Reflection of Mount Buddha in the Lake

Reflection of Mount Buddha in the Lake

Since it was described in Liu E’s novel The Travels of Lao Can, the reflection has become widely known. However, it has also sparked debate. For instance, Hu Shi argued that Mount Qianfo, located several miles south of the city, could not possibly cast its reflection into Daming Lake. Moreover, many visitors to the lake often fail to see it, leading some to suspect that Liu E had fabricated the phenomenon. In reality, the reflection of Mount Buddha in the lake has been frequently mentioned in the poems of travelers and poets since the Yuan and Ming dynasties. For example, Jin Dynasty poet Yuan Haowen wrote: “The mountain beneath the water looks even better, a mass of blue mist that cannot be dispersed.” Late Ming poet Zhang Heming wrote: “The reflection of Mount Buddha falls on the autumn mirror-like lake, and the mountains on the lake appear lush and flowing.” Another late Ming poet, Liu Chi, wrote: “The reflection sways over green peaks, and the clear waves reflect painted towers.” Qing Dynasty poet Wang Chutong wrote: “It holds within its flat surface a thousand acres of blue, and upside down reveals several peaks of green.” These lines clearly indicate that the phenomenon was commonly visible at the time. Before the War of Resistance, a stone tablet inscribed with the four large characters “Reflection in Daming Lake” once stood outside the west gate of Xiaocanglang Pavilion on the north shore of the lake, though no one knows when it disappeared.

Since the beginning of this century, the area from Nanguanwai to the foot of Mount Qianfo has seen increasingly dense residential development and factories, with several east-west roads constructed. As the population grew and vehicles became more numerous, dust and smog filled the air, making Mount Qianfo appear hazy and indistinct even when viewed from the city. Naturally, the reflection of Mount Buddha in the lake has become much harder to see. However, during the crisp days of spring and autumn, especially after fresh rains and particularly at dawn or dusk, the phenomenon can still appear. In April 1998, following several nights of rain, the reflection was observed multiple times the next morning. The best spot to view the reflection is from Xiaocanglang Pavilion and its vicinity. From east to west, the reflections of Yanchi Mountain, Fohui Mountain, Mount Qianfo, Sili Mountain, and Yingxiong Mountain all appear inverted in the lake. A photojournalist even captured images of the scene at the right moment.

“The reflection of Mount Buddha falls on the autumn mirror-like lake, and the mountains on the lake appear lush and flowing.”

For a period of time, due to the depletion of groundwater, the springs of Daming Lake stopped flowing, causing the reflection of Mount Buddha to vanish. On October 31, 2001, the famous Jinan sight “Reflection of Mount Buddha in the Lake” reappeared frequently. This was because, after artificial restoration efforts, the springs began to flow again. The continuous inflow of water from the revived springs greatly improved the previously polluted water quality of Daming Lake. Coupled with the recent clear and refreshing autumn weather, the lake remained calm. At sunrise or sunset, people were once again able to admire the long-missed spectacle of the “Reflection of Mount Buddha.”