The poem says:

The temple on Lumen Mountain is suddenly completely dust-free. Those who come here should not be the second person to take.

The birds pass by the stones and chimes, and the sun rises to the golden body. What is the trouble of planning for family planning? The void is the neighbors.

Lumen Temple is located on Lumen Mountain, fifteen miles east of Xiangyang City. It was built during the reign of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty. It is said that it was built here when Emperor Guangwu's minister Xi Yu visited Lumen Mountain. Lumen Mountain is surrounded by green water, with high mountains and dense forests and deep water. It has always been regarded as a rare holy land of mountains and rivers in Xiangyang. Since the Tang Dynasty, many famous monks often came to Lumen Temple to preside over Buddhist affairs. In addition, famous scholars, talented scholars and poets from all over the country often gathered here, leaving behind many excellent poems. For a time, Lumen Temple also became a center for exchanges between literature and art.

However, since the sixth year of Xuanhe, wars continued in the north of the Song Dynasty, and the literati and poets shifted their sights from the elegant scenery to the fate of the country and the victory or defeat of the front-line war. In addition, a large number of refugees migrated from north to south, and the Buddhist activities of Lumen Temple gradually declined. The monks in the temple either traveled elsewhere or returned to their hometowns. Therefore, the situation of the temple was getting worse and worse.

Since Liu Yixuan learned that Zhang Zeduan was staying in Lumen Temple, he was extremely excited. He thought that he would go out of the city to visit Lumen Temple yesterday, but Mrs. Fan persuaded him and said, "Lumen Temple is fifteen miles outside the city, and it will take half a day to go back and forth. It is already noon today, so let's go tomorrow." After hearing what his mother said, Liu Yixuan left the city early this morning. Ling'er heard that Liu Yixuan was going to have a trip outside the city and was clamoring to go with her. Liu Yixuan was worried that it was inconvenient for her girl's house to follow her, and there was some unsafe in the wilderness, so she persuaded her kindly, asking her to wait for the news at home, and only brought the servant to the promotion and followed her.

The master and servant rode out of the city gate, and along the way, they inquired about the road to Lumen Temple. After walking for only more than ten miles, they saw the peaks ahead and undulating, and the road was also rugged and bumpy. They also saw an antique jade archway beside the mountain road, with five big words "Lumen Mountain Holy Land" written in official script. Liu Yixuan knew that this place was Lumen Mountain, so he quickly whipped the mountain road and went straight into the forest.

After walking for another three or four miles, the mountain road became much narrower. The road was mostly surrounded by evergreen pine and bamboo vegetation, and it was tall and dense, and the sun was not visible. For a moment, a quiet and quiet feeling came to my face. Seeing the beautiful scenery here, Liu Yixuan jumped off his horse and walked up the mountain. Seeing the green bamboos on both sides, there were lush green bamboos flowing out of the bamboo forest, and he couldn't help but sigh: "The water flows out from the bamboo edges, and the wind comes from the flowers. It's indeed a holy land on earth!"

When the promoted official saw that his young master was about to recite a poem, he did not dare to interrupt. He just followed him. Liu Yixuan walked in the forest again, but heard the noise of someone talking in the flowing water in the mountains. Looking carefully, several monks were washing clothes by the stream.

"Young master, look at it, there are a few monks over there! Let's go and take a look, and by the way, ask if the painter Zhang you are looking for is in this temple!"

Liu Yixuan followed the promotion and led the horse to the stream. Sure enough, he saw four or five little novice monks playing by the river. Liu Yixuan walked up and called out, "Several little masters, I'll ask you something!"

When the oldest monk heard someone calling them, he put down his hands and walked over to answer. The monk was wearing a green monk's robe, with a white lace tie on his legs, a fair face, and a handsome face. He looked like he was fourteen or fifteen years old. He only came to Liu Yixuan with his hands folded, gave a deep bow, and said "Amitabha" and asked, "Do you dare to ask Shi about what the little monk is doing?"

"I wonder if my little master, how far is Lumen Temple from here?"

The little monk pointed to the mountain road ahead and said, "Only follow this road, you can see the mountain gate of my temple in less than half a mile. It's not to be hiding that the little monk is the monk in Lumen Temple."

Liu Yixuan asked again: "Can you know if there is a gentleman named Zhang living in the temple? Mr. Zhang is good at writing and painting, and he was originally a Hanlin who was exiled and released."

"Mr. Zhang?" The young monk touched his smooth head and thought about it for a while, and suddenly said, "Oh, there is such an old man who likes to travel around and enjoy the mountains and rivers. He is a pilgrim living in our temple. I wonder who the young master is?"

When Liu Yixuan heard that Zhang Zeduan was indeed living in Lumen Temple, he was very happy and hurriedly turned around and rushed to the mountain gate of Lumen Temple. However, after walking two steps, he remembered that before answering the little monk's question, he turned around and said, "Little Master, thank you! I am an old friend of him, an old friend I have never met!" After that, he turned around and left.

Bypassing the bamboo forest, you will arrive at a spacious area. Liu Yixuan looked up and saw a tall mountain gate in his eyes. The mountain gate had yellow walls, green bricks and tiles, flying eaves and brackets, red painted gold nails, and the plaque in front of the door also read the four big words "Lumen Zen Temple".

"What a thousand-year-old temple!" Liu Yixuan couldn't help but sigh. The sigh made the two little monks in the door hear it. The monks in the door were responsible for receiving passers-by pilgrims in front of the door every day. However, business was cold in recent months, and most of the pilgrims entering the mountain every day were fewer. Liu Yixuan came to the temple at this point, which was the first transaction of Lumen Temple today. The two monks hurriedly came to welcome him with a smile.

"Oh, this young man, come here to burn incense today? Please come inside!" As he said that, he pulled and pulled Liu Yixuan into the mountain gate. Seeing that the monks in the temple were so enthusiastic, he was like a waiter who was recruiting customers at the entrance of the tavern in the city. Liu Yixuan hurriedly said to them: "Two masters, what am I? I am not here to incense, I am here to find someone!"

A fat white monk with a rich appearance said with a smile: "Well, whether it's your husband to find someone or incense, since he has entered the mountain gate, he is a destiny to my Buddhist sect. Come on, come and go to the main hall to worship!" As he said that, he pulled Liu Yixuan to the front of the main hall.

Liu Yixuan looked up at the Great Hall, which was majestic and majestic. The Buddha in the hall sat upright on the lotus platform, and the surrounding Vajras were standing in a row. Liu Yixuan thought to himself that since he entered the mountain gate, he would worship Buddha devoutly. Besides, the two monks used this guidance to collect some incense money for the temple. They happened to take silver when they went out, so they walked to the desk to burn incense to worship. Liu Yixuan knelt on the cushion and prayed silently: "I hope the Buddha will bless me and don't let me go this trip in vain!"

After bowing and getting up, Liu Yixuan said to the promotion: "Get ten taels of silver out and put it on the merit cabinet." The promotion naturally understood the intention and only took out the silver and handed it to the two monks. Seeing that the pilgrim had donated generously, the fat monk said, "Good, good, good," and continued to accompany Liu Yixuan's master and servant to enjoy it in the temple.

(To be continued...) (To be continued)
Chapter completed!