Setting Moon and Three Stars Cave (斜月三星洞, Xiéyuè sānxīng dòng?) is a cave in the Spirit Tower Heart Mountain and a location in Journey to the West. The Immortal Puti Zushi and his thirty to forty disciples reside and practice austerities in the cave.
Description[]
From the forest at the base of the mountain, one can follow a narrow path and travel south for about 7 or 8 miles to find the cave. There is a stone tablet about 30 feet high and 8 feet wide at the top of the cliff. On it was carved in enormous letters: SPIRIT−TOWER HEART MOUNTAIN, CAVE OF THE SETTING MOON AND THE THREE STARS.
The entrance of the cave is by a door that can be tightly shut. After entering, there are rows and rows of lofty towers and huge alcoves, of pearly chambers and carved arches, as well as innumerable quiet chambers and empty studios. At the end of those rows is a green-jade platform, where Puti Zushi will be seated to give a lecture to his disciples. The disciples will stand below the platform in rows.
Poem[]
The cave is described in the following poem:[1]
煙霞散彩，日月搖光。
千株老柏，萬節修篁。
千株老柏，帶雨半空青冉冉;
萬節修篁，含煙一壑色蒼蒼。
門外奇花佈錦，橋邊瑤草噴香。
石崖突兀青苔潤，懸壁高張翠蘚長。
時聞仙鶴唳，每見鳳凰翔。
仙鶴唳時，聲振九皋霄漢遠;
鳳凰翔起，翎毛五色彩雲光。
玄猿白鹿隨隱見，金獅玉象任行藏。
細觀靈福地，真個賽天堂。
Mist and smoke in diffusive brilliance,
Flashing lights from the sun and moon,
A thousand stalks of old cypress,
Ten thousand stems of tall bamboo.
A thousand stalks of old cypress
Draped in rain half fill the air with tender green;
Ten thousand stems of tall bamboo
Held in smoke will paint the glen chartreuse.
Strange flowers spread brocades before the door.
Jadelike grass emits fragrance beside the bridge.
On ridges protruding grow moist green lichens;
On hanging cliffs cling the long blue mosses.
The cries of immortal cranes are often heard.
Once in a while a phoenix soars overhead.
When the cranes cry,
Their sounds reach through the marsh to the distant sky.
When the phoenix soars up,
Its plume with five bright colors embroiders the clouds.
Black apes and white deer may come or hide;
Gold lions and jade elephants may leave or bide.
Look with care at this blessed, holy place:
It has the true semblance of Paradise.