I am not Ximen Qing.

Regarding the red goldfish in the small pond, the red goldfish in the small pond of Gushan are the most wary goldfish, unlike the groups of red goldfish in the release pond of Wofo Temple, which are never afraid of people. On the contrary, wherever there are people, the red goldfish gather in groups. It can be seen that the state of mind of the goldfish in different small ponds is completely different. This does not prove whether or not there is a Buddha nature, but only that it is a place where people rarely go!

So, goldfish are very sensitive to changes in the outside world. Isn't the feeling of being above and below water similar to the feeling of being in an airplane? It seems that the shackles of freedom are constraints. The pond restricts the goldfish's freedom and makes them see the world above the water as a nightmare. Therefore, Lin Bu is the true Zhuangzi. Tao Yuanming, to escape the constraints of officialdom, hid in the foot of Zhongnan Mountain, loving to live under the eastern fence and leisurely see the southern mountains. This is Tao Yuanming's idealism, a free and unrestrained pastoral life. But Lin Bu truly grasped the highest realm of freedom. In Lin Bu's inner world, all worldly love and affection are dirty. Lin Bu is the true creator of the mythical theory of love. Plum blossoms as a wife and cranes as children—what pure love! This is Zhang Sheng's greatest gain on Gushan Island. Now he wants to go directly to Su Causeway to make up for the regret of the difficult choice between the Lotus Pond at Quyuan on the Su Causeway and the Su Causeway Bridge! A trip to West Lake is always rushed; you come and go in a hurry. But if you muster that boundless thirst for knowledge while exploring West Lake, you're truly captivated by its beauty.

"Isn't Lonely Mountain beautiful, kid?"

"The Lonely Mountain of my predecessors is a Lonely Mountain that I will never be able to fathom in my entire life."

"Kid, you've finally become a little more humble."

"Senior! I'm just being modest. Of course, nowhere else has the same artistic conception as Lonely Mountain!"

