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The 磨鏡台 Mojingtai, Mirror Grinding Terrace is the site where the 7th generation Chan monk 懷讓 Huai Rang, 677-744, once demonstrated Buddhist doctrine to his student 馬祖道一 Mazu Daoyi 709-788 by attempting to grind a brick into a mirror. His tomb is located here. The brick grinding story goes: One day Nanyue approached Mazu and asked him, 'What are you doing meditating all the time? Mazu replied, " I am trying to become a Buddha." Nanyue then picked up a slab of brick and started to grind it on a rock. Mazu asked, "What are you doing grinding that piece of brick?" Nanyue said, " I am grinding it to make a mirror." Mazu retorted, "How can you make a mirror by polishing a brick!?" Nanyue replied, "If I can't make a mirror by grinding a brick on a rock, how can you become a Buddha by sitting in meditation? Mazu the asked, "Then what is the best way?" Nanyue answered, "It's like an ox pulling a cart. I the cart gets stuck, do you whip the cart or the ox?"

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