The Journey to the West wrote in the ninety-eighth reply: The Tang Priest and his disciples went through all kinds of hardships to see the Tathagata in the Great Leiyin Temple in Tianzhu, and when they were overjoyed, they came to the Tongtian River that passed by in those years again, overlooking the vast river. When disappointed, the old turtle that camel them across the river swam near again. The four people were overjoyed and got on the turtle's back. The old turtle went all the way and sent the master and the apprentice to the river. Halfway through the trip, the old turtle asked about the time when he had promised to ask for it in front of the Tathagata. When the old turtle heard the Tang Priest's mentoring falter, no one answered, knowing that they had forgotten about it, in a rage, four people even turned all the scriptures into the river ... This was the last difficulty in eighty-one difficult, the Tang Priest's mentoring in The Journey to the West.
In Buddhism, one pays attention to the perfection of merit, and it takes eighty-one difficult to achieve positive results. The reason why it is difficult for the Tang Priest and his disciples to learn from the scriptures is because it happened on the high platform. Although The Journey to the West is a fairy tale, myths can be found in real life, not imagined by people. Judging from Xuanzang's later "Records of the Western Regions of Datang", the route he passed was from Shandan, Zhangye, Linze and Gaotai, along Heihe North Road to India. Therefore, these myths and legends are not groundless.
The Journey to the West said that the Tongtian River "has a diameter of over 8 miles, and there are few pedestrians since ancient times". So, which river is Tongtian River? Judging from the westbound route of Tang Priest, this river must flow westward. There are many rivers flowing east of the world, but few rivers flowing west. The Heihe River and Shule River in Hexi Corridor happen to be flowing water in the west. So, is Tongtianhe Heihe River or Shule River? Judging from the existing earthen platform in Taizisi Village, Xuanhua Town, Gaotai County, which is said to be the place where Tang Priest dries the scriptures, it should refer to Heihe River.
In those days, after the four Tang Priests fell into the water and landed, they fished out the scrolls and found a earthen platform to dry them. When cleaning up the scriptures, they were accidentally torn, and a few words in the scriptures were stained on a stone on the earthen platform, turning words into stones, so they were called "drying the scriptures" by later generations. This earthen platform was originally the tomb of Li Guang, a famous Western Han Dynasty. During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Li Gui, the king of Xiliang, ratified Li Guang as his ancestor and built his platform. By the time Xuanzang arrived here, this earthen platform had attracted everyone's attention again. Because it had dried the scriptures and rolled them into stones, it became a "drying platform". Xuanzang was invited by the local people to give lectures on the earthen platform. In memory of Master Xuanzang, the local people also built a temple on the platform, which was later called Taizi Temple, also known as Chongtai Temple. Early in the temple, there was a Buddha statue of Master Xuanzang. A couplet inscribed at the entrance of the temple reads: "Although the platform is not high, the county name stands for it;" The temple is very large and the Bible is preserved. " Therefore, there is a certain basis for saying that the four Tang Priests and Apprentices finally fell on the high platform.
To commemorate the accomplishment of the four Tang Priests, Gaotai locals also built a 15-meter-high statue on the bank of the Black River where the four Tang Priests fell into the water. Above the statue is Wukong flying with a golden hoop, and below is Master Xuanzang riding on a Bai Longma, with the sand monk carrying a sutra box on his shoulder, followed by Pig carrying a nine-toothed rake on his shoulder, and the old turtle at the bottom. Of course, this is a four-person image of mentoring based on the myth in The Journey to the West. In reality, Tang Xuanzang went to India alone. Xuanzang later became a generation of eminent monks and the founder of Faxiangzong, and was called "the three great translators of Buddhism in China" together with Kumarajiva and Zhenzhen. From then on, Gaotai was regarded as the last place where Tang Priest was difficult to become a Buddha, and it was also the place where his suffering ended.
Now, people who come to Gaotai must look at this sculpture on the bank of the Black River. For Xuanzang, it was the scriptures and the hardships along the way that made him. For Gaotai, it was Xuanzang who made Gaotai a "blessed land". The reason why Gaotai has become a "blessed land" lies in its special geographical position. Because Gaotai is located in the waist of the capital in Hexi, it is the only way of the ancient Silk Road. It is not only connected with the east and the west, but also with the north and south, bordering Qinghai in the south and Mongolia in the north. It is an extremely important military zone and a cultural intersection zone. It was once a place where Buddhism prevailed. In the early days, the famous temples were Longquan Temple in Xinba Warm Spring, Wutongquan Temple in Yumu Mountain, Taizi Temple in Xuanhua, Hongsi Temple in Luocheng, and Xiangshan Temple in Justice Gorge in Tiancheng ... These temples were all very popular in Gaotai. These temples basically flourished after Xuanzang traveled westward.