One must approach this with the same thirst for knowledge one felt when first climbing Badachu and reaching the joyful spot, only then could one finally encounter the Ghost King Bodhisattva in Baozhu Cave. Then, proceed to Zhengguo Temple; at least the description in *Kyoto Scenic Spots* is accurate—the Secret Grinding Cliff and Grinding Cliff Cave remain unchanged. To appreciate the beauty of Gushan Mountain, one must apply the same spirit one would have shown when climbing the temples and Buddhist monasteries of Badachu, visiting Jietai Temple, Tanzhe Temple, Wutai Mountain, and Yonghe Temple, seeking the spirit of Buddhism. Why does Buddhism emphasize rituals and precepts, and why does Confucianism emphasize *Zhou Li*, *Li Ji*, and *Yi Li*, showcasing the great spirit of Confucianism? Taoism has its own rituals; sincerity brings results. Fortunately, as long as one follows the aspirations of Yan Hui, and as Liu Yuxi's *Inscription of the Humble Alley* and *Inscription of the Humble Abode* resonate with Lin Bu's *Plum Blossoms in the Small Garden*, one can understand the spirit of Taoism. The underlying message is the same: the Vimalakirti Sutra maintains elegance amidst the mundane. "Not learning from Wang Shan riding four horses, turning back to point vain at Huang Gong's wine shop"—even the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, what difference does it make? The spirit of the Wei and Jin dynasties—Ji Kang, Ruan Ji, Liu Ling, Wang Rong, Shan Tao, Xiang Xiu, and Yuan Xian—often gathered in the bamboo grove. Yet, even Shan Tao and Wang Rong couldn't resist the temptations of worldly fame and fortune! This also reflects Su Shi's state of mind in Hangzhou, a self-encouraging state of mind. Therefore, Lin Bu's spirit of plum blossoms and cranes is more transcendent than the spirit of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. Lin Bu's state of mind reached the carefree, otherworldly state of being of Penglai, while the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove only outwardly displayed transcendence; inwardly, they were still bound by the constraints of freedom. Filled with the restlessness of worldly fame and fortune, the thought of letting go of everything and finding peace in whatever comes one's way is found everywhere. There are pavilions like the Drunken Old Man's Pavilion, the Canglang Pavilion, and the Pavilion of Floating Wine Cups. Gushan Island is most suitable for the famous pavilions of the world. The most exquisite pavilion in the Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City is the Yujing Pavilion, while the most beautiful pavilion in Jingshan Park is the Wufang Pavilion. Of course, standing in the Wanchun Pavilion, one can see the beauty of the entire Forbidden City. The most famous pavilion in Beihai Park is the Five Dragon Pavilion, and the Taoran Pavilion in Beijing is the best place to appreciate pavilions. West Lake has the Huxin Pavilion, and of course, the Wangjing Pavilion on Hongluo Mountain offers a panoramic view of all the beautiful scenery! But upon arriving at Gushan Island, the culture of pavilions returns to its original simplicity. Jiangnan is beautiful, Jiangnan is lovely, and after the rain in Jiangnan, the misty atmosphere naturally evokes the beauty of lotus ponds under the moonlight, and the beauty of pavilions and terraces! The beauty of pavilions originates from the beauty of Jiangnan, the beauty of pavilions is like the beauty of a graceful figure, the beauty of a beautiful woman. The beauty of pavilions has become one of the forms of expression in Chinese garden aesthetics, an indispensable beauty. Gushan Island evokes so many fantasies, and the Fan Gong Pavilion is right before one's eyes. Fan Zhongyan's "Record of Yueyang Tower" embodies a heart that embraces the world, unmoved by external gains or losses. He has completely transcended the shackles of fame and fortune. The Drunken Old Man's Pavilion is renowned for its beauty inspired by "Record of the Drunken Old Man's Pavilion," while the Fan Gong Pavilion takes "Record of Yueyang Tower" as its model. Gushan also boasts the Fan Gong Pavilion, a source of pride. Zhang Sheng, emulating the white-haired old man at Gushan's pavilion, composed a somber elegy, "Plum Blossoms in the Small Garden," and also recited Fan Zhongyan's "Record of Yueyang Tower" at the Fan Gong Pavilion.

In the spring of the fourth year of the Qingli era, Teng Zijing was demoted to the position of prefect of Baling County. The following year, the government was efficient and the people were harmonious, and all neglected matters were revived. He then rebuilt Yueyang Tower, expanded its original structure, and had poems and prose by Tang and contemporary scholars engraved on it. I wrote all of my own works to commemorate this event.

I have observed that the most magnificent scenery of Baling lies in Dongting Lake. It embraces distant mountains and swallows the Yangtze River, vast and boundless, its beauty ever-changing with the morning and evening sun – this is the grand view from Yueyang Tower, as described in detail by those before. However, since it connects to the Wu Gorge in the north and extends to the Xiaoxiang region in the south, many exiled officials and poets gather here. Do their feelings upon viewing the scenery differ? If, however, there is incessant rain for months on end, with howling winds, turbid waves crashing against the sky, the sun and stars hidden, mountains obscured, merchants unable to travel, masts broken, oars capsized, and twilight shrouded in darkness, with the roar of tigers and the cries of monkeys, then ascending this tower, one might feel homesick, worried about slander and ridicule, surrounded by desolation, a sense of sorrow arising from the height of prosperity.

When spring arrives, the weather is fine and the scenery is bright, the waves are calm, the sky and water are even, a vast expanse of blue stretches out, seagulls soar and gather, fish swim, and orchids and irises bloom lushly on the banks. Or perhaps the smoke clears, the bright moon shines for a thousand miles, and the shimmering light dances like gold. The still shadows are like jade, and fishermen's songs echo back and forth—this joy is boundless! Ascending this tower, one's heart is filled with joy, forgetting both honor and disgrace, raising a cup to the wind, one's happiness is boundless. This arises from the heart of the ancient virtuous men, which may differ from these two states. Why? They are not elated by external things, nor saddened by personal losses. When in high office, they worry about the people; when in retirement, they worry about their ruler. Whether advancing or retreating, they worry. Then what brings them joy? Surely it must be, "To be the first to worry about the world's troubles and the last to enjoy its pleasures!" Alas! Without such men, to whom shall I turn? September 15th, 1647.

