The 28th Section of Donglin Temple's Legend

  Xishan is not high, with an elevation of over 300 meters. Donglin Temple, built on the mountain's waist, is often surrounded by thin white clouds in summer. Outside the temple, the green branches of pines and cypresses are visible, and occasionally one or two white birds fly by, creating a serene landscape. On the side of the temple, there is a stream flowing down the mountain, with water sounds all year round, which is the source of the river in Changja County.

  Four people arrived at the temple, and the scenery in front of them changed. The stream that could be seen from head to toe at the foot of the mountain made a small turn in front of the square of Donglin Temple, formed a small pool at the southeast corner of the temple, and then returned to its original path. The stream seemed to have stayed here on purpose to listen to the monks chanting scriptures morning and evening. Building Donglin Temple here is also a unique wisdom.

  Yè Qīnglì pointed to the square in front of the temple and sighed, "This square can hold over a hundred people. The elderly have passed down through word of mouth that when Donglin Temple was at its peak, on the first and fifteenth days of each month, it would be packed with devout men and women, but now you can't see the scenes of those times."

  "Really?" Zhang Nianyue opened her eyes wide and looked around for a while, puzzled, "But I don't see anything special, do you?"

  Ye Qingli smiled and pointed to the pine tree in the center of the square, saying: "Look at this pine tree. Although it's not very impressive, it's already hundreds of years old." She then pointed to a smooth boulder beside the tree and said: "This boulder is called the Scripture Rock. It was once the place where the famous monk Dao Yan of the Yuan and Ming dynasties lectured on scriptures."

  "Who is Dao Yan? Do you know, Mu?" Nian Yue turned her head and asked Ye Zhen Ran.

  Ye Ziran shook his head in ignorance.

  Nianyue's mother looked at Yezhieran and said: "Dao Yan is the same as Mingchu's political monk Yao Guangxiao, haven't you heard of him, Little Ye?"

  Ye Ziran was startled and asked: "Has Yao Guangxiao lectured on scriptures here?"

  Nianyue saw Ye Zhen listening to the story of Daoyuan Monk, and said with interest: "Wooden head, tell me about this Daoyuan Monk, what's his other name? Yao... Guang..."

  "Yao Guangxiao." Ye Zhen smiled and continued: "This Yao Guangxiao was a famous person. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, he became a monk and his Buddhist name should be Dao Yan. After Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, came to power, Dao Yan was summoned to take an examination in the Ministry of Rites and later was selected to recite scriptures in the palace of Prince of Yan, Zhu Di. After Zhu Yuanzhang's death, Dao Yan advised Zhu Di to rise up in arms and became his first strategist, achieving great merits. When Zhu Di ascended to the throne, he rewarded those with merit, and Dao Yan was ranked first, appointed as a high-ranking official, and given the name Yao Guangxiao, dominating the court for a time. Although Yao Guangxiao held office, after retiring from court, he still wore monk's robes and did not take a wife or have children. His poetry was also renowned throughout the land. After his death, Ming Chengzu Zhu Di suspended court for two days and buried him with Buddhist rites. He is one of the most famous political monks in Chinese history."

  Zhang Nianheng listened to Ye Zhiran's introduction and couldn't help but say with admiration: "Brother Ye is indeed knowledgeable and well-informed." This was the first time he addressed him as Brother Ye.

  Nian Yue suddenly became pleased and said: "Of course, Mu Tou is a great talent of J University."

  This remark however earned him his younger brother's ridicule: "He is a genius among wooden people, and a wooden person among geniuses."

  Nian Yue's face lifted, wanting to refute, but Ye Qingli interrupted: "Stop messing around, go take a look at the back of the giant stone, there is a poem written by Master Yan after lecturing on the classics, due to his emotional reflection on life's encounters."

