"Eight Records of Yongzhou" by Liu Zongyuan

Shi De Xishan Banquet Travel Notes

Original text

I have been killing people since I was spared, and I live in this state, always worried about Li. In the gaps between them, he walked and wandered for a long time. Every day he and his disciples went up high mountains, into deep forests, and back to streams, where they found secluded springs and strange rocks. When they arrive, they sit down with grass on their backs, pour the pot over and get drunk; when they are drunk, they lie on each other's pillows and dream while lying down, and their thoughts are very different, and the dreams are also of the same meaning; when they wake up, they get up and return; they think that the mountains and rivers of every state are strange. I own all of them, but I didn’t realize the strangeness of Xishan Mountain.

On September 28th this year, I was sitting in the Western Pavilion of the Lotus and looking at the Western Mountains, and I started to notice something different. Then he ordered his servants to cross the Xiangjiang River, dye the river's edge, chop the hazelnuts and burn the grass, and stop at the height of the poor mountains. If you climb up with a hand and fly with a skipper, all the soil in several states will be under the quilt. Its high and low position is as complicated as a cave, thousands of miles in size, and it is impossible to escape. It is green and white, and the sky is the same outside. Then I realized that the mountain was unique and not similar to Peiyuan. It's as long and leisurely as Haoqi, but it doesn't know where it ends; it's like wandering with the Creator, but it doesn't know where it ends. When the wine is filled with wine, one becomes slumped and drunk, unaware of the sun. The pale twilight comes from afar, until I can't see anything, but I still don't want to go back. The heart condenses the form and releases it, and merges with all things. Then I know that I have not started swimming towards it, and my swimming has just begun. Therefore, it is written with ambition.

It is Sui, the fourth year of Yuanhe.

Translation

Ever since I was demoted and lived in Yongzhou, I have been worried and uneasy in my heart. After official duties, I take a slow walk, wandering around aimlessly. Every day I climb high mountains with my companions, go deep into the forest, and see the twists and turns of mountain streams, deep springs, and strange rocks. No matter how far, we will go. As soon as we reached those places, we pushed aside the weeds, lay down on the ground, poured wine and drank until we were drunk. After getting drunk, they slept on the ground with their pillows on each other, and soon fell asleep. Whatever you can think of in your mind can appear in your sleep. Wake up and go home. I thought that I would have visited all the unique places in Yongzhou’s landscape. Little did they know that there is also a strange and unique Xishan Mountain.

On September 28 this year, sitting in the West Pavilion of Fahua Temple and looking at the Western Mountains, I discovered the beautiful scenery of the Western Mountains. OK, cut down the overgrown shrubs and burn the messy thatch, and we won’t stop until we reach the top of the Western Mountain. Clinging to the branches, I climbed to the top of the mountain, spread my legs and sat on the ground. The land of almost several states was gathered under my seat: uneven, empty and low-lying, rolling and unbearable; some were like ant nests, and some were like ant nests. It's like an ant hole. They seem to be between sizes, but are actually thousands of miles away. They are all gathered in front of you, and there is no escape from hiding. The green mountains and green waters linger around each other and connect with the distant sky. It is like this when you look around. After reading this, I realized that this mountain is indeed unique and very different from ordinary small mounds. Unknowingly, my body and mind were separated from the vast aura of heaven and earth in nature, and I no longer knew where it ended. So I picked up the wine pot, filled the wine glass, drank to my heart's content, and fell to the ground drunk. Before I knew it, the sun was setting, and the twilight was dim, coming closer and closer from afar. It gradually became dark and I couldn't see anything, but I had no intention of returning. It is so completely forgetful of form and spirit, unrestrained, as if it has become one with all things in the world. Only then did I realize that there was no tour in the past, and the real tour starts from now. So I deliberately wrote this down. This year was the fourth year of Yuanhe (809).

The story of Cobalt Lake

Original text

The Cobalt Lake is in western Shanxi. At the beginning, Gairan water rushed down from the south, reached the rocks, and twisted and flowed eastward; it was steep and steep, and the swings became more violent and nibbled at its ends. Therefore, it was wide on the sides and deep in the middle, and stopped when it reached the rocks; the foam formed a wheel, Then walk slowly. It is clear and flat, and has ten acres. It is surrounded by trees and suspended by springs.

