Chapter I · The Temple Mural第一章 · 寺壁画像
The Jiangxi scholar Meng Longtan travels in the capital with Zhu, a provincial graduate. By chance they wander into a small temple where a lone old monk lodges. He straightens his robes, greets them, and guides them through the halls.
In the main hall stands a statue of the eminent monk Baozhi. On both walls are exquisite murals so vivid the figures seem alive. On the eastern wall a host of flower-scattering celestial maidens drift across the scene; among them a loose-haired girl holds a blossom and smiles, her cherry lips poised to speak, her eyes rippling with feeling.
江西人孟龙潭和一个姓朱的举人一同客居在京城里。有一天，他们俩偶然走进了一座寺庙，寺庙里面的殿宇和僧房都不怎么宽敞，只有一个老和尚暂时投宿在那里。老和尚见到有客人进来，便整理了衣服前往迎接，领着他们到庙中各处游览。佛殿中央有一座高僧宝志的塑像，两边的墙壁上绘着精致神妙的壁画，画里的人物一个个都栩栩如生。东侧墙上画着一群散花的天女，其中有一位披发少女，手里拿着一朵花在微笑，樱桃小口好像要张开说话，含情脉脉的眼睛仿佛流波四溢。
Chapter II · The Painted Chamber第二章 · 画中闺阁
Zhu stares so long that his spirit seems to drift away. Dazed in reverie, he feels his body rise and float like mist until he arrives inside the wall. There are layered halls and towers unlike the human world. An old monk preaches from a high seat, encircled by monks; Zhu finds himself standing among them.
After a while, someone tugs his robe. He looks back and sees the loose-haired girl, who smiles and walks away. He follows her through a winding corridor to a small room, hesitating at the door. She turns, lifts the flower in her hand, and beckons from afar. He enters. The chamber is empty; he embraces her, and she does not resist. They lie together like husband and wife. When it is done she shuts the door and leaves, telling him not to cough. At night she returns. This continues for two days.
朱举人对少女注目了很久，不知不觉间神魂飘荡，恍恍惚惚地陷入了想入非非的凝思当中。忽然，他的身子飘飘飞起，如同腾云驾雾一样，就飞到了墙壁上。只见殿堂楼阁重重叠叠，不像是人间世界。一个老和尚正在高座上讲说佛经，有许多身穿僧衣的和尚围着老和尚听讲。朱举人也站在这些人当中。
过了一会儿，觉得好像有人暗暗地拉他的衣襟。他回头一看，正是那个披发少女，朝他莞尔一笑便转身离开了。朱举人就抬脚跟了上去。走过一段曲折的长廊，看见少女走进了一间小屋子，朱举人欲行又止地不敢往前走了。那个少女回过头来，举着手中的花朵，远远地招呼他，朱举人于是就快步跟着少女走进了小屋。小屋里寂静无人，他就上前拥抱少女，那少女也不怎么抗拒，于是二人就像夫妻那样地恩爱了一番。事情完了之后，少女关上屋门出去了，临走嘱咐朱举人不要咳嗽出声。到了夜晚，少女又来了。这样过了两天。
Chapter III · The Golden Armored Envoy第三章 · 金甲使者
The other maidens discovered the affair and teased the girl, saying, “The child in your belly is already grown - will you still keep your hair loose like a maiden?” They fetched hairpins and earrings and urged her to coil her hair. She blushed and said nothing. One companion warned, “Sisters, we should not linger too long; the hosts may grow displeased.” They laughed and departed. Zhu saw her hair piled high like clouds, phoenix ornaments drooping, even more alluring than before.
With no one around, Zhu grew bolder and embraced her again. The scent of orchids and musk flooded his senses. Suddenly sharp boot steps and clanking chains erupted, followed by a din of voices. The girl startled upright; they peered out and saw a black-faced envoy in golden armor, chains coiled in his hands and a heavy hammer at his side, surrounded by maidens. He demanded, “Is everyone present?” They replied, “All are here.” He warned, “If anyone is hiding a mortal from the lower world, report at once and do not invite trouble.” They answered together, “No.” He turned like a hawk, searching.
The girl went pale with terror. “Hide beneath the bed,” she whispered, opening a small door in the wall and fleeing. Zhu crouched below, not daring to breathe. Boots entered the room, then departed. The clamour slowly receded, but voices still came and went outside. He remained curled up for a long time, ears ringing like cicadas and sparks flashing before his eyes, unable to endure the strain. He could only wait for the girl to return, forgetting even where he had come from.
