Old Wei Tai Pagoda(1) is located on the southeast side of Jinmenchen (also called Old Jinchen). It's a five-storied hexagonal(2) construction made of granite and was built in the Ming dynasty in 1387, over 600 years ago. The pagoda has been rated a second class national historic relic.(3)
文台古塔位於金門城（又稱舊金城）東南方，是由花崗石堆砌而成的五層高六角型實心塔。古塔建於明朝洪武廿年（1387年），現在已經有六百多年的歷史，是國家的二級古蹟。

Kinmen has three big pagodas in its history, including Taiwu Mountain's Daoieng Pagoda, Shuitou Village's Maoshan Pagoda and Jinmenchen's Old Wen Tai Pagoda. They all functioned as lighthouses for sailors in the nearby sea. The Daoieng Pagoda on Taiwu Mountain was destroyed in 1918 by an earthquake, while the Maoshan Pagoda in Shuitou village was also ruined(4) in 1961 during the August 23rd Bombardment. Fortunately, Old Wen Tai Pagoda survived the other two, and is well preserved now.
古代金門有三大古塔，分別是：太武山上的倒影塔、水頭村的茅山塔和金門城的文台古塔。這三大古塔在六百年前是附近海域船隻的航行指標。太武山上的倒影塔，毀於民國七年（西元1918年）的大地震；水頭村中的茅山塔，因為八二三砲戰的緣故，於民國五十年（西元1961）損毀；而文台古塔倖免於難，是現今唯一存在的古塔。

Near Old Wen Tai Pagoda there is a huge rock carved with the four characters "Shu Jian Shiao Wo" written by Yu Da-yiou, a general of the Ming dynasty during his tour of duty(5) in Kinmen.
文台古塔的旁邊有觀海岩，岩石上的「虛江嘯臥」大字，是明代俞大猷將軍駐守金門時所題的字。


Tourist: This small and oblique(6) pagoda looks magnificent. I've never seen one like this before. Is it the only pagoda in Kinmen?
遊客：這小小、斜斜的塔很莊嚴；以前都沒看過這種塔，金門島上只有這個嗎？

Tour Guide: Not exactly. In ancient times, there used to be three pagodas in Kinmen-Taiwu Mountain's Daoieng Pagoda, Shuitou Village's Maoshan Pagoda and Jinmenchen's Old Wen Tai Pagoda. They were known as the three huge pagodas of Kinmen. But the pagoda you see now is the only one that still exists.
導遊：在古代原本有三座塔，那就是太武山上的倒影塔、水頭村的茅山塔、以及現在看到的這個塔，合稱金門的三大古塔，只是另外二個都已經不存在了。

Tourist: What was the function of the three pagodas?
遊客：這三個塔有什麼特殊的功能嗎？

Tour Guide: It's said that the pagodas were used for sailors' safety, and acted like sailors' guardian angels.(7) The pagodas were just like lighthouses for the navigators. When they were seen in a line, the navigators could easily locate the island of Kinmen, without mistaking it for the mainland of China. Besides that, they are also thought of as "feng-shui pagodas" where people prayed for good fortune.
導遊：嗯，傳說古塔的興建是為了航行安全，可說是航海者的守護神。三大古塔是附近海面的燈塔，當三大古塔連成一線時，代表看到的地方就是金門，而不是大陸。同時，古塔本身也是祈求運氣的風水塔。

Tourist: Do you have any legends(8) or stories concerning this?
遊客：有什麼相關的傳說故事嗎？
Tour Guide: It's said that Old Wen Tai Pagoda was a "feng-shui pagoda" and an "astrology(9) pagoda." The emperor of the Ming dynasty believed what his astrologer had said, that Kinmen was going to have a native emperor. Therefore, the emperor took precautions(10) and built this pagoda to destroy the "feng-shui" (environment) around.
導遊：據說這個古塔除了是「風水塔」也是「文星塔」，也就是古塔的興建與風水有關。況且明朝時代的皇帝聽信風水師所言：『金門將會出生一個土皇帝』。因此，建造古塔來破壞金門的風水。

Tourist: Besides the old pagoda, what are some other things to see?
遊客：在這裡除了看古塔，還有其他風景嗎？

Tour Guide: There is a rock not far from the pagoda. It's called "Sea-watching Rock". From there you can feel no boundary between the sea and the sky. And, if you are fortunate enough, you can also observe some migratory birds and ducklings here.
導遊：在塔的不遠處還有一個地方叫做「觀海岩」；在這裡你會有遠眺海連天的感覺。而且，運氣好的話，還會看到許多小水鴨群等候鳥。

Tourist: Sounds amazing! This is also a highlight(11) for bird watchers, isn't it?
遊客：聽起來很動人！這裡也是金門賞鳥的據點之一嗎？

Tour Guide: Yes. The main reason birds come is that Kinmen Liquor Factory nearby discards "distilled grains"(12) that can attract birds looking for food.
導遊：是的。由於金門酒廠在附近，所排放出來的「酒糟」常常會吸引一些覓食的候鳥。

Tourist: Wish me good luck as I go to take a look.
遊客：希望能有好運氣一飽眼福！（二十二）


■1. pagoda-(n)東方寺院的塔，或公園涼亭。
■2. hexagonal-(adj.)六角形的。
■3. relic-(n)遺跡；遺物；紀念物品。此處，第幾級古蹟以序數＋class來表述，第一級古蹟就是the first class historical relic。
■4. ruin-(vi.)毀滅、毀壞。
■5. tour of duty-軍人駐守某地期間；任期。
■6. oblique-(adj.)傾斜的；非直角的。不直截了當、拐彎抹角的。
■7. guardian angel-(n)守護神；守護天使。guardian是守護者或監護人的意思。
■8. legend-(n)傳說；傳奇故事。
■9. astrology-(n)占星術、占星學。占星術士則是astrologer。
■10. precaution-(n)預防措施。常見用法為take precaution against～。
■11. highlight-(n)最突出、最精彩的部分；最明亮的部分。
■12. distilled grains-此處指酒糟。distill指以蒸餾方式萃取；grain則是穀類。
資料來源：金門縣政府
原書作者：陳建民、漢貴恩