There are people living on it, so they are in urgent need of a visit. Once the money comes to the door, they say: "I can't bear the accumulation of official rent and private bonds. Since I have moved to the mountain, I am willing to trade with the fields on the pond." Wealth can slow down disaster."

It is as good as it sounds. Then worship its platform, extend its sill, and walk its spring to the high one and fall into the pool, and there will be a murmuring sound. It is especially suitable to watch the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival, so as to see how high the sky is and how different the energy is. Who is happy to live in a foreign country and forget his homeland? Isn't this a good place for him?

Translation

Zhuanjuntan is to the west of Xishan.

It probably started with Ranshui running down from the south, encountering the obstruction of mountains and rocks, and flowing eastward in a zigzag direction. The water at its head and tail is steep and violent, becoming more agitated and eroding the cliffs, so the edges are broad and the water is deep in the middle. Finally, it stops when it encounters rocks; The vortex formed by the water flow slowly flows away like a wheel rolling over. There are ten acres of clear and calm water. It is surrounded by trees and has spring water flowing down from it.

There are residents on the mountain. I have come to visit many times. As soon as I knocked on the door, they came and told me: "The government rent and private debt are getting more and more. (There is no way). I want to hoe weeds on the mountain to open up wasteland." , and am willing to sell my field on the pond to temporarily relieve the debt."

I am happy to agree to his words. I raised the table, extended the railings, and diverted the spring water from the heights so that it fell into the pool, making a pleasant sound. Especially during the Mid-Autumn Festival, it is more appropriate to enjoy the moon, as you can see the sky higher and the field of vision more distant. What makes me prefer living in this wilderness and forgetting my homeland? Could it be this Zhuanjuntan?

Notes on the West Hills of Gujuntan

Original text

Eight days after getting to the west mountain [1], I looked for the northwest path of the mountain pass for 200 steps, and found the Cobalt Pond [2]. Twenty-five steps to the west of the pond, when it was turbulent and dredged, it was a fish beam [3]. There are hills above the beams with bamboo trees growing there. There are almost countless people whose rocks are so angry that they come out of the earth and create strange shapes. The way they come down in a row is like cattle and horses drinking in the stream; the way they rush up in rows of horns is like bears climbing up the mountain [6].

A hill is too small to cover an acre, it can be contained in a cage. Asked its owner, he said: "The Tang family abandoned the land, but the goods were not for sale." When asked about its price, he said: "Only four hundred." I sold it out of pity. Li Shenyuan and Yuan Keji traveled together at the same time [7], and they were all overjoyed. It was unexpected. That is to say, he took out the tools, shoveled the filthy grass, cut down the bad trees, and burned them with fierce fire. The trees stand tall, the beautiful bamboos are exposed, and the strange rocks are revealed. Looking from it, one can see the height of the mountains, the floating clouds, the flowing streams, and the flying birds and beasts. Lying down on the mat, the clear and cold appearance is related to the eyes and thoughts [9], the buzzing sound is related to the ears and thoughts [10], the leisurely and empty ones are related to the divine thoughts, and the deep and quiet ones are related to the mind's thoughts. Those who arrive in a different place within a few days [11], even though they were good people in ancient times, may not be able to get there.

Oops! With the victory of Ziqiu, the Feng, Hao, Hu, and Du [12] will become more and more unobtainable for those who are interested in buying them. Now this state has been abandoned, and the farmers and fishermen have passed over it and left it shabby. There are four hundred houses [13] in it, which cannot be sold for consecutive years. But I, Shenyuan, and Keji are happy to get it, but the consequences will be unfortunate! The writing is on the stone, so what happened to Heziqiu.

