《茅山誌》Vol. 7

Mount Mao (a renowned Daoist mountain located in present-day Jurong, Jiangsu) is home to many famous streams and springs, all connected to historical Daoist figures and cultivation practices. The Chu King Ravine is formed by the convergence of two streams east of Chongxi Temple (a Daoist monastery), where it merges with waters from the Huayang West Cave before flowing before the temple. Legend states that King Wei of Chu once rested here during his travels, hence the name. The recluse Tao Hongjing (styled "the Hermit") mentioned that east of his dwelling lay a transverse ridge, with a great stone cliff to the southwest containing a cave. Just steps outside the cave, a spring gushed forth—crystal clear in all seasons—serving as the water source for Chongxi Temple below.

This spring possessed remarkable qualities: another bubbling spring outside the cave mouth flowed swiftly, warm in winter and cool in summer. Below the mountain path directly opposite was yet another spring, its flow unaffected by drought or flood, its water pure white, sweet, and inexhaustible. Unfortunately, these springs all lay on the mountain's western side, unable to flow eastward. Records indicate this ridge was called the Cave Ridge, with Chongxi Temple at its base, and all these waters belonged to the Chu King Ravine.

The Crane Terrace Ravine, southeast of Gold Accumulation Ridge, featured a stone grotto spring flowing eastward—a secluded spot ideal for alchemical practices (Waidan, the Daoist art of elixir refinement). The Tao Pond Ravine, east of Middle Mao Peak, was where Master Ren (a Daoist practitioner) once used east-flowing water to aid his alchemical work, located before the ancient Grotto-Heaven Hall. The Nine-Bend Ravine descended from Great Mao Peak's left flank, eventually merging into the Calamus Pool. The Great Ravine lay east of Golden Mushroom Mountain, while the Floating Cup Ravine ran along Thunder Plateau's western side.

The Jade Apple Ravine, two li west of Great Mao Peak, was where Master Guo Sichao (a Daoist practitioner) cultivated apple trees. The White Plum Stream north of Lesser Mao Peak marked the site where Master Zhan Shanggong grew white plums. The Azure Dragon Creek west of Mount Liangchang was locally called Cold Water Ravine.

The Guest-Delighting Spring, a square pool on Great Mao Peak's northern slope several feet deep, would bubble joyfully when visitors arrived—yet remained still if one deliberately made noise—a true marvel. A shrine dedicated to Sun Hanhua (a Daoist figure) once stood here. The People-Benefiting Spring on Great Mao Peak's eastern ridge, as recorded in the Secret Essentials for Ascending to Perfection, contained gold-jade essences in the waters flanking the Celestial Market Altar, drinking which promoted health. The Jade Butterfly Spring west of Whirling Wheel Peak had two sources—one freezing in winter, the other warm—hence its alternate name: Yin-Yang Well.

(Note: The text retains specialized terms like "Chongxi Temple," "Tao Hongjing," and "alchemical practices" (Waidan), with necessary explanations of cultivation activities and historical figures, maintaining accessibility while preserving the original's full content.)

On Mount Jijin, there is a spiritual spring called White Jade Spring. Its waters connect with the Immortal Bridge, forming a crystal-clear pool.

On the western side of Middle Mao Mountain lies the Jade Sand Spring, where legend says the Lord of Lifespans (a Daoist deity governing longevity) once buried cinnabar from the Western Regions' Jade Gate. The spring at Middle Mao Mountain's Mystic Ridge has health-giving properties when consumed. West of Little Mao Mountain flows the Cinnabar Spring.

The Deer Run Spring at the left of Great Luo Source has an origin tale: ancient cultivators practiced here when an immortal deer pawed open this spring with its hooves. At Gongchen Valley, the Hundred Zhang Spring cascades down precipitously, while the Steaming Spring on Great Mao Mountain's southern slope has milky-white waters like breastmilk.

Records mention two Sea-Eye Springs: one near Scholar Yang's mountain retreat, whose waters rise and fall with the tides, located west of Middle Mao Mountain on Jijin (now the spring in West Garden); the other west of the Inkstone Pool.

East of Qingyun Cave, the Cinnabar Valley Spring has an amusing anecdote: when a Daoist fetched water for alchemy, an attendant secretly substituted other water and was caught, naming the spring. Huangfu Valley holds Tao Gong's Spring, while Tian Gong's Spring's location remains unclear.

Two Jade Nectar Springs exist: north of the Immortal's Boulder-Holding site with sweet, milk-scented waters that cure stomach ailments (also called White Spring for its purity), and another at Jade Nectar Hermitage on Triangle Mountain. Below Zhaoming's Reading Platform, the Clap Spring (also called Winter Warm Spring) boils up when hands are clapped, its pool perennially clear. Behind the reading platform, One-Ladle Spring flows from the cliff.

The Celestial Pond atop Great Mao Mountain houses divine dragons, never drying even in droughts. At Tiansheng Abbey, the Dragon-Keeping Pool saw imperial orders during the Song Dynasty's Dazhong Xiangfu era (1008-1016 CE) to present dragon offspring to court, later returned with ceremonial songs. Before the same abbey's Jade Emperor Hall lies the Jade Pool.

East of Changning Town sits the Life-Release Pool. Sweetflag Pool, aka Inkstone Pool, gained fame when Han-dynasty adept Fei Changfang practiced Daoist talismans (fulu) here—washing his inkstone stained the creek stones black, and its waters still enhance medicinal efficacy today. Before Chongshou Abbey spreads the Jade Ford Pool; within Lingbao Cloister lies Perfected Zhou's Pool (owned by recluse Zhou Ziliang); and Thunder Level Pool each has its lore.

