Records of Fu'an
Gu Yanwu
Fan Jun of the old Zhongjuan Province supported the people. In the summer of the 17th year of Chongzhen, he walked from the capital to Mount Huashan as Huang Guan①. A few years later, Kejielu was built on the left side of Xifeng, and it was named Fu'an. Most of the wise men and officials in China traveled with him. Everyone around the mountain believes in it and respects it. But Fan Jun is definitely not an alchemist. He studied at a young age, and was fond of "Chu Ci", various scholars, and classics and history. He dabbled in many subjects and read with Dong Guan. Fang Li Zicheng took the two kings of Dongguan to leave. Fan Jun knew that he would run westward, so he abandoned his home and went to Guanzhong to fulfill his duties. But Dongguan didn't know where he was, and Fan Jun was crowned Huang Guan.
Translation Fan Yangmin, an old eunuch, walked from Kyoto to Huashan to become a Taoist priest in the summer of the 17th year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty. It took several years before we were able to build a house on the left side of Xifeng and named it "Fu'an". Most of the sages Chunfu below Mount Hua interacted with him. People around Huashan trust him and respect him. But Mr. Fan was not originally a Taoist priest. (He) has been reading since he was a child. He is fond of "Chu Ci", the theories of various schools of thought, and classics and history books. He has dabbled in many books and served as the prince's companion in the palace. When Li Zicheng took the second prince of the East Palace hostage and left Beijing, Mr. Fan expected that he would definitely flee westward, so he abandoned his home and ran to Guanzhong to fulfill his duty. But the whereabouts of the prince were unknown, so Mr. Fan became a Taoist priest.
In Taihua Mountain, on the top of the cliff, there are pines for shade, land for vegetables, and springs for drinking. It is not taxed by officials, nor is it subject to official status. People from Huaxia may have provided help to create this nunnery and live there. There is a house with three couplets, facing east to welcome the sunrise.
Translation: On the top of the cliff of Huashan Mountain, there are pine trees for shade, land for growing vegetables, and mountain springs for drawing water. They do not pay taxes to the government and are not included in the property register of the palace. The residents below Huashan Mountain were provided with materials, so they built this residence to live in. (This house) has three rooms and faces east, where you can see the sun rising.
I stayed in the nunnery for one night, and when I opened my house, I saw that to the east of the river, the Thunder Head Mountain was suddenly green and abrupt. Boyi Shuqi was picking weeds and was hungry. Those who admire it are those who do it. From here to the east, there is a bend of Fen, and the mountains on the mountain appear and disappear on the surface of the clouds and smoke, as you will see. The Jiezi pushed him to follow the Jin Gongzi, who not only rebelled against the country but secluded himself, and also fanned the king's ambitions but failed. And from here to the east, between Taihang and Jieshi, where the Guanque Mountain Mausoleum is located, it is so vast that it cannot be seen from the extreme. See you each other! I wrote this note and left it in the mountain. Later gentlemen who climb this mountain will never forget Fan Jun's ambition.
Translation: I once stayed in Fu'an for one night, but there was no hope when I opened the door. (I saw) to the east of the Yellow River, the green Lei Shou Mountain rises from the ground, (that is) Boyi and Shu Qi Caiwei to satisfy their hunger. The place where they died (those mountains) seemed to stand there with their hands folded. (Bo Yi and Shu Qi's incident) was originally a behavior that Mr. Fan admired and imitated. From here to the east, there is a bend in Fenhe River. Mianshang Mountain is hidden above the clouds and smoke, and it seems to be visible. At that time, Jie Zitui fled with the prince of Jin. After the prince returned to his country, Jie Zitui lived in seclusion here. This was another wish that Mr. Fan had but could not realize. Further east from here, between Taihang Mountain and Jieshi Mountain, is the place where the old capital of the Ming Dynasty, Beijing, and the Ming Emperor's Mausoleum are located. It is very far away from there and can't be seen even if you look as far as you can. (Only) cry each other! I wrote this note and stayed in the mountains. Gentlemen who climb this mountain in the future, don’t forget Mr. Fan’s ambition!
Notes ① Huang Guan: Taoist priest. Synonymous with "alchemist" below. ②After the fall of the Shang Dynasty, Boyi and Shuqi were ashamed to eat Zhou millet and hid in Shouyang Mountain, gathering weeds and eating them. They later died of starvation in Shouyang Mountain.