King Han's Sword-Drawing Spring

King Han's Sword-Drawing Spring

“Riding my steed in search of Sword-Drawing Spring, the legacy of King Han still stands so grand. A hidden stream flows beyond emerald peaks, stretching a hundred zhang by verdant trees. The murmuring water fades the dragon-war’s might, while a cold glint stirs the mist of Ba Ling. The lonely ravine of Hong and the cold Wu River — who’d believe such clear waters lie in this spot?” This ancient poem titled “Sword-Drawing Spring” was written during the 33rd year of the Qianlong reign in the Qing Dynasty by Shao Daye, the magistrate of Xuzhou.

Sword-Drawing Spring is located at the foot of Dingtang Mountain in Hanwang Town, the hometown of Han culture. Formed in the second year of Emperor Gaozu of the Western Han Dynasty, the area features continuous mountain ranges and crisscrossing rivers, often described as “where landscape and prosperity blend.” It is a renowned fruit and rose-producing region in Xuzhou. According to Records of the Grand Historian, after Liu Bang was named King of Han, in the spring of 205 BC, he took advantage of a gap to seize Pengcheng, the capital of the Western Chu. Upon hearing the news, Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, personally led 30,000 elite troops to retake Pengcheng. Liu Bang retreated with his forces to the foot of Dingtang Mountain in Hanwang. Exhausted and parched for days without a drop of water, his soldiers suffered immensely. At his wits’ end and overwhelmed with emotion, Liu Bang thrust his sword into the ground and cried out to the heavens, “Heaven is dooming me!” Unexpectedly, when he pulled his sword from the crevice, spring water gushed forth. At the same time, his restless warhorse also pawed the ground with its hooves, bringing forth another spring. Since then, later generations have commemorated Liu Bang by naming the two springs “Sword-Drawing Spring” and “Horse-Pawing Spring.” Sword-Drawing Spring is diamond-shaped, resembling the mark left by a sword plunged into the earth. Su Dongpo, the magistrate of Xuzhou, once dredged a water channel from the spring, directing its flow northward into Shigou Lake (now Yunlong Lake), forming what is now the Jade Belt River.

The Sword-Drawing Spring seen today has been cemented into a rectangular large well, while Horse-Pawing Spring has expanded into a reservoir. The springs flow continuously day and night, their waters cool, gentle, and pure, with a daily output of approximately 2,592 cubic meters, making them one of the important irrigation sources for farmland in Hanwang Town. Strolling along the lakeside, you’ll find a stretch of azure water dotted with pavilions and small bridges, surrounded by lush green trees. Ripples dance on the lake surface, where ducks float leisurely, creating a delightful scene. Near the eastern shore of the lake, a stone tablet protrudes above the water, inscribed with three red characters: “Sword-Testing Stone.” Legend says that during the Song Dynasty, Su Zhe once visited the site with Su Shi to view the Sword-Testing Stone, and wrote an inscription titled “Inscription on the Sword-Testing Stone.” On the green lawns south of Sword-Drawing Spring stand over ten stone tablets and steles of varying sizes, their inscriptions—some deep, some faint—chronicle the millennia-long history of this sacred spring, bearing witness to the enduring flow and timeless simplicity of Sword-Drawing Spring.

(1) Overview of Sword-Drawing Spring

Xuzhou is surrounded by mountains on three sides and was home to 72 mountain springs in ancient times. The most famous is the Crane-Drinking Spring, located on Yunlong Mountain. The second most famous is Sword-Drawing Spring, of which there are three: one is located at Hushan, over 30 li south of the city; another at Dingtang Mountain, over 20 li southwest of the city; and the third at Erlang Mountain, northeast of the city. All three springs are called Sword-Drawing Spring and are all associated with Liu Bang, but the most renowned and still continuously flowing to this day is the one at Dingtang Mountain. Now part of Hanwang Town, Tongshan District, it is also known as Hanwang Sword-Drawing Spring.