Notes

[1] Xishan: Five miles west of Yongzhou (now Lingling County, Hunan). 〔2〕Cobalt: iron. Because the pool looks like an iron, it is named Cobalt Lake. 〔3〕Jun: deep. Weirong: A dam that blocks water, leaving a gap in the middle for placing bamboo baskets for fishing. 〔4〕Yanjian (jiǎn Jane): The appearance of twists and turns. 〔5〕嵚(qīnqin): The appearance of towering rocks. 〔6〕罴 (pí skin): a type of bear, larger than a bear, commonly known as a human bear 〔7〕 Li Shenyuan and Yuan Keji: both are friends of Liu Zongyuan. Li Shenyuan, whose name is Youqing, was formerly the Minister of the Imperial Palace. Yuan Keji was originally the censor. At this time, the two were demoted to Yongzhou together. 〔8〕刈(yì meaning): cut. 〔9〕Qing Ling (líng zero): clear and bright. 〔10〕瀯瀯(yíngying)?: The sound of spring water. 〔11〕Zaxun: Zhou Xun, that is, ten days. [12] Feng (fēngfeng): In the east of Hu County, Shaanxi Province, where King Wen of Zhou established his capital. Hao (hào hao): southwest of present-day Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, where King Wu of Zhou established his capital. Hu: Today's Hu County, Shaanxi Province. Du: Also known as Du Ling, it is located in the southeast of today's Xi'an City. The above four places are all the places where rich and noble families live near Chang'an, the capital of Tang Dynasty. 〔13〕Jia: Same as "price".

Translation

Eight days after finding the Western Mountain, I explored the northwest along the mountain pass for 200 steps, and found the Cobalt Er Pool again. Twenty-five steps west of the pool, deep in the fast flowing water, there is a barrier of earth built to block the water, and a weir beam with a gap for a net. There is a small mound on the beam. Bamboo trees grow on the mound. The mounds of rocks may suddenly protrude or stand tall, breaking through the earth and forming strange and strange shapes. They are almost countless; some are piled sideways. They tend to go down, just like cattle and horses drinking water by the stream; some suddenly rush forward, seeming to be competing to go up, like bears climbing up the mountain.

This hillock is so small that it can fit into a sleeve. I asked the owner of the hill about the situation, and he replied: "This is the abandoned land of a family named Tang. It was put up for sale but could not be sold." I asked again how much the land was worth, and he replied: "Only four hundred taels of silver." I sympathized with Xiaoqiu's misfortune and bought it. At that time, Li Shenyuan and Yuan Keji were traveling with me. They were both very happy and thought it was an unexpected gain.

So they took another tool, uprooted the weeds, cut down the miscellaneous trees, and lit a raging fire to burn away all the filth. (Suddenly), the beautiful trees seemed to stand upright, the beautiful bamboo forest was exposed, and the steep rocks became more prominent. Looking out from between the bamboos, trees and rocks, one can see distant mountains, floating clouds, gurgling streams, and birds and animals playing freely; all things are performing their skills in harmony and joy, and appear under this hill. Lying on the hill with a mat and a pillow, the cool and bright scenery of the mountains and rivers comes to meet my eyes, the sound of the flowing water reaches my ears, and the vast and distant sky connects with my spirit. The deep and quiet avenue is in harmony with the soul. I managed to get two scenic spots in less than ten days. Even people who loved scenery in ancient times might not be so lucky!

Alas, with the beautiful scenery of this hill, if it were placed in Feng, Hao, E, Du and other places near Chang'an, then the aristocratic people who like to have fun would compete to buy it, and the price would increase by one thousand taels every day. , are becoming increasingly unavailable. It is now abandoned in Yongzhou. Farmers and fishermen passed by it and looked down upon it. The asking price was only four hundred taels, but they could not sell it for many years. However, Shenyuan, Keji, I, and I loved it and got it. Is this really what is called an encounter? I wrote the experience of getting the hill on a stone to celebrate meeting the hill.

Yuan Jia Ke Ji

Original text

From the southwest of Ran River, the water runs for ten miles. Among the five most desirable landscapes, none is Cobalt Lake; from the mouth of the stream To the west, if you travel by land, the best options are eight or nine, none more than Xishan. From the southeast of Chaoyang Rock, you can travel by water to Wujiang River. The most ideal ones are three, none more than Yuan Jiashi; they are all secluded and beautiful places in Yongzhong.