女伴们发觉了这件事儿，一起搜寻到了朱举人，对少女开玩笑说：“你肚子里的小孩都已经这么大了，还想披散着头发装大姑娘吗？”于是她们一块儿拿来发簪和耳环，催促她梳成妇人的发髻。少女羞得说不出一句话来。一个女伴说：“姐姐妹妹们，咱们可不要老待在这儿，会惹人家不高兴的。”女伴们就嬉笑着都离开了。朱举人再看那少女，只见她头上梳着高耸如云的发髻，上面插着低垂的凤钗，比披发的时候更加美艳迷人了。
他看四下无人，便慢慢地又和少女亲热起来，只觉得一种兰草、麝香般的香气沁入了心脾。二人正在如胶似漆、快乐不已的时候，忽然间听到了急促高亢的皮靴声和铿锵作响的绳索声，接着就是一片人声嘈杂的喧嚷。少女听到声音吃惊地从床上坐了起来，和朱举人一齐偷偷地往外看，只见一个身穿金甲的使者，面色漆黑，提着锁链，拿着大锤，天女们围着他站着。使者问：“人全都到了吗？”天女们回答说：“已经全到了。”使者说：“如果有谁窝藏了下界凡人，大家要马上举报，不要自找麻烦。”天女们又齐声回答说：“没有。”那使者转过身子像老雕一样地四处环顾，好像要搜查似的。少女非常害怕，脸色吓得如同死灰一样，慌慌张张地对朱举人说：“你赶快藏到床下去。”她打开墙上的小门，匆匆忙忙地逃走了。朱举人趴在床下，一口大气也不敢出。过了一会儿，只听得皮靴的声音渐渐到了房里，然后又走了出去。没过多久，外面杂乱喧哗的声音渐渐远去了，朱举人的心里这才稍觉安稳，但是门外总是有来来往往说话的人。朱举人局促不安地躲藏了很久，觉得耳边像是有蝉在鸣叫，眼前直冒金星，那情形实在无法忍受。但他也只好静静地等待那少女回来，竟然再也记不起自己是从哪里来的了。
Chapter IV · Returning to the Wall第四章 · 壁上归影
Meanwhile, Meng could not find Zhu in the hall and questioned the monk. The monk smiled, “He went to listen to the preaching.” When asked where, he said, “Not far.” After a while he tapped the wall with his finger and called, “Patron Zhu, why have you wandered so long?” On the mural Zhu’s painted image appeared, standing still with his head inclined, as if listening. The monk called again, “Your companion has waited long enough.” Zhu then drifted down from the wall, ashen and stunned, legs weak.
Meng asked what had happened; Zhu explained that he had been hiding under a bed when a thunderous knock sounded, and he stepped outside to find himself returned to the human world. They looked again at the flower-holding maiden in the mural and saw her hair now coiled high, no longer loose like a girl. Zhu bowed and asked the monk to explain. The monk only smiled: “Illusion arises from the human mind; how can I, a monk, explain it?” Zhu left with his chest knotted in confusion, Meng in silent dread. Together they rose to leave and descended the steps out of the temple.
这时，孟龙潭在大殿里，转眼间不见了朱举人，就惊疑地向老和尚询问。老和尚笑着说：“他听讲经说法去了。”孟龙潭问：“在哪里呢？”老和尚回答说：“就在不远处。”过了一会儿，老和尚用手指弹了弹墙壁，高声叫道：“朱施主，怎么远游了这么长时间还不回来？”这时，就看见壁画上现出了朱举人的画像，正静静地站立着，侧着耳好像听见了什么似的。老和尚又叫了声说：“你的游伴等你已经很久了。”于是，朱举人就从墙壁上飘飘然地飞了下来，灰心丧气，目瞪口呆，手脚发软地立在那里。
孟龙潭大吃一惊，慢慢地问他，才知道原来朱举人正趴在床下，忽然听到了一阵惊雷似的敲击声，所以走出房外来刚要看看，就回到了人世。大家一块儿再去看那个壁画上的拈花少女，只见她头上已经高高地盘起了发髻，不再是披发少女了。朱举人惊愕地向老和尚行礼，并向他请教这件事情的原因。老和尚笑着说：“幻觉本是由人的心里产生出来的，我这个和尚怎么能知道。”朱举人这时胸中郁闷，百思不得其解。孟龙潭听后暗自惊叹，惶恐不安。两人于是起身告辞，一级级下了台阶从庙中走了出来。
Chapter V · The Chronicler’s Verdict第五章 · 异史氏评
The chronicler writes: all illusions are born from the heart - words that sound like the counsel of a true sage. When a person harbors lust, a lewd realm is born; when a person harbors contempt, a realm of terror appears. Bodhisattvas, seeking to enlighten the foolish, conjure a thousand visions, yet every vision arises from the mind itself. The monk’s compassionate warnings were urgent, but the foolish man did not awaken at once, nor retreat into the mountains to cultivate the way.
异史氏说：一切幻觉都是由人心自己生出来的，这像是有道之人说的话啊。人有了淫荡的心思，就会生出淫秽的情境；有了轻慢的心思，就会生出恐怖的情境。菩萨为了点化愚昧的人，让他历尽种种的幻境，这些幻境本都是从人自己的心里生出来的。法师心怀慈悲，苦心劝谕，可惜愚昧之人听了法师的话之后却不能大彻大悟，去山林修行。