1. The Hsün-yang River (Hsün-yang-chiang) is a tributary of the Long River flowing through Hsün-yang, Chiang-hsi, north of the city of Chiu-chiang. The author refers to Lake P'o-yang by an ancient name, "P'cng-li," as well as another name, "Kung-t'ing" (Palace Pavilion), actually a smaller, contiguous lake named after a nearby temple.

2. Left Bank (Tso-li) is located in the northwest of modern Fu-ch'ang, Chiang-hsi.

3. Modern Hsing-tzu, Chiang-hsi.

4. White Deer Grotto (Pai-lu-tung) is located on the southeast of Hermitage Mountain about two miles from Hsing-tzu. According to legend, Li Po (773-831) and his elder brother came to dwell in retreat here in 785 and raised a white deer as a pet. In 825, when Li Po served as prefect of Chiang-chou, he built a terrace and pavilion on the spot. It first became a school during the civil wars at the end of the T'ang dynasty and later was an important NeoConfucian academy during the Sung associated with Chu Hsi. Five Elders Peak (Wu-lao-feng) is named after its five tall pinnacles grouped together like five old men.

5. Lesser Three Gorges (Hsiao-san-hsia) is named affer the considerably grander Three Gorges of the Long River in modern Szu-ch'uan and Hu-pei.

6. The Stream That Threads through the Tao (Kuan-tao-hsi) flows in front of the White Deer Grotto.

7. Three Gorges Torrent (San-hsia-chien) is west of Five Elders Peak and is fed by more than ninety streams. The crashing sound of its powerful current against the rocks suggests the perilous stretches of the Three Gorges of the Long River. Happiness Pavilion (Huan-hsi-t'ing) is located on the Ridge That Bites Hold of Lake P'o-yang (Han-p'o-ling); see below, note 9.

8. Mr. Li's Mountain Lodge (Li-shih shan-fang) was the residence and library of Li Ch'ang (1027-1090), a Presented Scholar during the Ching-yu era of the Northern Sung dynasty (1034-1037). He served as vice-censor-in-chief and stored his library of some nine thousand volumes, many of which were copied by himself, in the place on Hermitage Mountain where he studied when young.

9. The Ridge That Bites Hold of Lake P'o-yang is located along the middle heights of Hermitage Mountain and faces the lake.

10. Great Monad Peak (T'ai-i-feng) is named after the brightest star in the Northern Culmen (Pei-chi) of Chinese astrology. It is considered the generator of the cosmological Monad and is particularly associated with the ruler of the Chinese state.

11. Nan-ch'ang is modern Nan-ch'ang, Chiang-hsi. P'eng-tse is the name of an ancient district generally corresponding to modern Hu-k'ou, Chiang-hsi.

12. The Pool of the Jade Abyss (Yü-yüan-t'an), on the south side of Hermitage Mountain, is part of the lower reaches of Three Gorges Torrent. It is one of a string of seven or eight ponds formed as the torrent flows through numerous plateaus. The Temple of Perching Worthies (Ch'i-hsien-szu), one of the five major Buddhist temples on Hermitage Mountain, was built below Five Elders Peak during the Southern Ch'i dynasty.

13. The Temple of Myriad Firs (Wan-shan-szu), allother of the five major temples, was located below Auspicious Clouds Peak (Ch'ing-yün-feng). In the T'ang it was named Auspicious Clouds Monastery (Ch'ing-yün-yüan); during the Ching-te era of the Northern Sung dynasty (1004-1007) it was renamed when the monks reforested the area with firs.

14. Flourishing Peak Temple (Hsiu-feng-szu), another of the five major temples, was located below Singing Crane Peak (Ho-ming-feng) in the southeastern foothills. It was built by Li Ching, Central Ruler of the Southern T'ang dynasty (r. 943-961), on the site where he had studied. Originally named the Inauguration Temple (K'ai-hsien-szu), it was renamed by the K'ang-hsi Emperor (r. 1661-1722) when he visited it on one of his southern tours.

15. Green Jade Gorge (Ch'ing-yü-hsia) is located in front of Flourishing Peak Temple. A striking scene is formed by two cascades, Horsetail (Ma-wei-shui), which falls from between Singing Cranes and Tortoise Back (Kuei-pei-feng) peaks, and, opposite, the Waterfall (P'u-pu-ch'üan), which shoots out from Matched Swords Peak (Shuang-chien-feng) into the gorge; see figure 63. Incense Burner Peak (Hsiang-lu-feng) is located on the northwestern side of Hermitage Mountain and derives its name from its shape, its extraordinary peak suddenly protruding. Together with another waterfall below, it is considered by many the most majestic scene on the mountain.

16. The T'ang poet Li Po is said to have taken refuge here behind Five Elders Peak to avoid the An Lu-shan Rebellion. A building below Censor Peak was later named Li Po's Study (T'ai-po tu-shu-t'ang).

17. The Temple That Gazes at the Clouds (Chan-yün-szu), built by Wang Hsi-chih, was located below Golden Wheel Peak (Chin-lun-feng) and was considered one of the five great Buddhist temples of Hermitage Mountain. Wang Hsi-chih's Pond for Washing Away Ink (Yu-chüin mo-ch'ih) is located within the temple compound.

18. The White Crane Monastery (Pai-ho-kuan), located below Five Elders Peak, was first built in 683 during the T'ang.

19. Grain Village (Su-li), at the foot of Yellow Dragon Mountain (Huanglung-shan), is traditionally the site of a residence of the poet T'ao Ch'ien. The Rock for Drunken Slumber (Wo-tsui-shih) is where T'ao is reputed often to have slept when drunk.

20. Chien-chi's Monastery (Chien-chi-kuan) is located below Golden Cock Peak (Chin-chi-feng) and is built on the site where the Taoist Lu Hsiu-ching lived during the Ta-ming era of the [Liu] Sung dynasty (457-464). Lu was given the posthumous name Chien-chi (Austere Solitude).

21. The Yellow Cliff Temple (Huang-yen-szu) below Matched Swords Peak was first built by the T'ang monk Chih-ch'ang.

22. Han-yang Peak (Han-yang-feng), at 4,8.35 feet, is the highest point on Hermitage Mountain, said to afford a commanding view for more than a hundred miles as far as the Long and Han rivers.

23. Translated from Yün Ching, Ta-yün-shan-fang wen-kao 3:11b-12a ( SPPY ed.).