Decades ago, a diamond-shaped well curb was built around Hanwang Sword-Drawing Spring, resembling the shape of a giant sword. The spring water has formed a reservoir. The water is clear and slightly sweet, maintaining a constant temperature of 16 degrees Celsius. Its daily output is said to be about 2,000 cubic meters or approximately 2,500 cubic meters. Towering plane trees surround the lake, their reflections clearly mirrored in the water.

Su Shi once visited this place with his brother Su Zhe and wrote “The Sword Stone at the Temple of Emperor Gaozu of Han in Pengcheng, with Preface.” The preface reads: “In the temple of Emperor Gaozu of Han, there is a stone over three chi tall, split in the middle like a broken bamboo, with the unbroken part less than an inch. The elders say: ‘This is the Emperor’s Sword-Testing Stone.’” The Sword-Testing Stone now stands in the lake, half of it above the water surface.

The Hanwang Town where the Sword-Drawing Spring scenic area is located is abundant in roses, pomegranates, grapes, and other produce.

(2) Liu Bang and Sword-Drawing Spring

There are four versions of the legend surrounding Sword-Drawing Spring. Three of them share the same background: In 205 BC, after Liu Bang captured Pengcheng, he indulged in wine and women, neglected defenses, and his 500,000–600,000 strong army was utterly defeated by Xiang Yu’s 30,000 elite troops. Liu Bang fled with the remnants of his forces to the foot of Dingtang Mountain, suffering from extreme thirst and in a sorry state—thus giving rise to the story of Sword-Drawing Spring.

Another version is set against the backdrop of Liu Bang rebelling after slaying a snake. He hid in a valley in Anhui (now Huangcangyu), and was later pursued by Qin soldiers. He fled between Luer Mountain and Black Mountain, again exhausted and desperate for water. But among these four legends, the details of Liu Bang “drawing his sword” differ:

The first version goes: Liu Bang fled to the foot of Dingtang Mountain and ordered his soldiers to search for water. He dismounted and plunged his sword into the ground to tether his horse, then joined the others in looking for a water source. After he left, his horse began frantically digging the ground with its front hooves and uncovered a spring. The soldiers immediately reported this to Liu Bang. Overjoyed, he ran back—but was tripped by a bluestone. When he got up, he saw water gushing from beneath the overturned stone. Even more delighted, he rushed forward, yanked his sword out—and the spring erupted several feet high. These three springs were later named: Horse-Pawing Spring, Trip-and-Spring, and Sword-Drawing Spring.

The second version: Liu Bang fled to the foot of Dingtang Mountain, exhausted and desperate. He drew his sword and thrust it into the ground, crying out to the heavens, “Heaven is dooming me!” As he pulled the sword out, spring water gushed forth. His mount, the Black Dragon Horse, also pawed the ground with its hooves, bringing forth water. Thus, they were named Sword-Drawing Spring and Horse-Pawing Spring.

The third version: Liu Bang dismounted at the foot of Dingtang Mountain, thrust his sword “whoosh” into the ground, sat down, and cried out to the heavens, “Could it be that I, Liu Bang, am truly to be defeated by Xiang Yu?” Hearing his lament, his chestnut horse neighed loudly and pawed the ground incessantly with its front hooves, bringing forth water. Delighted, Liu Bang pulled out his sword—and water spurted out as well. Hence came the names Sword-Drawing Spring and Horse-Pawing Spring.

All three of the above legendary versions took place at the foot of Dingtang Mountain.

One version not set at Dingtang Mountain goes like this: Liu Bang was chased by Qin soldiers to Heishankou (also in Hanwang Town). He raised his sword to the sky and sighed, “Oh Heaven, if you let Liu Bang survive, let water come from the stone!” He then stabbed his sword into the ground, piercing it three chi deep. When he pulled it out, water gushed from the crevice—thus named Sword-Drawing Spring. His horse also pawed the stones behind him, uncovering many springs. Because the springs were numerous like a sieve, this Horse-Pawing Spring was also called Sieve-Bottom Spring.

The variations in these legends are quite understandable. Being legends, they naturally change as they are passed down. Legends are a form of folk literature—each time they are retold, they gain the creativity and imagination of the storyteller. Therefore, there is no right or wrong in legends; it’s up to you to believe them or not. In travel culture, without legends, the experience would be far less captivating.