  Everyone turned to the back of the giant stone, and indeed the back was already ground flat. A poem was inscribed: "The affairs of Ji Bei Jiang Nan are no longer what they used to be, the Zen machine has not yet been completed, but the war machine is about to be explained. Only heard that the wise man taught Huang Shi, once saw the meritorious official wearing a monk's robe. The green sleeves were wet and empty, the spring was old, the dust on the stone steps was solid, and the guests came rarely. A Buddhist verse was spoken in a low tone for a long time, and the gentle breeze moved the white silk."

  "The Zen machine is not yet finished, saying the war machine" is indeed a reflection of Daoyuan and Shang's own experiences.

  Ye Ziran read it through and couldn't help but ask Ye Qingli: "Auntie, is this really Daoyan's handwriting?"

  Ye Qingli shook her head and said, "No, it was written by a scholar of the Qing Dynasty, but Dharma Master Yan's lectures here were real. It is said that the first poem was written here under inspiration."

  Yeziran thought back to the prosperous scene of Dao Yan's lectures in those years, and felt a kind of reverence for Donglin Temple. He thought that with this story and heritage, Xishan Donglin Temple could tap into great tourism potential. Moreover, the place is picturesque with beautiful mountains and rivers, and talented people.

  As the crowd approached the temple gate, Ye Zhenran saw a couplet on either side of the entrance: "The temple has dust and clear wind sweeps; The mountain gate is unlocked and white clouds seal." Turning back to look at the scenery around him, he felt particularly fitting. In such an atmosphere, Donglin Temple added another mysterious feeling, he glanced at Nianyue and saw that she had also put away her playful attitude as a girl and was no longer laughing. Zhang Nianheng, who was taking pictures, walked in last, came to the front of the gate and read the couplet aloud, then took his camera and took several shots in a row. Everyone followed Ye Qingli into the temple.

  Donglin Temple is of medium size, with the main hall on the central axis of the temple gate, and side halls and wing rooms on either side. Ye Qingli leads everyone past the Guardian Hall and the Eight Immortals Hall in front, to the main hall "Yuantong Hall".

  "Yuantong" is an alias of Guanyin Bodhisattva, meaning "perfect and all-encompassing, spiritual and eternal". "Unbiased, unobstructed, perfect and thorough." Inside the temple is enshrined a statue of Thousand-Handed Guanyin Bodhisattva.

  Entering the grand hall, in front of the Guanyin statue, he bowed his head and worshiped. When he stood up, Ye Zhen saw an old monk walking towards him with a gentle smile, kind eyes, deep wrinkles, and two long eyebrows that had turned white, giving off an air of having attained enlightenment.

  Nianyue's mother hurriedly went forward to greet the old monk. "Master, it's been a long time since we last met, and you look even more energetic and healthy than before. Ye Qingli is paying her respects to you."

  As soon as he saw him, he knew it was Sude and Shang.

  "Amitabha, Master Ye is well? Today's visit by the lotus step is an honor for our temple." The monk smiled when he saw Ye Qingli and asked: "Are these three young masters members of Master Ye's family?"

  Ye Qingli then pointed to the three and introduced them to the old monk: "Suffering Virtue Master, this is my daughter Zhang Nianyue, son Zhang Nianheng." She pointed to Ye Zhenran with her hand and said: "This is Little Ye, Uncle's new friend."

  "Amitabha Buddha." Suffering De said a Buddha's name, his eyes stayed on Ye Ziran's face for a moment, revealing an astonished expression. Then he smiled and looked at Zhang Nianyue and her siblings, saying: "Ye Shizhu has good fortune, both daughter and son have deep blessings, in the future they will sail smoothly, no need for parents to worry."

  Yeqing Li heard and couldn't help but smile, saying: "Thank you, Master. The children are doing well, which is the greatest hope for parents."

  Kude and Shang Yan smiled and turned to Ye Zhenran, saying: "Young Master Ye, looking at your face, you are rich and noble, with a dignified appearance. Are you an official?"

  Ye Ziran looked up in surprise and asked: "Master, how did you know?"