Is it simply a matter of adding or subtracting from Gushan and Yueyang Tower? No, the beauty of literature remains unchanged. Fan Zhongyan's "Record of Yueyang Tower" is the definitive work of its kind! Zhang Sheng also wrote "Record of Gushan," "Record of West Lake," "Record of Bai Causeway," and "Record of Su Causeway," but he too wrote "Record of Yueyang Tower." All the beauty of the world is contained within it! All the beauty of the world, neither more nor less, is contained in Fan Zhongyan's "Record of Yueyang Tower." Even Fan Zhongyan, without being there in person, could have captured all the beauty of the world in his writing. He experienced the beauty of Gushan from Fan Gong Pavilion, but Gushan and West Lake are inseparable, an integrated whole. Yueyang Tower can be destroyed, it can be rebuilt, but "Record of Yueyang Tower" remains the eternal "Record of Yueyang Tower" by Fan Zhongyan. West Lake cannot exist without Gushan Island, and Gushan Island cannot exist without West Lake. This is the wonder of the world. Fan Zhongyan could create "The Yueyang Tower" based on his imagination, but the beauty of West Lake and Gushan Island cannot be captured by imagination alone. One must experience it firsthand, like Su Shi and Bai Juyi. Although the rather profound "The Yueyang Tower" can show a part of the beauty of Gushan Island and West Lake, perhaps no one has ever climbed Leifeng Pagoda and written a "Record of Leifeng Pagoda" in the style of Fan Zhongyan. Like Xuanzang's Heart Sutra, "The Yueyang Tower Inscription" cannot have a single word added or subtracted. The Heart Sutra can be divided into Confucian and Buddhist versions, but these are merely unserious ideas. Therefore, Gushan is indeed a dragon palace, just as the Avatamsaka Sutra was taken from the dragon palace by Nagarjuna, and the Bodhisattvas from the dragon palace. It seems that past impressions of Gushan were biased and incomplete. My first visit to Gushan was filled with too many idealistic imaginations. Because China's beauty has suffered too much devastation and destruction from the Eight-Nation Alliance and Japanese invasion, Qianlong's impression of West Lake and Gushan was all ruins and desolation. At least the Old Summer Palace still retained the breathtaking spirit of the most beautiful mountain garden of the Qing Empire. But the palaces on Gushan showed nothing. Thus, Fan Zhongyan's concern for the country and its people unfortunately foretold the tragedy of modern Chinese imperial history!