Several li east of Changyin Mountain in Guogan Village, a pond beside the former residence of Perfected Guo Sichao (an accomplished adept) never runs dry. Villagers drawing it empty would summon thunderstorms—rainmaking rituals here remain potent. On the perfected one's memorial days, wondrous fragrances always drift along its banks.

Mount Mao (a renowned Daoist mountain) contains several significant sites and legends:

Four dynasties (referring to four emperors) dispatched people to plant trees here. Throughout history, emperors on inspection tours would always pass through this mountain, pausing to admire its scenic landscapes.

The mountain features multiple water bodies: Chishi Pond, Meijia Pond (west of Haiyan Spring), and Tao Pond (west of Leiping Mountain). The Guardian Army Pool lies beside Dingjiao Road, where Daoist Master Xu the Chief Secretary would always bathe and observe purification rituals upon returning from travels, cleansing himself before entering the mountain—demonstrating his piety.

The White Turtle Pool sits before Pearl-Clasping Mountain. During the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty, the disciple of recluse Zhou Ziliang built a meditation hut here. Later, people discovered a white turtle about six to seven inches long, its body pure white like soapstone, with only black patterns on its shell resembling talismanic script. After being caught for observation, it was released back into the pool. When it reappeared among reeds, this was regarded as an auspicious sign.

Other notable landscapes include: Daluo Spring (west of Middle Mao Peak), Tonghua Spring (upper reaches of Crane Terrace Stream), Rosy Clouds Canopy (above Tonghua Spring), and Cinnabar Pool (east of Swallow's Mouth Cave). The Yanggu Stream originates before Middle Mao Peak, where multiple brooks converge.

Religious sites abound: the Nine-Tiered Altar (built by Zhu Guanmiao within Qianyuan Temple; another is the Shangqing Sect Altar), the Master-Worship Altar (built by Tang Dynasty's Wang Zhengsu south of Leiping Summit), the Fire-Washing Altar (within Xuanzhou Retreat), and the Eight Trigrams Platform (east of Mao Cave). Scenic viewpoints include the Immortal Maiden Terrace (on Jade-Stack Peak), Fishing Terrace (on the southern protruding rock of Middle Mao Ridge), and Crane Terrace (behind Golden Mushroom Mountain).

Unique geological features include: Crane Temple Summit (west of Middle Mao Peak), Phoenix Slope (before Crane Terrace), Golden Star Bluff (south of Jade-Stack Peak with gold-sand covered ground), Green Jade Gorge (east of Dinggong Mountain with extraordinary rock formations), Mist-Touching Steps (stone stairs beneath Green Cliff carved with Xu Kai's large calligraphy), Taoist Master's Drunken Stone (on Middle Mao Ridge), and Immortal's Holding Stone (cliff west of Great Mao Peak). These locations are renowned for their distinctive geographical characteristics or historical legends.

At the foot of Baiyun Peak lies a remarkable stone called Cloud Root Rock, while Chessboard Rock crowns the summit. The top of Zhongmao Mountain features a peculiar Moving Stone—it yields to the push of a single person but remains immovable when many attempt to shift it together.

Thirty li west of Jurong County near Xiaomao Mountain stands the Xiangzhen Bridge. Spanning beneath Yuanfu Palace ridge is the Tongxian Bridge, constructed during the Chongning era of the Northern Song Dynasty when Daoist Master Liu Hunkang built the palace complex. Changning Town boasts its namesake Changning Bridge, along with the Yan Cave Stone Bridge that arches dramatically between two cliffs like a sword being drawn.

The legend of Xiuyi Pavilion tells of this being the site where the Great Director of Fate (Da Siming Jun, the Daoist deity governing life and death) received the Nine Bestowals (ancient imperial honors). Today, people identify several southwest-leaning perilous rocks on Damao Mountain's western ridge and the level ground below as the original location. Within Nandong's Jiuxi Pavilion stands a stele inscribed with the Nine Bestowals text, while stone pillars bear Tang Dynasty Daoist Xu Kai's pilgrimage record to Huayang Grotto-Heaven—though other inscriptions have regrettably eroded beyond recognition.

Below Biyan Cave remains the Biyan Pavilion, with Qinyin Pavilion above it. The Xiuyu Pavilion at Fuxiang Well protects the well's inscribed memorial stele. The landscape of Maoshan unfolds through these architectural gems: the Chaozhen Pavilion before Huayang's western cave entrance, the Chaoshan Pavilion north of Damao Mountain, the Halfway Pavilion on the mountainside, the Yichun Pavilion in Gongzhan Valley, the Tongxia Pavilion before Zhongmao Mountain, the Baiyun Pavilion north of Zhongmao Mountain, the Xigui Pavilion over Liuqian Stream, and the Ying'en Pavilion north of Changning Town.

Changning Town, located fifty li southeast of Jurong County and sixty-five li west of Jintan County, was established as a relay station during the Tiansheng era of the Northern Song Dynasty after Daoist Master Zhu Guanmiao petitioned the court to create rest stops for traveling merchants. West of Yuchen Temple lies the Northern Garrison, while the Western Garden occupies flatlands west of Jijin Mountain. The Deer Tomb by the southern mountain road preserves stories recorded in Master Liu's biography.