---
title: "明州岳林寺志 · 岳林寺志序"
description: "明州岳林寺志由清代学者戴明琮编撰。该书详细记载了浙江明州今宁波地区著名禅寺岳林寺的历史沿革、建筑格局、高僧事迹、诗文碑刻及宗教活动。作为一部重要的地方佛教寺志，它不仅是研究岳林寺历史与禅宗传承的关键文献，也为探讨明清时期浙东地区佛教发展、寺院经济与文化交融提供了珍贵的一手史料。该志在佛教史志中占有重要地位，是了解江南禅宗丛林制度与地域佛教文化的权威典籍之一。"
url: "https://rushiwowen.co/en/r/cmgmyj4c70f0wl104xl1sf9wd"
---

### 岳林寺志序

> Preface to the Annals of Yuelin Temple

剡上以彈丸小邑僻處海隅，其俗儉陋而民淳，無錦繡珠玉之飾、泉刀枲布魚鹽之饒，無園林陂池臺榭為燕樂之所，無琳宮貝宇極金碧莊嚴之觀。正如子瞻在儋州時，大率皆無耳。予才識闇淺，竊幸兹土僻簡，可安吾拙。兩年來，公庭閴寂，吏抱文牘判紙尾外無他事，然亦鹿鹿無寧時。聞雪竇山水奇秀，為東南絕勝，思一登其巔而未有暇也。東郊外距城三里有岳林寺，長吏迎春講社，歲一至再至焉。予見其殿閣嵯峨，左右禪房歷歷備具，雖悃愊無󲘈，而花竹暢茂，差可游息。顧謂諸父老曰：「此奉邑之所絕無者，而何以有是哉？」或告之曰：「是唐大中時勅建，布帒老人顯化處，鞠為茂草久矣。近庀材而更新之，惟和尚楷菴是賴。」楷公曰：「山衲何功之有？實藉雲間諸檀那廣種福果、前邑侯曹公護持之力居多！」予不覺瞿然曰：「是何言之謙而避之㴱也！凡物之成壞有數，而興廢在人；若非道力超羣、法緣幅凑，曷由致是？」越一年，丁卯，楷菴手一編示予曰：「岳林舊無志書，今寺已落成，法鼓復振，恐湮沒無攷，不得有傳於後，是以璧城志之。」請予文弁其首，予曰：「可哉，子之遠慮也！」今上振興文教，命諸儒臣纂輯《一綂志》，海內名山古剎，俱𢯱採編入。岳林彌勒道場為四明法窟，則寺志誠不可少！况予同鄉賢士大夫好善樂施，前輩曹公教養元元，共成不朽盛事。楷菴經營有年，手口卒荼，誠孚遐邇，非衲子時輩所可及。則昔日所無，不妨為今之所有。是皆不可以不記也，於是乎書！

> Shanxian is a small, remote town by the sea, where the customs are simple and the people are honest. There are no lavish decorations of brocade, pearls, or jade, nor abundant resources of coins, hemp cloth, fish, or salt. There are no gardens, ponds, terraces, or pavilions for leisurely enjoyment, nor magnificent temples adorned with gold and jade. It is much like when Su Shi was in Danzhou—a place where there is little of everything. With my limited talent and shallow understanding, I quietly rejoice in this land's simplicity and remoteness, which allows me to dwell in my own humble ways. For the past two years, the government office has been quiet, and aside from handling official documents, there has been little else to attend to. Yet, even so, there has been no real peace or leisure. I have heard that the mountains and waters of Xuedou are exceptionally beautiful, considered a supreme scenic spot in the southeast, and I have long wished to climb its peaks but have never found the time. Three li east of the city lies the Yuelin Temple, where local officials gather for spring ceremonies and community lectures, visiting once or twice a year. I saw its towering halls and pavilions, with orderly meditation rooms on both sides. Though simple and unadorned, the flourishing flowers and bamboo make it a pleasant place for wandering and rest. I turned to the elders and asked, "This is something utterly lacking in our county—how is it that such a place exists here?" Someone replied, "This temple was built by imperial decree during the Tang Dynasty's Dazhong era, at the site where the Cloth-Bag Monk manifested. It had long fallen into ruin, overgrown with weeds, until recently when materials were gathered to restore it, thanks largely to the efforts of Master Kai'an." Master Kai'an said, "What merit does a humble monk have? It is truly due to the generous support of the benefactors from Yunjiang and the protective efforts of former Magistrate Cao!" I could not help but exclaim, "How modest and deeply humble are these words! All things rise and fall according to fate, yet their revival depends on human effort. Without extraordinary spiritual power and the gathering of karmic conditions, how could this have been achieved?" A year later, in the year Dingmao, Kai'an showed me a manuscript and said, "Yuelin Temple has never had a recorded history. Now that the temple is restored and the Dharma drum resonates once more, I fear it may be forgotten and lost to future generations. Therefore, I wish to compile its chronicles." He asked me to write a preface, and I replied, "How thoughtful and far-sighted of you!" Our current emperor promotes culture and education, commanding scholars to compile the Unified Gazetteer, incorporating famous mountains and ancient temples from across the land. Yuelin Temple, as a Maitreya practice center and a Dharma sanctuary of Siming, certainly deserves its own records. Moreover, my fellow townsmen, virtuous scholars, and officials are generous in their support, and former Magistrate Cao nurtured the people, all contributing to this enduring achievement. Kai'an has labored for years, diligently working with hands and words, earning trust far and wide—far beyond what ordinary monks of this age could accomplish. Thus, what was once absent may now exist. All of this must be recorded, and so I write this down.

錫山施𠟭曾（省園氏）題

> Inscribed by Shi Chen of Xishan (also known as Shengyuan).