In mythology, the high platform shows its extraordinary charm. It was once a place where immortals competed with each other and reached. Because Gaotai is the site of ancient weak water, it is said that there is a sacred tree named Jianmu growing in weak water, which is a ladder for immortals to enter the celestial world or descend to the world. Gaotai is not only the site of weak water in ancient times, but also the place of Yaochi of the Queen Mother of the West. According to the historical records of the Western Zhou Dynasty, Zhou Muwang's Journey to the West, the Yaochi of the Queen Mother of the West is here, based on the distance calculation and the textual research of landform characteristics. Later, when Di Xin, one of the five emperors, visited Di Ku in the west, his wife Judie and her sisters bathed in weak water, and accidentally swallowed the bird's egg-laying contract, which later established the Shang tribe. In the Northern and Southern Dynasties, when the founder of Dharma passed through the high platform and saw the weak water, Yi Chan thought of "3, weak water, I only take a ladle of water" was introduced into Buddhist scriptures and passed down as a classic for later generations. These myths and legends have revealed the peace of Furui in Gaotai, and regarded it as a fairy-like place. This fit is exactly the same as the experience of Tang Xuanzang who later learned from the scriptures, and it also makes his story full of myth.
in the Wei and Jin dynasties, the Wei and Jin people with elegant life regarded Gaotai as a "paradise". When the "Yongjia Rebellion" caused by the chaos in China in the last five years of the Eastern Jin Dynasty displaced the people in the Central Plains, some aristocratic families, officials, merchants, literati, painters and other skilled people in the Central Plains moved their families to Gaotai to take refuge. At this time, Gaotai was in the Beiliang Kingdom founded by Duan Ye and Juqu Mengxun, and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. For people at that time, Gaotai was really an ideal place to live. The economic and cultural prosperity of Gaotai has been unprecedented since then, which is why Gaotai has left more than 6, ancient tombs and rich cultural relics in Wei and Jin Dynasties. At that time, Wei Jin people regarded Gaotai as a place without suffering. Judging from the life of Wei Jin people in Gaotai, how carefree the life reflected on the portrait bricks in those tombs is-they all have an inclusive heart because they live in a multi-ethnic gathering area and their culture is open. They are happy to enjoy the present life. If they want to enjoy the beautiful scenery in the spring, they will go all the way by ox cart. This slow pace really makes them realize the beauty of life. When you want to be wild, you will ask a few people to ride horses and hunt; When they want to fall in love, men and women meet under the mulberry trees ... This kind of life is endless. It is the dock fort on the high platform in Wei and Jin Dynasties that stuck to their ease of life, so that the countryside and villages can be peaceful. How can such a place not be called "paradise" or "blessed land"?
The reason why Gaotai has become a "blessed land" lies in its natural geographical barrier and beautiful natural environment. There is a river between two mountains, Qilian Mountain in the south and Heli Mountain in the north, which makes the platform basically a basin shape and creates a humid and warm climate. The Heihe River runs through it, raising tens of thousands of people in Gaotai, and also gestating 41,1 hectares of Heihe Wetland. It has become the habitat of 396 species of plants, 133 species of vertebrates, 892 species of insects and 8 species of wild waterfowl under special state protection. Walking into the high platform, you can see the rippling lakes everywhere. Those lakes are like pieces of green jade, shining under the shadow of clusters of willow and red willow. There is also the second largest city wetland park in Gansu Province. The city is built by the river, with shady wetlands, water parks and small bridges running water. Standing on the embankment, you can see reeds swaying and waterfowl flying. Especially in the Great Lake Bay Scenic Area, ships are allowed to swim and shuttle, and gulls and birds gather in the sky, which looks like a picturesque picture of the south of the Yangtze River. Here, you can not only enjoy the charming scenery of "Sunset and Lonely Qi Fei, Autumn Water * * * The sky is the same color" written by Wang Bo, but also see the fantastic scenery of "The desert is lonely and the long river sets the yen" written by Wang Wei. In front of us is a green lake, but in the distance is the snow-capped Qilian Mountain. I'm afraid such a special experience of being in two seasons at the same time can only be realized in the high platform.
Gaotai, the place created by a generation of eminent monks, has a different meaning, just like a local folk proverb: "Come to Gaotai, climb the platform, step by step". Chongwen Building, located in Dahuwan Tourist Scenic Area in Gaotai County, was built in 211. As a landmark building in Gaotai County, people who come to Gaotai have to board it, indicating that their life career has been promoted step by step and smooth sailing. This building is lent to Buddhism, and it faces the Taizi Temple being rebuilt across the street with the meaning of blessing. This meaning of "blessing" and the supreme realm of Buddhism make this treasure land shine!
About the author: Wan Youwen, member of Chinese Poetry Society, member of Gansu Writers Association and executive editor of Gaotai Literature and Art magazine. Some works have been published in Poetry Magazine, Stars, Flying, Yanhe, Poetry Monthly, Sichuan Literature, China Literature, Ear Seed and other publications, and a collection of poems has been published.