Chapter 15 1
The next morning, before the sun came out, Mu Linfeng and his three companions drove to the foot of Tuo Mountain. The reason why they came to Tuo Mountain first was that only by standing on the Buddha worship platform halfway up Tuo Mountain could they see the full view of the Buddha.
Tuoshan, located eight kilometers southwest of the ancient city, is one of the eight scenic spots of the ancient city of Qingzhou. There are two parallel peaks facing each other on the top of the mountain, which look like lying camels from a distance, so it is called "Tuoling Qianxun".
Tuoshan is famous mainly because of the cliff cave statues on the mountain. The caves are located on the south side of the mountain. There are five caves and a cliff statue, with a total of 638 statues. The largest one is about seven meters high, and the smallest is less than ten centimeters. They are beautifully shaped and have different expressions. There are many types. Most of the themes are the three saints in the West. The statues were carved from the Northern Zhou Dynasty to the middle Tang Dynasty. The carving skills are exquisite and well preserved. It is a masterpiece of Buddhist statues in eastern China and has been designated as a national key protected cultural relic. In addition, there are more than 120 stone tablets from various dynasties in the Haotian Palace on the top of the mountain.
Gao Hongjin parked the car in the parking lot outside the mountain gate. After getting out of the car, the three of them greedily breathed in the fresh air unique to the mountains, and immediately felt refreshed.
Although the sun had not yet appeared, the sky was gradually brightening and the surrounding scenery could be seen clearly. Looking up at the main peak of Tuo Mountain, the mountains were high and green, the cliffs were towering and the steep cliffs were rugged. The water vapor in the early morning condensed into a faint mist, lingering between the cliffs, making the scenery particularly enchanting.
Mu Linfeng pointed to a bluestone platform at the bottom of the mountain and said to Wen Yinqiu, "That is the best place to view the Buddha Head Mountain. You may not be able to find the entrance to the Hengwang Mausoleum from there, but you can see the true appearance of the giant Buddha."
Wen Yinqiu asked curiously, "Brother Mu, is this giant Buddha you are talking about formed naturally?"
"Not exactly. It was carved and processed based on the original mountain shape. To be more precise, it is shaped like a Buddha's head. This huge Buddha head is composed of nine peaks and is about three thousand meters long. It is the largest in the world. You will know it when you go up there."
At this time, Gao Hongjin had locked the car. The three of them passed through the stone archway in front of the mountain gate, and then began to climb up the mountain along the steep bluestone steps.
In less than ten minutes, the three people climbed up to a pavilion-like building called the "Buddha Worship Platform", which is the only place where you can see the entire giant Buddha. The most magical thing about this giant Buddha head carved from the mountain is also here. It is difficult to achieve the best effect when viewed from other places. Therefore, for hundreds of years, people in the village at the foot of the mountain did not know the true face of Mount Lu, and did not know this secret around them. More than ten years ago, a photographer accidentally discovered this miracle created by the ancients.
Three people stood on the Buddha worship platform, holding the granite fence and looking southeast. In the morning mist, a giant Buddha head lying on his back was clearly displayed in the field of vision. His face was serene, his nose was straight, his lips were thin, and his spirit was elegant. It was lifelike, really amazing and breathtaking.
Wen Yinqiu couldn't help but exclaimed in surprise: "Wow, it really looks like her! The nose, mouth, eye sockets, and high bun are all there. It's unbelievable."
"I think the word 'spiritual' is the most appropriate to describe the Buddha..." Mu Linfeng pointed at the mouth of the giant Buddha and said, "Pay attention to his mouth. If you look at it from different angles, the lips of the Buddha head open and close, as if he is muttering, chanting scriptures and preaching."
Gao Hongjin went on to say: "According to local residents, in the dead of night, if you sit in the yard and listen quietly, you can hear the sound of chanting Buddha's name coming from the top of the mountain."
"Is it really so magical?" Wen Yinqiu asked in surprise.
Mu Linfeng nodded and said meaningfully: "It is entirely possible. Anyone who has Buddha in their heart can hear it."
Wen Yinqiu and Gao Hongjin couldn't help but look at each other, and neither of them seemed to understand the meaning of Mu Linfeng's words.
Gao Hongjin looked at the giant Buddha in the distance and said with emotion: "Although I am from Qingzhou, to be honest, this is the first time I have come here to see this giant Buddha in detail."
