Quote by Han Shan: “The path to Cold Mountain is difficult, but the rewards are beyond measure.”

This quote acknowledges the challenging nature of the spiritual or solitary journey while emphasizing its profound value. It encourages perseverance in difficult pursuits, promising invaluable internal benefits that outweigh any external hardships encountered along the way.

The 'Cold Mountain' path symbolizes the arduous spiritual journey of a hermit. Han Shan's poems serve as guides and reflections on this secluded, contemplative life, which, though physically demanding, offered profound spiritual insights.

Tang dynasty Chinese hermit poet of the eighth or ninth century, known by the name of the cold mountain in Zhejiang province where he reportedly lived in a cave. His poems, written on rocks and trees according to legend, were collected by a government official and have been enormously influential in Chan Buddhism and Zen art. Gary Snyder's translations made Han Shan's work widely known in twentieth-century America.