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28
2018
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02
Venerable Zhipu of Panggu Temple
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Another major temple on Mount Panshan is Pangu Temple. Situated right in the heart of the mountain, it lies at the very center of Panshan.
As early as in the “Chronicle of the Four‑Correct Mountain Retreat,” there is this record: “Qinggou lies at the very heart of the plateau, surrounded by a ring of peaks, where all the waters converge into one and, by nature’s design, flow out of the mountain through a natural water outlet.” And indeed, Panggu Temple was built precisely on this site. Consequently, in ancient times, the place was also known as “Qinggou Chan Monastery.” During the Qing dynasty, it was one of the Eight Outer Scenic Spots of Jingji Villa.
Outside the temple stands a stele recording that during the Tang dynasty, a man named Li Yuan once lived in seclusion here, suggesting that Panggu Temple may have already existed by that time. In the tenth year of the Kangxi reign, a monk named Zhipu undertook a major reconstruction of Panggu Temple, which led to the emperor’s visit in the seventeenth year of Kangxi, when he bestowed a plaque. The plaque reading “Imperial Bestowal upon Panggu Temple” bears Kangxi’s own calligraphy. Inside the main hall hangs another large plaque inscribed with “Perfect Equilibrium of Steadfastness,” accompanied by two couplets—both penned by the Qianlong emperor.
One of the couplets reads:
A clear stone chime stirs the stillness,
Even fleeting clouds, though illusory, may seem real.
Another one reads:
The empty window neither obstructs nor diminishes the sparse yet dense.
Why not seek clarity through stillness and depth?
As can be seen from the wording of the couplet, Emperor Qianlong possessed a profound command of the Chinese language.
Within Pangu Temple stand the Qiuyue Hall, Chaoyun Pavilion, and Xuanfo Hall; behind the temple lie scenic spots such as Xinghua Slope, Longshou Rock, and the Floating Stone Boat. In front of the temple, one can enjoy sights like Qingliang Stone, Shuyu Spring, ZhiZhi Spring, and Song’ao Hollow. Inside the temple flows a spring known as Yuru Spring, whose water is of excellent quality. The temple also houses cultural relics, including an imperial stele commissioned by the Qianlong Emperor and cliffside imperial poems.
The friendship between the Kangxi Emperor and Master Zhipu is the subject of many legendary tales. It is said that Zhipu was a renowned cultural figure in Jixian County; this eminent master not only possessed profound expertise in Buddhism but also made significant contributions to his hometown. He was the author of the first “Record of Panshan,” which enjoyed considerable influence at the time. In recognition of Zhipu’s distinguished achievements, the Kangxi Emperor resolved, on his return journey to the capital after paying homage at the Eastern Mausoleums, to stop by Panshan and pay his respects to the venerable monk.
On the thirteenth day of the tenth month in the fourteenth year of the Kangxi reign, the Kangxi Emperor paid a visit to Panggu Temple. The monk Zhipu promptly received the imperial audience and accompanied the emperor on a tour of the temple’s interior and exterior. Thereafter, Zhipu presented his own manuscript for the emperor’s perusal. From that moment on, these two men of vastly different stations became close friends. The Kangxi Emperor also came to Panshan three more times to see Monk Zhipu, and he visited Panggu Temple on Panshan a total of four times. By then, he and Monk Zhipu had grown into bosom friends, confiding in one another with complete sincerity.
They spent most of their time together composing poetry and writing essays, engaging in scholarly discussions. Around Panggu Temple stood numerous apricot trees; when the apricot blossoms bloomed, the temple’s scenery became truly exquisite.
The monk Zhipu once composed a poem praising the exquisite beauty of blooming apricot blossoms:
Apricot blossoms bloom in myriad trees,
The sunlight shines brightly.
The east wind blows over the ridge,
The ground is covered with gleaming, sunlit snow.
A considerable number of poems by the monk Zhipu have been passed down, with the following serving as representative examples:
The imperial procession journeys eastward, accompanied by auspicious clouds of five hues.
Gazing up to the heavens, I compose odes of praise; turning toward the sun, I long for your voice and countenance.
Though but a handspan apart, it feels like a thousand miles; how hard it is to draw near the ninefold heavens.
Where grace shines most brightly, it is still the old Panfeng Peak.
Emperor Kangxi once personally inscribed 128 Tang poems and wrote ten characters:
Goodness arises from all directions,
Clouds arise from the horse’s head.
Kangxi was describing the scenery while also hoping that Monk Zhipu would compose a poem. In his verse, Zhipu extolled the emperor’s gracious visit, praising and revering the benevolent light that shone upon Pangu Temple, and expressing his profound sense of honor. At the same time, he remained deeply awed and somewhat apprehensive, even a little nervous. This revealed that, despite having become friends, an insurmountable distance still lay between them.
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