自周穆遇化人之後。漢武得金神已前。去緒昭彰。久形於簡牘矣。但以秦王肆虐。焚燒詩書。遂使妙業真乘。與時而替。洎顯宗感夢。波瀾斯盛。浹寰瀛而啟路。架日月以爭暉。偉哉。可略而言者也。爰及北齊高氏。深弘像教。宇內塔寺。將四十千。此中伽藍。數過二百。又割八州之稅。以供山眾衣藥之資焉。據此而詳。則仙居靈貺。故觸地而繁矣。遭周武滅法。釋典淩遲。芳徽盛軌。湮淪殆盡。自非神明支持。罕有僕存者也。今之所錄。蓋是其徒至於真沒凋殘。可謂長太息矣。其有修建塔廟。造立尊儀。景業可稱。事緣弘替者。雖非往古。並即而次之。
After King Mu of Zhou encountered the celestial being, and before Emperor Wu of Han obtained the golden statue, the traces of Buddhism had already become clearly visible, long recorded in historical documents. However, because Emperor Qin Shi Huang tyrannically burned the Book of Songs and the Book of Documents, the profound teachings of Buddhism declined along with the times. When Emperor Ming of Han was inspired by a dream, Buddhism began to spread widely like great waves, opening paths across the world and shining alongside the sun and moon. Truly remarkable! This can be briefly described.
During the Northern Qi dynasty under the Gao family, Buddhism was greatly promoted. There were nearly forty thousand temples and stupas throughout the country. Among them, this monastery had over two hundred structures. Furthermore, the taxes from eight provinces were allocated to provide for the clothing and medicine of the mountain monks. From this, one can see that this sacred mountain, blessed with spiritual grace, was richly endowed with Buddhist institutions everywhere.
When Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou dynasty suppressed Buddhism, the Buddhist scriptures were devastated, and the glorious traditions and grand practices were almost completely lost. Without divine protection, few monasteries survived. What is recorded here is only a fraction of what remained. The true loss and decline is truly lamentable.
For those who built temples and stupas, or created sacred images, whose virtuous deeds are commendable and whose contributions to the flourishing or preservation of Buddhism are noteworthy—even if they are not from ancient times, their records are included here in sequence.