  "Man's heart, nature, fate, fortune, energy, color and appearance are all closely related. The heart determines the nature, called heart-nature; the nature determines the fate, called nature-fate; the fate determines the fortune, called fate-fortune; the fortune determines the energy, called fortune-energy; the energy determines the color, called energy-color; the color determines the appearance, called color-appearance. By observing your appearance, I can know your heart-nature. A person who survives in an official circle naturally carries the characteristics of an official circle, also known as official prestige or official air. Every move will reveal it. Ye Shizhu has an official air, a calm and peaceful face, with eyes looking up, his career is just starting, and his future prospects are boundless."

  Others were fine, but Zhang Nianyue was overjoyed and said with a smile: "Master indeed has sharp eyes, seeing very accurately." Zhang Nianheng glanced at his sister and muttered a few words.

  Ye Qingli kept looking at the expression of Kude and Shang, seeing him comment on Ye Zhenran for a few sentences, but ending with a light sigh, knowing that there were still words unspoken, and unconsciously asked: "Master, is there anything that can't be said?"

  Kude and Shang Dao said: "It's not a taboo word, although Ye Shi Zhu has encountered some small disasters, he is a person with great luck, and he can turn bad luck into good fortune. Ye Shi Zhu, little Ye Shi Zhu, you four come to the Zen room together to offer tea?"

  Ye Qingli and Ye Zhenran simultaneously joined hands in thanks: "Thank you, Master, for troubling you."

  Kude and Shang stretched out his right hand to make a gesture of invitation, Ye Qingli politely stopped in her tracks, after a brief show of modesty, Kude and Shang still walked slightly ahead.

  Five people sat in the Zen room, and Master Sude poured tea for them. Ye Qingli picked up the teacup and smelled it in front of her nose, saying with a smile: "Master, I haven't had this tea for two years, and I really miss its clear fragrance and rich hometown flavor."

  Ku De monk joined his palms together and said a Buddha's name, "Benefactor Ye's house has a broad mind, so I'll mention the old times. The monk often chatted with Benefactor Ye, knowing that in recent years he was busy practicing medicine, relieving the suffering of the common people, which is a great virtuous deed, the monk rejoices on his behalf." Ku De monk and Old Ye had known each other for many years, often expounding scriptures and chatting together, so they were also very familiar with Ye Qingli's situation.

  Zhang Nianyue had been listening to her mother's stories about the virtues of Sude Master since she was a child, and she already had a good impression of him. In the Yuantong Hall, she heard his evaluation of Ye Zhenran, which made her feel even more affectionate. Listening to her mother and him being polite, she couldn't help but say: "Master Sude, my brother and I have been listening to mom's stories about the wonders of Donglin Temple and your greatness since we were young. Today, seeing you in person, it's indeed true to its reputation."

  Kude and the monk chanted Buddha's name again, and said with a smile: "Ms. Zhang, the monk has only practiced Buddhism for a few more years, it can't be said to be profound, but the protection of Donglin Temple for the people from all directions is indeed true."

  Zhang Nianyue asked with great interest: "Please, Master, tell us."

  Ku De said: "The water and soil of a place nurture the people of that place. Most of the population in Changja County drink water from the river in the city, and the source is the stream flowing through Donglin Temple on Xishan Mountain."

  Everyone nodded in agreement.

  Kude and the monk continued: "The Donglin Temple was built in the second year of the Yuan Dynasty's Huangqing era. In the early Ming dynasty, Master Dao Yan lectured on scriptures in the temple several times and made a great vow to divert the stream water from Xishan, allowing it to flow through the temple and form a small pond. The stream water would stay in the pond before flowing down the mountain towards Changja. After the pond was formed, Master Dao Yan personally consecrated it by reciting scriptures and praying for peace. Since then, for hundreds of years, the Donglin Temple has held scripture recitals twice a month by the pond without interruption. During this period, China experienced many wars. Not to mention smaller conflicts, major wars included the invasion of the Qing army, Wu Sangui's rebellion, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Japan's invasion, and the Nationalist-Communist War, but each time the war did not affect the area where the stream flowed through, making Changja a peaceful land. Looking at historical records, this is quite rare."