In the dialects between Chu and Yue, the tributaries of water are called "thirsty" [1]. When thirsty, it merges with Nanguan Gaozhang on the top and Baijiase on the bottom. Among them, Chongzhou, Xiaoxi, Chengtan, Qianzhu [2], and toilet [3] are twists and turns. The flat ones are deep black, and the steep ones are boiling white [4]. If the boat travels slowly, it will suddenly become endless. There are hills emerging from the water. The mountains are full of beautiful rocks, with green bushes growing on them, and they are always beautiful in winter and summer [5]. There are many caves next to it. There are many white gravels under it[6]; there are many maple, nan, heather, cypress, cypress, camphor, pomelo; the grasses include orchid and zhizhi, and there are also exotic flowers, which are like acacia and creeping, and they are water and stone.

Every wind comes down from the four mountains, vibrating the big trees and covering the grass[8], which are red and green, with the fragrance of the grass[9]; the waves swirl and retreat, and they retreat into the valley; they are shaken Wei Rui [10], with the passage of time. Most of them are like this. There is nothing left to say.

The people of Yong have not traveled far enough, and they will not dare to specialize in it [11]. Out and spread to the world. The landowner was the Yuan family, so he was named Yan.

Notes

1. The sound is like the brown of clothes: These six characters are suspected to be annotations and should not be included in this article.

2. Zhu: A small island in the water.

3. Toilets: mixed.

4. steep, rapids; boiling, boiling.

5. Weiran: lush vegetation.

6. White gravel: white gravel.

7. Zhen: Intertwined and entangled appearance.

8. Ran: Gentle.

9. 蓊葧: Rich.

10. Wei Rui: lush vegetation with drooping branches and leaves.

11. Exclusive: exclusive.

Translation

From Ranxi to the southwest, ten miles away by water, there are five places with better scenery. The best scenery is Cobalt Lake; from the mouth of the stream to the west, Taking the land route, there are eight or nine places with better scenery, and the best scenery is Xishan; from Chaoyangyan to the southeast, taking the waterway to Wujiang, there are three places with better scenery, and the best scenery is Yuanjia Ke; they all It is a beautiful and strange place in Yongzhou.

In the dialect between Chu and Yue, the tributary of the water is called "thirsty" (pronounced "brown"). The upper reaches of Thirst meet the high mountains of Nankan, and the lower reaches meet "Hakkenase". Among them, islands (islands in rivers), creeks, clear pools, and small islands are intertwined and meandering. Where the water is calm it is dark black, and where it is rapid it foams like boiling water. The boat seemed to have reached the end, and suddenly the river had no end in sight. A small mountain emerged from the water. The mountains are full of beautiful rocks, with green grass growing on them, which are thick and lush in winter and summer. There are many caves beside the mountain. There are many white gravels at the foot of the mountain; the trees on the mountain are mostly maples, nan trees, heathers, cypress trees, locust trees, camphor trees, and pomelo trees; the grasses are mostly orchid grasses, galloping grasses, and many strange flowers, similar to Albizia julibrissin grows many stems and vines, wrapping around the stones in the water.

Whenever the wind blows down from the surrounding mountains, it blows the big trees and gently shakes the grass, which is colorful and fragrant; Lush, changing according to time. Most of the scenery is like this. I can't describe it all.

I didn’t come to Yongzhou for fun. I came here and didn’t dare to enjoy it alone. Come back and write an article to tell the world. The owner of the land here is named Yuan, so I call it "Yuan Family Ke".

The Story of Xiaoshitan

Original text

Walking a hundred and twenty paces from Xiaoqiu to the west, across a bamboo field, I heard the sound of water, like a ring ring, and felt very happy. After cutting bamboo, we took the road and saw a small pool at the bottom. The water was especially clear and cold. The whole stone is used as the bottom. Close to the shore, roll up the bottom of the stone to get out. It's Di, it's Yu, it's Kai, it's rock. Green trees and green vines are covered with swaying nets and are scattered and scattered.

