Chapter 226

Chapter 228: Three Thousand Realms in a Single Dream Everyone holds an ideal paradise within their heart. The paradise in Tao Yuanming's heart is described in *The Peach Blossom Spring*: "During the Taiyuan reign of the Jin dynasty, a fisherman of Wuling made his living by fishing." The fisherman served as a proxy for Tao Yuanming. "He followed the stream, forgetting how far he had gone. Suddenly, he came upon a peach blossom grove. It lined both banks for several hundred paces, with no other trees mixed in. The fragrant grass was fresh and lovely, and fallen petals fluttered everywhere." "The fisherman was greatly astonished and continued forward, wanting to reach the end of the grove." "At the source of the stream, the grove ended, and he found a mountain with a small opening that seemed to have a faint light." "He left his boat and entered through the opening." "At first it was extremely narrow, barely wide enough for a person. After walking a few dozen steps, it suddenly opened up into a broad and bright view." "The land was flat and vast, with neat houses, fertile fields, beautiful ponds, mulberry trees, and bamboos..." "They asked what era it was, having no knowledge of the Han dynasty." "The people here told him, 'There is no need to speak of this to outsiders.'"