At this point, Gao Hongjin looked at Mu Linfeng and said, "Lin Feng, I know nothing about tomb-viewing techniques, but I can feel that the Buddha Head Mountain across the street is indeed a good place. Under the protection of the giant Buddha, you can enjoy a thousand years of peace. I'm afraid there will be no place more suitable for a tomb than here."
"It is valuable for the land to be flat, and it is valuable for the mountain to have branches. Where the branches rise, the energy begins. Please pay attention to the two lips of the giant Buddha, which are the rare mountain branches. When the land has auspicious energy, the mountain will rise with it, rumbling faintly, and it is subtle and mysterious. If you are buried there according to the law, you will be blessed forever without any disaster. I think this is why our ancestors chose this place as the tomb of King Heng."
As soon as Mu Linfeng finished speaking, Wen Yinqiu asked hurriedly: "Brother Mu, can you tell from here where the entrance and exit of the Hengwang Mausoleum is?"
Before Mu Linfeng could answer, he suddenly felt dizzy. He involuntarily held onto the stone railing in front of him, closed his eyes and lowered his head.
Wen Yinqiu noticed Mu Linfeng's unusual expression, and quickly held his arm with his hand, and asked softly: "Brother Mu, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"
Mu Linfeng turned around, leaned against the stone railing, took two deep breaths, and then said slowly: "Too amazing..."
Gao Hongjin was confused and asked puzzledly: "Lin Feng, what's wrong with you? What's so amazing?"
Mu Linfeng gently rubbed his forehead with his hands and said to himself: "There is a sentence in my great-grandfather's "Notes on Grave Divination", 'The debate between branches and dragons is dazzling and confusing'. I have never understood what it means, but now I finally understand it."
Wen Yinqiu didn't understand what Mu Linfeng meant, but from his painful expression, she could guess that the situation might be serious. Wen Yinqiu kept supporting Mu Linfeng with her hands and asked with concern: "Brother Mu, are you okay?"
Mu Linfeng waved his hands and said softly: "It's okay, I'm much better now. I just felt dizzy for a while, but I'm fine now..."
Seeing that Mu Linfeng's expression had returned to calm, Wen Yinqiu asked curiously, "Brother Mu, what is the 'Branch Dragon Debate'?"
"It should be a defensive measure used by ancient tombs. I'm not sure what it is specifically. This measure has no effect on ordinary people, but it is very effective for people who are looking for dragons and caves. When people who are looking for caves stare at the mountain branches designed on the tomb, they will feel dizzy and confused, making it impossible for them to determine the entrance to the tomb passage."
"Is it really that magical? How come I can't ?" Gao Hongjin asked in surprise.
Wen Yinqiu said with a smile: "Because it is impossible for Brother Gao to find out where the entrance to the mausoleum is, so of course he won't fall into the trap."
Mu Linfeng raised his head from his deep thoughts and said slowly, "I was a little worried before, but now I am 100% sure that this Buddha Head Mountain is the Tomb of King Heng."
Gao Hongjin asked hurriedly: "Lin Feng, what should we do next?"
Mu Linfeng turned around and looked back and forth at the mountains a few kilometers away, trying to find the point that made him dizzy. Mu Linfeng found that when his eyes swept across the face of the giant Buddha, he felt nothing, but when he focused his eyes on the lips and nose of the giant Buddha, his heart was pounding and he felt very uneasy. As long as he didn't look away, he would soon feel dizzy.
Mu Linfeng soon found the problem, pointing to the peaks on both sides of the giant Buddha and said, "Using Buddha Head Mountain as a mausoleum, it can hide the eight winds outside and the five elements inside. The peaks on both sides are like dragons and tigers guarding, and they connect yin and yang. If you stare at the place where the energy gathers, you will definitely have illusions and disturb your mind."
Gao Hongjin shook his head and said, "Brother, you've been talking for a long time but I don't understand a word you said. Just tell me how we should find the entrance to the Hengwang Mausoleum."
Mu Linfeng smiled slightly: "It shouldn't be difficult to find the entrance to the Hengwang Mausoleum. Let's rush over now, park the car in the village at the foot of the mountain, and then walk around Dafo Mountain to search. I think we should find something."
