钟山灵谷寺梅花坞考

Study on Plum Blossom Wu of Linggu Temple in Zhong Mountain

南京东郊灵谷寺梅花坞是古代南京地区最为重要的梅花风景名胜,成名于明万历年间,明代末年最为鼎盛,入清后逐步衰落,嘉庆、道光以来已完全绝迹。该景地处钟山南麓,依傍灵谷名刹,古松参天,坞梅流芬,相互辉映,极其静邃幽雅,深受明人重视。明清易代之后,一些文人因其盛衰变迁寄托怀国思古之幽情,出现了不少诗画佳作,产生了一定的影响。

Plum Blossom Wu of Linggu Temple, situated at the eastern outskirt of Nanjing, was the most important scenic spot of enjoying plum blossoms in ancient Nanjing. Its reputation was established during Emperor Wanli＇s reign in the Ming Dynasty. Plum Blossom Wu reached its peak towards the end of the dynasty but declined gradually after the Qing Dynasty started, and even totally vanished during the reigns of Emperors Jiaqing and Daoguang. Plum Blossom Wu, situated in the south of Zhong Mountain, with the skyscraping ancient pines and the fragrant plum blossoms adding radiance and beauty to each other, was valued highly during the Ming dynasty. After the Qing Dynasty replaced the Ming Dynasty, a number of scholars created numerous fine poems and drawings in which they expressed their sorrowful nostalgia because of the vicissitude, exerting some influence.