First Spring Under Heaven
眠雲臥石
In 1784, the Qianlong emperor (1711–1799, reign 1735–1796) composed Record of Jade Spring Mountain, First Spring Under Heaven in which he concluded his study of water and advanced Jade Spring in the hills west of Beijing as the foremost freshwater spring of the imperium. Qianlong’s lengthy essay was included in “Forms of Natural Beauty,” the eighth chapter of Studies of Hearsay from Under the Sun, a compendium of notable things about Beijing that was published under imperial auspices in 1786.
The Qianlong Emperor
Record of Jade Spring Mountain, First Spring Under Heaven
The virtue of water is that it nourishes humankind; its taste is delicate and sweet, and its quality, noble and light. This being so, these three are perfectly attuned to one another: being light, water’s taste is sweet, and drinking it purifies and enhances longevity. Thus, those who judge water always distinguish a spring water’s quality, high or low, by its lightness or heaviness.
We once commissioned a silver vessel to compare the relative weight of various waters. The water of Jade Spring of the Capital weighs one ounce. The water of Saishang at Yixun weighs one ounce. The water of Precious Pearl Spring of Jinan weighs one ounce and one ten thousandths. The water of Mount Jin Spring on the Yangzi weighs one ounce and three ten thousandths. These waters are therefore heavier than that of Jade Spring by one to three ten thousandths. As for the spring waters of Mount Hui and Pawing Tigers, each is heavier than Jade Spring by four ten thousandths; that of Mount Ping is heavier by six ten thousandths, and those of Pure Cool Spring, White Sand, Tiger Hill, and Green Cloud Temple on West Mountain are heavier than Jade Spring by a tenth. Theses comparisons were all reached while on inspection tours, the precise measurements acquired on Our command by Palace Attendants.
But is there none lighter than the water from Jade Spring? Yes. What spring? It is not a spring but snow water. Generally, We simply collect and boil it. It is lighter than Jade Spring by three ounces. Snow water cannot always be obtained, so of all the cold waters issuing from mountains, truly, there is none to surpass Jade Spring of the Capital.
In the past, according to the judgments of Lu Yu and Liu Bochu, either the water from the valley at Mount Lu was first or that from the Yangzi was first, that from Mount Hui was second. Though the southerners indeed enjoyed the benefit of their evaluations, regarding the comparative lightness or heaviness of water, Mount Hui doubtless should yield to the Yangzi. It should be appreciated that the elders did not speak hypothetically, but it is a pity that they not only did not reach Saishang at Yixun, they likewise did not reach Yanjing. As this is the case, Jade Spring is decidedly the First Under Heaven.
In recent years, the Western Sea was cleared to become Lake Kunming and in the region of Mount Wanshou there exist several famous springs. If all were traced to their very sources, then Jade Spring is the numinous artery, true and eminent, the heart of fine water. Moreover, its water is light and its taste is sweet, qualities that the water of Mount Lu cannot achieve and that, We believe, surpasses the water of Mount Jin along the Yangzi. Therefore, Jade Spring is designated First Spring Under Heaven. We order the establishment of the Chonghuan Shrine and a memorial carved in stone to support the Huiji River project. Construction at Jade Spring reinforces the base of Mount Baotu, flowing out to form a lake. Poets compare it to the Rainbow of the Waterfall. We inscribed the Eight Scenic Views of Mount Yan of bygone days; why not also follow in these footsteps and so on?
It is evident that there is justice in the world and falsehood in the world. The record is quite complete. Change is difficult. As for freshwater springs and humankind, there is virtue without resentment. Yet, one cannot avoid misrepresentation. Those Under Heaven who hold virtue and resentment can know fear yet need not be afraid.
御製玉泉山天下第一泉記
水之徳在養人其味貴甘其質貴輕然三者正相資質
輕者味必甘飲之而蠲疴益夀故辨水者恒於其質之
輕重分泉之髙下焉嘗製銀斗較之京師玉泉之水斗
重一兩塞上伊遜之水亦斗重一兩濟南珍珠泉斗重
一兩二釐揚子金山泉斗重一兩三釐則較玉泉重二
釐或三釐矣至惠山虎跑則各重玉泉四釐平山重六
釐清涼山白沙虎邱及西山之碧雲寺各重玉泉一分
是皆巡蹕所至命内侍精量而得者然則無更輕扵玉
泉之水者乎曰有為何泉曰非泉乃雪水也常収積素
而烹之較玉泉斗輕三釐雪水不可恒得則凡出山下
而有冽者誠無過京師之玊泉昔陸羽劉伯芻之論或
以廬山谷簾為第一或以揚子為第一惠山為第二雖
南人享帚之論也然以輕重較之惠山固應讓揚子具
見古人非臆説而惜其不但未至塞上伊遜並且未至
燕京若至此則定以玉泉為天下第一矣近嵗疏西海
為昆明湖萬夀山一帯率有名泉溯源會極則玉泉實
靈脉之發皇德水之樞紐且質輕而味甘廬山雖未到
信有過於揚子之金山者故定名為天下第一泉命將
作崇焕神祠以資惠濟而為記以勒石夫玉泉固趵突
山根蕩漾而成一湖者詩人乃比之飛瀑之垂虹即予
向日題燕山八景亦何嘗不隨聲云云足見公論在世
間誣辭亦在世間籍甚既成雌黄難易泉之於人有徳
而無怨猶不能免訛議焉則挾德怨以應天下者可以
知懼抑亦可以不必懼矣
Source
Yu Mingzhong 于敏中 (1714-1779) et al., Qinding Rixia jiuwen kao 欽定日下舊聞考 (Imperially Commissioned Studies of Hearsay from Under the Sun), juan 8, pp. 10b–12a.