There are hundreds of fish in the pond, but they all seem to be swimming in the air and have nothing to rely on. The sun is clear, and the shadows are spread on the rocks, but they don't move; they disappear far away; they come and go, as if they are enjoying themselves with tourists. Looking to the southwest of the pool, you can see the twists and turns of snakes, and the light and death can be seen. Its shores are so different from each other that its origin cannot be known.

Sitting on the pool, surrounded by bamboo trees, it is so lonely and desolate, I feel desolate and desolate. Because the place was too clear to live in for a long time, I remembered it and left.

Fellow travelers: Wu Wuling, Gong Gu, Yu Di Zongxuan. Those who followed were Cui's Erxiaosheng: "Forgive yourself" and "Fengyi".

Notes

Huangzhu: Bamboo that grows into a forest.

Ruming Peihuan: It is like the sound made by the jade pendants and jade rings worn by people touching each other.

Qinglu: clear.

The whole stone is the bottom: (Tan) uses the whole stone as the bottom.

Near the shore, roll up the bottom of the stone to come out: Near the shore, some parts of the bottom of the stone roll over to expose the water.

For Di, for Yu, for Chan, for rock: into different shapes such as Di, Yu, Chan, and rock. Di, high ground in the water. Island, small island.偁, uneven rock.

Green vines: green stems and vines.

Mengluo is swaying and draped unevenly: covering, entwining, shaking, connecting, uneven, and drifting in the wind.

Kebai Xutou: There are about a hundred of them.

They all seem to be swimming in the air with nothing to rely on.

The sunlight shines brightly, and the shadows are spread on the rocks: The sunlight reaches the bottom of the water, and the shadows of the fish are reflected on the rocks.

Still motionless: (fish shadow) motionless. Wei Ran, looking stunned.

Chu Er passed away: suddenly he swam away into the distance. Chuer, suddenly.

Coming and going briskly and swiftly.

Fighting and twisting, snakes moving, brightness and extinction can be seen: (the stream) twists and turns, (looking over) one part is visible, and the other part is invisible. Dippers, twists and turns like the Big Dipper. Snake, twist like a snake crawling. Ming and extinguishing, appearing or hiding.

Canine teeth: interlaced like a dog's teeth.

Desolate and bone-chilling, melancholy and profound: I feel desolate, chilly to the bones, extremely quiet and profound. Quietly melancholy, so silent that it makes people feel sad. Profound, deep.

It means the environment is too clear: desolate, desolate.

Those who followed were the two young men of the Cui family: The people who followed were two young men named Cui.

译文

Walking a hundred and twenty paces west from the hill, you heard the sound of running water, like jade pendants and jade rings touching each other, across a bamboo forest. My heart likes to hear this sound. Cut down the bamboo and create a path. Walking down, you will see a small pool with particularly clear water. The small pool uses a whole stone as the bottom. Close to the shore, some parts of the stone bottom are rolled up and exposed out of the water, forming various shapes of dikes, islets, ridges and rocks. Green trees and green vines cover, twine, sway, and connect each other, unevenly, and drifting in the wind.

There are about a hundred fish in the pond. They all seem to be swimming in the air with nothing to rely on. The sun shines down to the bottom of the pool, and the shadow of the fish is reflected on the rocks at the bottom of the water. It stops there motionless; suddenly it swims away again, moving very quickly. It seems that they are amusing each other with tourists.

Looking to the southwest of Shitan, you can see a small stream that is as winding as the Big Dipper and as curved as a crawling snake. You can clearly see whether the stream body is visible or shadowy. The terrain on both sides of the stream is intertwined like a dog's teeth, and it is unknown where the source of the stream is.

I sat on ShiTan glanced surrounded by bamboos and trees, silent and no tourists around. It was an environment that made me feel desolate, chilled to my bones, and extremely silent. It's very deep and the atmosphere makes people feel sad. Because the environment here was too deserted to stay for a long time, I took note of the scenery and left.