The buildings on Gushan Island conform to the style and form of gardens, following the contours of the mountain. Gushan's elegance exists in both its old and new forms, renovated and rebuilt. Actually, Zhang Sheng most wants to return to the West Lake of the time depicted in *The Scholars*, because back then, West Lake was a vibrant, bustling place, its banks brimming with life. The best attitude for sightseeing is to always maintain curiosity and a lingering ambition. Reading cannot be rushed, nor can sightseeing; one must approach it with the mindset of the *Diamond Sutra* to truly understand the wonders of this world. Because, according to Buddhist teachings, "a speck of dust, a flower, a world." Seeing the stone inscriptions on the cliff, one descends the green stone steps from Fan Gong Pavilion. Not far away is the Da Guang Fang Pavilion—a figurative description, not a precise depiction of a pavilion in the strict sense. Because Zhang Sheng isn't an expert on pavilions, but his father seems to be. His childhood understanding of pavilions, gleaned from the beautiful paintings and patterns his father painted on the lakeside pavilion he built for the Dahe Forest Farm, was largely inspired by classic Chinese novels like *Journey to the West*, *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, *Water Margin*, and *Dream of the Red Chamber*. These patterns are found in almost every Chinese garden and park, seemingly adhering to the standards of the Four Great Classical Novels—a kind of unspoken rule. However, stopping at the Dahe Forest Farm felt too lonely. It should be at the highest point of a mountain, with a scenic pavilion on each peak—that would be truly elegant. Several tourists from West Lake seemed tired and were resting in the Da Guang Fang Pavilion. Below the Da Guang Fang Pavilion lay the familiar ruins of Gushan, the former imperial palace of Emperor Qianlong. Occupying, he wasn't satisfied with the Yuanmingyuan and the Chengde Mountain Resort, where Shang Jingshang was said to have traveled south to admire the beauty of West Lake. He was an emperor who loved West Lake more than anything. There are too many shadows and imprints of West Lake in Beijing's Yuanmingyuan and Summer Palace, but that's the true beauty of West Lake. West Lake's beauty is a pure harmony of nature and human spirit, without much artificiality. This is what makes West Lake's beauty unique—unpretentious. The existence of the imperial palace on Gushan Island almost destroyed its unique beauty that had existed for thousands of years! The main problem is that no one has yet been able to stand on Gushan Island and create a work surpassing "The Yueyang Tower Inscription," or to truly appreciate the view from its heights. Perhaps a similar piece could be created at Leifeng Pagoda, where the site of the imperial palace is below the Da Guang Fang Pavilion, but...? Many new pavilions have been built near the old site. Descending the stone steps and looking up at Gushan from the ruins of the former palace, many tourists like to take photos here. It's a pity that Gushan Temple no longer exists. Although Gushan was home to many gentlemen over the years, it is now almost entirely destroyed. If you go out to West Lake, wouldn't that mean saying goodbye to Gushan again? If that's the mindset, does Gushan really negate all the charm of Zhang Sheng's trip to West Lake? Beauty often has many twists and turns, and beauties are often hidden in secluded places. Was Gushan playing a joke on him, or did he only want to skim the surface? At the very top of Gushan, one must at least catch a glimpse of the enchanting scenery of West Lake, or at least a fleeting glimpse of it. This attitude is the spirit of Xu Xiake, who traveled and enjoyed the scenery. I ascended the green stone steps, the path to Gushan smooth and serene, framed by verdant bamboo—at least reminiscent of a bamboo forest. It reminded me of the beauty of the Jingdezhen kilns I visited with Song Yu, the bamboo there, and the bamboo on Gushan. Both were a beautiful, jade-like green. The bamboo on Gushan possesses the spirit of Zheng Banqiao's paintings. If you want to paint bamboo, you can sit opposite the bamboo grove on Gushan for a day and you can definitely paint something like Zheng Banqiao's. The most wonderful bamboo, and also, of course, are the works of Su Shi. Su Dongpo was also a literati painter, and bamboo was his specialty. In fact, it's quite common for literati to both write poetry and paint. Tang and Song dynasty poets and painters often integrated poetry and painting; now, however, poetry and painting are separated. Is this progress or regression? Gushan Island still bears the ruins of Qianlong's temporary palace. The platform seems to be an extension of the Old Summer Palace. Qianlong was an absolute enthusiast of Taihu stones, especially the unique ones from Taihu Lake. There are Taihu stones in the Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City and in Qianlong's Garden in the Palace of Tranquil Longevity, as well as the piles of Taihu stones behind the Wenyuan Pavilion of the Wenhua Hall. Standing on the steps of the palace ruins, I dare not say whether this is the highest point of Gushan Island. Just as I was wondering, a woman approached and asked...

"Sir, are you standing at the highest point of Lonely Mountain?"

"I don't know the highest point, and I wouldn't dare say if this is the highest point."

The woman felt a sense of awe at Zhang Sheng's humility. Zhang Sheng understood that this was Gushan Island; who dared to claim they could stand at its highest point? However, standing here overlooking West Lake truly gave him a feeling of unprecedented grandeur…