan Yinzi" contains: "Guan Ling climbed the tower and looked around, and saw purple air from the east pole to the west. He said with joy that there should be a saint passing through the capital. He will fast at the end of the day, and he will see Lao Tzu on that day." Lianlian said that the Tao can be very Tao, and the name can be named is very famous; how to connect its meaning is not clear.The four characters "Ren Jing Zhi Liu" were chiseled on the nearby rocks, probably because of the saying "The benevolent enjoys the mountains, and the wise enjoys the water".But this is the view of Confucianism, and it has also been embellished with "Daoshan".In terms of ideology in our country, to put it nicely, it is peace, and to put it badly, it is vague, and there is no strict distinction.Although monks live in monasteries and temples, Taoists live in temples, and hold funerals in funeral homes, they can play together.Ordinary people tend to blindly believe in things with a bit of philosophical thinking because they feel mysterious.Naturally this is only a thing of the past.However, by the West Lake, monasteries and temples stand side by side, and it is not surprising that monks, Taoists and priests live in peace.

But Yuhuang Mountain, after all, has a touch of Taoism. No matter where the monk temple is located, no matter it is Wuyun Mountain, Beifeng Peak, Lingyin or Tianzhu, you can’t see a little nun with a smooth scalp. On Yuhuang Mountain, you will come to Fuxing I met a little Taoist nun in the temple, with two praying mantis buns on her round head and face, bangs on her forehead, and long white cloth socks on her feet, with the trousers hidden in the sock tube. No fat or powder is applied, the skin is white and tender, and the cheeks are pink.This is a natural healthy beauty, with big strides leaping and leaping, especially lively.Moreover, after entering the Fuxing Temple, you can recognize the magnified photo of the Zidong Taoist priest when you see it. Although he entertained you the last time you came to play, on the eve of "August 13th", Dafu and I went to Fuzhou and met in Shanghai. Looking at this old Taoist priest, Dafu asked him to bring back a large bundle of woodblock books to Hangzhou, which he had just bought in Shanghai, and invited him to lunch, and I was at the same table.Now that Dafu is said to have passed away, many things are still unknown. The books brought back by the old Taoist priest have disappeared, and the house of Dafu's family on the side of the University Road has changed hands.After inquiring, I found out that Taoist Zidong is still alive at the age of eighty-five.I wanted to talk to him very much for a while, but finally gave up because I felt that I had nothing to say.Dafu is much younger than Taoist Zidong, the old man is still old, and the strong man is dead.Traveling across the ocean is not as safe as living deep in the mountains. This may be the so-called attainment of the Tao.The air on the mountain is fresh and the sun is abundant; especially the top of Yuhuang Mountain, with the Qiantang River on the left and the West Lake on the right, the scenery is beautiful and majestic, which is refreshing and pleasing to the eye.The so-called attaining the Dao through cultivation means that the location is good, so it is convenient for keeping in good health and nourishing the mind.However, in front of the Fuxing Temple, there is no direct production organization other than planting some vegetables. Even digging caves, building houses and roads may not be due to Taoist priests and craftsmen.The stone inscriptions at the entrance of Zilai Cave are also called "Jiu Gong".Then the society at the foot of the mountain cannot be "unrelated to old age and death"; the smell of gunpowder in war will also affect it.

Originally published in Issue 171 on February 16, 1949