The people who traveled together were: Wu Wuling, Gong Gu, and my brother Zongxuan. As followers, there were two young men named Cui: one named Shuji and the other named Fengyi.

Story of the Stone Canal

Original text

I couldn't walk a hundred steps southwest from the thirsty place, but I reached the stone canal and the people's bridge on it. There is a spring that is quiet and quiet, and its sound is sometimes loud and sometimes soft. The width of the canal may be close to a foot, or it may be twice as wide, and its length may be ten steps. The flow reached the big rock and fell out from under it. Going over the stone, there is a pool of stone, covered with prosperous pudding, and surrounded by fresh greenery. Then he turned west and fell under a rock, then fell into a small pool in the north. The area of ​​the pond has been reduced by a hundred feet, and it is clear and deep, with many swift fishes. Then he went to the north and wandered for a long time. His gaze seemed to be endless, but he suddenly fell into thirst. On its sides are treacherous rocks, strange trees, strange flowers, and beautiful arrows, which can be lined up to sit in a row. The wind shakes its top and rhymes the cliffs and valleys. Seeing is quiet, hearing is far away.

I got it from Zhou Mu. Take away the decayed shadows, and remove the earth and rocks. They are both worshiped and burned, and they are full of fragrance. It is a pity that it has not yet been passed down, so I keep a record of its belongings, leave it to the person, and write down its Yang, so that those who can do good things in the future can find it easy.

On the eighth day of the first month of the seventh year of Yuanhe, the Ying Canal reached Dashi. On October 19th, after crossing the stone, I found the small Shihong Pool, and the beauty of the canal began to end.

Translation

Less than a hundred steps southwest from Ketan, you will see a stone canal with a short bridge on it. There is a spring flowing quietly, and the sound when it flows is louder and quieter. The width of the spring channel is sometimes less than one foot, and sometimes it is two feet wide. Its length is about ten steps. Its water flow encounters a large stone and overflows it. After jumping over the big rocks and walking forward, you will find a stone pond covered with calamus and surrounded by green moss. The water in the canal then turns to flow west, flowing into the crevices beside the rocks, and finally flows into the small pool in the north like a waterfall. The small pool is less than a hundred feet in diameter. The water in the pool is clear and deep, and there are many fast-swimming fish. The water in the canal then meandered further north, seemingly endless, and finally flowed into the Thirst Pond. One side of the pool is full of strange stones, strange trees, strange flowers and plants, and beautiful arrow grass, where people can sit side by side and rest. The wind blows on the top of the mountain, like beautiful music, echoing among the cliffs and valleys. Although it looks very peaceful, it sounds very distant.

I followed the Liuzhou prefect to discover it. I cleared away the gloomy dense forest and rotten dead wood, excavated and dredged the silt and rocks, piled up the dead wood and grass and burned them, and the stone canal was full of water. .

Unfortunately, there has never been anyone who wrote it, so I wrote it all down and left it to the craftsmen to carve it on the stone on the north side of the pool to help people who like to travel in the future see it more easily.

On the eighth day of the first lunar month of the seventh year of Yuanhe, we arrived at Dashi from Yingqu. On October 19, I crossed the stone and discovered Shihong Xiaotan. The beauty of Shihong Lake was therefore fully displayed to tourists.

The story of Shijian

Original text

The Shiqu is poor, and it goes from the northwest of the bridge to the shadow of the earth and mountains, and the people have no bridge. The water is as big as one-third of the stone canal, with a flat stone base and reaches both ends. It's like a bed, like a hall, like a table, like a banquet. It is spread horizontally on it, flowing like weaving and sounding like playing a harp. After uncovering the ground and going there, he broke off the bamboos, swept away the old leaves, and cleared away the rotten wood, so that he could live on the Hu bed for eighteen or nineteen years. The flow of communication and the exciting sounds are all under the bed; the water with green feathers and the stones with dragon scales all shade it. Did people in ancient times enjoy this? Will anyone who comes later be able to follow my example? The day of acquisition is the same as Shiqu.

