A trip to Elephant Mountain
The weather is sunny today, the clouds are clear and the wind is gentle, and the desire to travel is up again. Thinking that Elephant Mountain is so close, I can’t help but regret that I have passed by it many times but have not been able to climb the mountain to pay homage to the Buddha. So he took his wife, daughter and son and drove eastward to Elephant Mountain.
Elephant Mountain is located on Wenqi Mountain in the western suburbs of Gangu County. It is named after a Tang Dynasty clay sculpture and stone Buddha on the mountain. The original name was Daxiang Mountain. After Zhao Puchu conducted research and research, he changed its name to Daxiang Mountain based on the legend that Sakyamuni "entered the womb on an elephant".
Standing on the Elephant Mountain Square, the Elephant Mountain stretching across the front is triangular in shape, like a flag fluttering in the wind. The front is a cliff, brownish red in color, dotted with sparse green trees. The giant Buddha stands high in a square cave on the cliff on the upper part of the mountain. Pavilions and pavilions are built along the ridge of the mountain. The mountain is winding and twisting, and the negative momentum competes upward, like a flying dragon in the sky, soaring in the clouds and mist.
Entering the mountain gate, a huge black stone turtle looked around, swimming leisurely in the middle of the road. There is a stone tablet on the back of a hunchback, with four dignified and majestic characters written on it: "Hometown of the Emperor Yi".
After bypassing the stone monument, the mountain winds straight up. We climbed up the steps and passed by the Tutu Temple, Meige Hall, and Fuxi Hall. The weather is hot, there are few trees, and people are panting and sweating profusely. This place is very different from the description in the inscription of "covered by lilacs, towering white pines, secluded valleys and luxuriant forests, cold rocks and clear air". The small trees beside the road stood motionless under the scorching sun, weak and listless. Brown sandstone is exposed everywhere along the road.
Looking up, I saw a group of buildings on the ridge above, hidden among a few pine trees, and I quickly quickened my pace. Walking closer, it turns out to be the Guanyin Hall and the Thousand Buddhas Cave. Entering from the side door, you will arrive at the Guanyin Hall, surrounded by carved beams and painted buildings, numerous palaces, and an extremely quiet courtyard. There is a hole under the hall at the back of the courtyard, with a couplet hanging on both sides: "Ask all living beings who is the Tathagata, and may the earth become a pure land."
Walking into the cave, the air-conditioning hits your face and feels refreshing. On the right side is a smiling Maitreya, with his breasts exposed, smiling to welcome visitors from all directions. Further inside, there are two reliefs on both sides, representing the four Vajra, holding magic weapons and glaring angrily, guarding the cave.
Go through the cave corridor and arrive at the Seven Buddha Cave, where more than 20 Buddhas of various sizes are enshrined, including Medicine Buddha, Amitabha, Bodhisattva, etc., which are solemn and solemn. Passing through the Seven Buddha Cave, you will arrive at the Ksitigarbha Cave. In the middle, Ksitigarbha and his two sons are enshrined. On both sides are ten halls of Yama, with bull heads and horse faces, judges of life and death, etc., all of which are ferocious, spooky, and extremely terrifying. The temperature here is extremely low, and the coldness is overwhelming. It is depressing and chilling to the bones, and goosebumps appear all over the body.
I didn’t dare to stay too long, so I went straight in and reached the Thousand Buddha Cave. The theme here is “Eight Hundred Arhats Chao Guanyin”. The entire layout is in a ring shape, which is magnificent, spectacular and breathtaking! In all directions and on both sides of the head are Arhats, sitting, standing, lying down, or kneeling. Some are leaning on the railing, some are sitting on rocks, some are on cliffs, or some are standing in the clouds. Some are holding a scroll, some are holding a pagoda, some are holding a long sword, or some are carrying a heavy hammer. Either bowing his head in thought, or looking up, or whispering, or listening attentively. Some are neatly dressed and polite; some have exposed breasts and have kind eyebrows; some are ragged and have a sad face; some are dressed in strange clothes and have a hideous face. Some nod and lower their eyebrows, some look up in anticipation, some smile lightly, or hold their breath and concentrate. Laughing or crying, angry or angry...the shapes are different and lifelike, and all kinds of human expressions are included in them. The Buddha said, "One flower, one world, one leaf, one bodhi." The small cave house contains everything in the world, which is amazing!
