Mist and Smoke in the Mountains | Honghua Zen Temple, Dongfang Mountain, Huangshi

| Honghua Zen Temple, Dongfang Mountain, Huangshi. The morning mist has not yet dissipated, and the winding mountain road of Dongfang Mountain is already hidden in the forest. This beautiful place, known as the "First Mountain of Three Chu," is named after the famous scholar Dongfang Shuo of the Western Han Dynasty who practiced Taoism here. It is also famous in Jingchu for the incense of the thousand-year-old Honghua Zen Temple. Most pilgrims choose to walk from the foot of the mountain to Honghua Zen Temple. The stone steps wind up, flanked by ancient trees, with birds chirping in the forest and squirrels occasionally leaping over the branches. A 40-minute walk allows you to experience the artistic conception of the ancient eight scenic spots such as "green pines upside down" and "white lotus blooming frequently," and it is also like a practice that cleanses the body and mind. If you are not physically fit, you can also choose the cable car to go directly to the mountain gate, but only hikers can enjoy the morning mist and the freshness of the grass and trees in the mountains. Stepping into Honghua Zen Temple, the Ming and Qing architectural complex with red walls and black tiles comes into view. The four characters "Honghua Zen Temple" on the temple gate were written by Mr. Zhao Puchu, and the couplet "The heroic spirit of the Three Chu Kingdoms is spread throughout the nine states of the Yuyu, and the correct order of the five families is passed down from the Dharma gate of Dongshan" was written by Master Changming of Guiyuan Temple, revealing Zen in solemnity. Inside the Mahavira Hall, the Four Heavenly Kings stand solemnly, the chanting of monks and the sound of bells and chimes intertwine, the incense burner is filled with smoke, and the believers put their hands together and bow devoutly. The thousand-year-old ginkgo tree in front of the hall is golden in autumn and has iron-like branches in winter, witnessing the vicissitudes of the temple since the fifth year of Yuanhe in the Tang Dynasty (810). The reputation of Honghua Zen Temple for its efficacy attracts believers from all over the world. The lotus pond in front of the Guanyin Hall of Sending Children is rippling with clear waves, and the lotus lamps flow with the water, carrying the earnest expectations of couples seeking children; in the Medicine Buddha Pavilion, pilgrims burn incense and pray silently, wishing to dispel diseases and disasters; outside the Mahavira Hall, there is an endless stream of people seeking divination, and the monks' few words when interpreting the divination make the listeners suddenly enlightened. The most touching is the "Mountain Worship Ceremony" - thousands of people bow every three steps, worshiping the mountain and the Buddha in their hearts, praying for "a lifetime of peace and prosperity for the country." The market outside the temple is lively but not noisy. Vendors sell Buddhist beads and jade pendants, children run around with sugar paintings, and the elderly chat at tea stalls. In the pavilion halfway up the mountain, tourists overlook the rolling mountains and the surging sea of clouds; the "Lingquan Zhuoxi" in the back mountain flows gurglingly, said to be formed by Zen Master Zhiyin tapping the ground with his staff, and the spring water is clear and sweet, drinking it is like bathing in Buddha's light. Looking back at the mountain gate, the incense is not extinguished, and the Buddhist sound is not interrupted. The poet once lamented: "The solemnity of the Buddha hall can be heard, can this body be entrusted to many lotuses?" Here, faith is not only a ritual but also an introspection of the heart. Whether you come to pray or seek tranquility, the Zen and fireworks of Dongfang Mountain will eventually turn into a breeze, blowing away the troubles of the world.