Those who come from thirst first go to Shiqu and then Shijian; those who come from Baijiase go to Shijian first and then Shijian. The poorest people in the stream all come from the southeast of Shicheng Village, and there are only a few happy people among them. The deep mountains and secluded forests on it are steep and dangerous, and the road is extremely narrow.

Translation

Walk northwest from the bridge in Shiqu. Once you reach the north slope of Tushan, the people built another bridge. The water volume is three times larger than that of Shiqu. Some of the stones are like beds, some are like the cornerstones of a doorway, like a banquet filled with dishes, and some are like inner and outer rooms separated by thresholds. The water flow is like the pattern of textiles. The sound of the spring is like the sound of playing a piano as one walks barefoot. Break bamboo arrows, sweep old leaves, remove rotten wood, and clear an open space where eighteen or nineteen chairs can be arranged. The intertwining water, the sound of crashing water, is all under the bed; trees like kingfisher feathers, and stones like fish, dragons, and unicorns all cover the chair. Did anyone in ancient times find such happiness here? Will anyone in the future be able to follow my footsteps and come here? The day to arrive at Shijian is the same as that at Shiqu.

People who come here from the Yuan family go to Shiqu first and then go to Shijian; people who go up the mountain from Baijiase go to Shijian first and then go to Shijian. The source of Shijian is in the southeast of Shicheng Village. There are several places to visit in the middle of the road. The deep mountains and old forests above are even more precipitous, and the road is too narrow to reach the end.

Notes on Little Rock City Mountain

Original text

From the north of the Xishan Road, crossing Huangmao Ridge and going down, there are two roads: one goes out to the west, but there is no trace of it. What we got: one of them was from the north to the east, no more than 40 feet long. The soil was cut off and divided into rivers, and there were piled stones across the boundary. Above it is the shape of a beam and a wooden beam; next to it is a fortress, with a door like a door. When you look into the darkness, you throw a small stone, and there is a sound of water in the hole. Far. The unsealed soil grows beautiful trees and beautiful arrows, which are more strange and stronger. Their sparse and slender branches are like those planted by wise men.

Oops! I have doubted whether the Creator has existed for a long time, and the more I think about it, the more I believe it exists. Also blame it for not being a Zhongzhou, but being a barbarian, and not being able to sell it for thousands of years. It is hard work but useless. God is so generous and should not be like this, then the result is nothing? Or it may be said: Those who comfort their husbands and virtuous people but humiliate them. Or it may be said: The spirit of his Qi is not a great person, but only a thing. Therefore, in the south of Chu there are few people and many rocks. It's both, I don't believe it.

Translation

Walking straight north from the Xishan intersection, crossing Huangmaoling and going down, there are two roads: one goes west, walking there in search of scenery but getting nothing; The other one turned slightly north and then turned east. After only 40 feet, the road was cut off by a river, and a rocky mountain blocked the end of the road. The top of the stone mountain naturally forms the shape of a parapet and pillars, and a fortress-like piece protrudes from the side, with a cave like door. When I looked into the hole, it was completely dark. If I threw a small stone in, there would be a splash of water. The sound was very loud and took a long time to disappear. The stone mountain can be climbed to the top of the mountain and you can look far away from the top. There is no soil on the mountain, but there are good trees and bamboos growing there, and they are even more peculiar in shape and hard in texture. The bamboos and trees are distributed in a dense and uneven manner, as if they were deliberately arranged artificially.

Alas! I have doubted the existence of God for a long time, and now I am even more convinced that God does exist.

But it's strange that he didn't place the Little Rock City Mountain in the densely populated Central Plains area, but placed it in this remote barbarian land. Even after thousands of years, there is no chance to show its strange scenery. This is simply It's a waste of effort and it's useless, and the God of the gods doesn't seem to do that. So there really is no God, right? Some people say: "The reason why God arranged this is to use this beautiful scenery to comfort those wise men who were banished here." Others say: "The spirit of the mountains and rivers in this place does not breed great men, but only condenses into this marvelous place." The mountains are beautiful, so the southern part of the Chu region has fewer talents and is richer in strange peaks and rocks." I don't believe either of these theories.