After leaving the Thousand Buddha Cave, you will go up to Wenchang Pavilion. Zhang Yu is enshrined here. I don't understand how this invincible warrior of the former Qin Dynasty, who wielded swords and crossed spears, became today's elegant and gentle Emperor Wenchang, who is a minister of civil affairs and is worshiped by millions of candidates. When I arrived at the pavilion, the mountain gate was locked. I read the inscription "Wenchang Pavilion Ode" written by Niu Bo outside the door, and then continued walking up.
Go straight up the ridge, walk through Gongshu Immortal Road, pass through Luban Hall, and enter Luban Hall. These buildings are built across the ridge of the mountain. They are steep and abrupt, like a big roc crouching away from the top of the mountain. There are cliffs on both sides. Without the uncanny workmanship of the founder, it would be difficult to build it.
Go up Jianmin Road and reach a platform with a pavilion in the middle called Aimin Pavilion. Sitting in the hall, you can feel the cool breeze and feel comfortable. Standing on the left side of the stone fence, you can have a panoramic view of the whole city of Gangu. In the park at the foot of the mountain, the water is sparkling. In the distance, there are many tall buildings and rows of houses. In the distance, the mountains are vast and rolling. Several old white-skinned pine trees hang on the cliff, with green leaves on their branches, absorbing the essence of the sun and the moon, making them green and vigorous. The branches stretch diagonally in the air, looking forward to the scene, like a dragon exploring the sea, meandering forward. It adds a lot of aura to this dry mountain! Seeing that the mountain ahead was steeper, I sat here for a long time, drank a glass of water, and rested.
After I regained my energy, I moved forward again and climbed up the steep stone steps to Weituo Hall in one breath. After bypassing Weituo Hall and climbing some steep stone steps, we arrived at Wuliang Hall. From here to the left, a long corridor surrounds the cliff and runs across the mountainside. There are more than twenty Buddhist caves and an inscription on the corridor.
In the middle of this long outline is the Buddha Sakyamuni. The Big Buddha is located in a rectangular niche, more than 20 meters high, sitting on a lotus platform. Touch your left knee with your left hand, and bend your right hand upward. His ears hang down from his shoulders, his forehead is wide and his forehead is plump, his face is round, his face is kind and his eyes are kind. Eyes leveled, solemn and solemn, peaceful and tranquil. Birds are circling overhead, and many small Buddhas are climbing on the surrounding stone walls in various poses and shapes. The upper right side of the Buddha is Yaowang Cave, and the upper left side is Tianye Hall and the Three Western Sacred Temples.
Go past the Big Buddha and walk more than 20 meters to the Tianye Hall. Pass through the Tianye Hall and go up to the right. The road here is narrow and the steep steps go straight up. It is frightening and makes your legs tremble! After finally reaching the highest point, the Three Western Holy Temples, I didn't feel the feeling of "harmony between man and nature", but I actually broke out in a cold sweat!
Return to the original route and go to Wei Tuo Hall and turn to the back side. The mountain on the back side is gentler. We stopped by Yongming Temple and then went down the mountain.
I wanted to pay homage to Shizuo Shu and Jiang Wei. These two men were both civil and military, and their names will go down in history. Shi Zuo Shu entered Confucius and listed seventy-two sages. After completing his studies, he returned home, promoted Confucianism and educated all people. Jiang Wei fought in the Central Plains for nine years, his troops galloped on the battlefield, and he dedicated his life to half of the Shu Han Dynasty, and died. These two local sages had outstanding achievements and deserved to be worshiped. Unfortunately, the children were too young and the weather was unbearably hot, so they hurried back after dinner.