CO129-554-6 Hong Kong University- 1. Appointment of Dr. Chen Shas Yi as head of Chinese Department... 18-3-1935 - 28-10-1935 — Page 45

46

116

SUNG HOK-P'ANG

Kwun () "green cloud Taoist temple." At first many people visited it, but its popularity did not last long, and eventually it became deserted.

In 1918 a Bhuddist came to Castle Peak, and established the present Bhuddist monastery, adding to the buildings and becoming the first abbot.

Any one visiting Castle Peak now, will find much of interest. About half-way up the path leading to the monastery there is a handsome gate that was erected in 1929. On the front of it are the characters 'Heung Hoi Ming 'Shaan (l) "Hong Kong Sea famous Mountain which were put there by Sir Cecil Clementi. On the reverse side is written Wui T'au Shi Ngon (D) meaning, the shore is just behind you, i.e. you can mend your ways easily. This is a Bhuddist say- ing and was written on the gate by Tit Shim ( ) a famous abbot in Canton. The gate was erected by twenty Chinese benefactors, and their names are written on the left hand side of the front of the gate.

1

0

The monastery itself consists of several buildings, the Abbots Lodge, the Pooi To pavilion and a garden with an arbour called 'Hoi Yuet Ting (H) "Sea Moon Arbour" which was placed there for the delightful purpose of looking at the moonlight on the sea. The Fishes Tomb is an object of interest. The Buddhists who believe that no form of life should be taken are in the habit of buying fish from the fisherman and releasing them in the sea again. If, however, the fishes are dead, they bury them in this Tomb so that no one will eat them.

Just above the buildings there is a small cave with the remains of a whale's bones in it. This whale is supposed to have crushed the mountain in remote times, but there is more appearance of the whale having suffered than the mountain! Unfortunately a lot of the bones have been taken away by unscrupulous visitors, and only one very worn vertebra and some ribs are left. Near this cave is the little shrine with Pooi To's figure in it.

If the path leading up to the summit of the mountain is followed a little summer house with stone benches by it is found near the top. This is called "Clementi arbour," and was erected by a Chinese gentleman, who visited Castle Peak with Sir Cecil one day, and heard him remark that it would be a good plan to have a convenient resting place in that particular spot. At the summit of the mountain there is a large stone on which are carved the characters 'Ko 'Shaan Tai Yat (-) “The best high mountain" which are supposed to have been written by Hon Yue () a very famous scholar of the T'ong () dynasty, who was born in A.D. 768 and died A.D. 824.

1

3

The present Chinese name of Tsing Shaan, "green mountain" is derived from the fact that the grass on it always appears green, even though the surrounding hills may be burnt up and brown during the rainless winter months.

The Hong Kong Naturalist.