Record of the Reconstruction of Returning Dragon Cloister (Text)

Record of the Reconstruction of Returning Dragon Cloister

Record of the Reconstruction of Returning Dragon Cloister

--Renamed as Hailin Court

The cloister is next to Returning Dragon Bridge and is named for it. It is obvious that it was built on account of the bridge. Since it was built on account ofthe bridge, and the bridge was originally called “Stone Rainbow,” it is obvious that that it was built after the Longqing reign period (1567-1572). [1] However, “Returning Dragon” only describes the topography of the place. Was the cloister named after the bridge? Or was the bridge named after the cloister? We do not know. Since we do not know, how can we conclude that it was built after the Longqing reign period? I answer: “By arbitrary judgment.” The elders have passed down the claim that the bridge repeatedly fell into ruin before the cloister was built. During the Longqing reign period it collapsed twice in six years. The inscription is still extant. In the biography of the Gentleman Jingshan in the old genealogy, it also has the following text: “[He] constructed the Water Mouth, and built the Protecting Dragon Embankment.”

Even today, when we observe the topography carefully, [we see that] the mountain is on the leftand wetland on the right, [2] with one side high and the other side low. If we did not construct the embankment, the water would collect in the west and the western side would be damaged; if we did not build the cloister the eastern side would pile up and the eastern side would be damaged. To occupying both sides we control [this situation] and for that , they [the bridge and the cloister] are indeed at the right locations. Since the inscription does not say, perhaps the bridge was built first and the cloister afterwards?

In the winter of the bingshen year (1776) the villagers planned to restore the cloister after it had burnt down, and asked me to write something to ask fellow villagers for donations. After arranged the donations, we assembled workers to build it. We changed the former design from a multi-storied building to a building with three rooms, moving the Buddhist chamber to the foot of the back mountain. The whole mountain is the hereditary property of Guyi Hall [branch of the lineage]so we did not need to ask for donations. Thus we also expanded to the east and built meditation room. the Buddhist kitchen on western side we followed the original design. A winding corridor surrounds the stone steps and the winding path leads to a secluded place. All the plans for change are listed as above. As for the rest, they are beyond our ability. We could only establish the important ones as such.

My uncles were in charge of this project from start to finish; my family uncle [He] Fanglian supervised the construction. It began on a certain day of the eleventh month, and completed on a certain day of the fifth month of the next year. There were over four hundred carpenters over four hundred clay workers, one third the number of stone mason. Later in the autumn, when we molded and painted statues, there were more than one hundred workers . The total expense was certain amount of silver.

After it was done villagers celebrated its completion. They said to each other: “We call this a cloister but we make offerings to Sage Guan here, it does not fit. [3] However, if we change its name to a temple, it would not show that [it is also for worshipping] he who came from the West [i.e., the Buddha], and whyour ancestors built it for the bridge. What shall we do?” I answered: “Imitation and innovation go together. The concept depends upon what the mind knows, not the name. Was not the bridge originally called ‘Stone Rainbow'? If we do not insist on this issue, then this is my suggestion: Lord Guan's ambition was to [follow the teachings of] Unicorn Classic [4] and [bodhisattva Guanyin transformed herself in the Southern Ocean. [5] As for the structure [of the cloister], let us separate it into two parts; as for the name, let us combine the two into one, and change it from ‘cloister' to ‘court'. Would that work?” All responded: “Yes! Why not write a record for it?” In my view, [Guliang] Commentary [6] says: “As for what is doubtful leave it open; as for what is trustworthy transmit it as reliable.” Later generations will look at us just as we look at earlier generations. If we cannot gain their trust, not only they will not know of our labor , they might even say we were creating a new tradition and completely abandoning what our ancestors had established. Furthermore, for the moment offering are still being made to the Gentleman Leize here. As for what we discussed earlier, such as the construction an ancestral hall and the building of a Temple for the God of Literature, we hope that in later generations there will be someone to complete them. All this has be recorded here. I then took my leave and recorded the names of those who participated [in the project] monthly and daily and of those who contributed both money and labor.

On the last third of the tenth month, in the forty-second year of the Qianlong reign period, the dingyou year (1777),

Written by Yuanqi of the village

[1]The bridge was rebuilt and renamed Returning Dragon Bridge during the Longqing reign period (1567-1572).

[2] The typical orientation being to the south, the west is on the right and the east on the left.

[3] Lord Guan (Guan gong), also know as Emperor Guan (Guan di) or Sage Guan, is the God of War. His origins lie in the historical figure Guan Yu (162-220) of the Eastern Han Dynasty. As the end of the Eastern Han, he became fast friends with Liu Bei, a descendant of the Han imperial family, and remained faithful to him throughout his life. He died trying in vain to help Liu restore the Han. Later generations celebrated him as a military hero and eventually he became a god in popular religion. Yet he also became a patron deity of literaturefavored by the literati because he was traditionally credited with having memorized the very lengthy Zuo's Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals . In the statues of Lord Guan worshipped by the literati he holds the Spring and Autumn Annals in his right hand. Thus he can be worshipped as a god of War, of Literature, or of Wealth, according to the locality and special needs of the worshipper.

[4] It is said that Confucius stopped writing the Spring and Autumn Annals in 481BC, disturbed by the untimely appearance of a “unicorn” ( qilin ). The “Unicorn Classic” is thus another name for the Annals .

[5] It is said that in one of her incarnations Guanyin was Princess Miaoshan. When her father tried to force her into marriage she refused, being determined to devote herself to Buddhism. After various trials she landed on to Putuo Mountain, an island in the Southern Ocean (off the coast of Zhejiang); through cultivation she finally became a bodhisattva. Guanyin is thus also known as Guanyin of the Southern Ocean.

[6] The Guliang is one of the three original commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals .