Chenxian Bridge: The Forty-Five Li Heavenly Stairway

Chenxian Bridge: The Forty-Five Li Heavenly Stairway

Forty-five li south of Mengcheng, across Mengfeng Highway, lies the Qian River. Spanning the river is a large bridge called Chenxian Bridge, which locals commonly refer to as the “Forty-Five Li Heavenly Stairway.” The ancient legend passed down through generations has been widely believed and spread far and wide, making Chenxian Bridge a scenic spot in Mengcheng.

The legend is said to have originated from Zhuangzi. According to Records of the Grand Historian, Zhuangzi once served as an official in the Lacquer Garden. He was also known to have fished in the Pu River, which is today’s Qian River. In the late Five Dynasties period, a man named Chen Tuan emerged from Zhenyuan County (now southwest of Bozhou), and he greatly admired Zhuangzi. The History of Song states:

“Biography of Chen Tuan”: Chen Tuan, also known as Zituonan, began speaking intelligently at the age of four or five... His wisdom grew with time; as he matured, he could read and memorize texts on classics, history, and various schools of thought after one glance, retaining everything perfectly, and gained fame particularly for his poetry. During the Changxing era of the Later Tang Dynasty, he failed the imperial examination and thus abandoned the pursuit of official rank, instead finding joy in nature. He lived in seclusion at Jiushi Rock on Mount Wudang, “practicing breath control and fasting for over twenty years,” then moved to YunTai Temple on Mount Hua, and later stayed in the Shixia Cave of Shaohua Mountain, often remaining in bed for over a hundred days without rising. It is also said: “Tuan loved reading the Book of Changes and never put it down, often referring to himself as Fuyaozi. He authored Eighty-One Chapters of Zhizhuan Pian, discussing guidance on cultivation and the elixir... He also wrote Three Peaks Fables, as well as Gao Yang Collection, Diaotan Collection, and over six hundred poems.” The History of Song also says: “During the Taiping Xingguo era... Tuan had already lived on Mount Hua for over forty years, and was estimated to be nearly a hundred years old. On the twenty-second day of the seventh month in the second year of Duanjiong (989 AD), he passed away as he had predicted, in Zhangchaogu Valley at the foot of Lotus Peak... Seven days after his death, his body remained warm, and five-colored clouds sealed the cave entrance, not dispersing for a full month.” Emperor Taizong of Song posthumously honored him with the title “Master Xiyi,” and later generations revered him as “Ancestor Chen Tuan.”

Legend has it that Chen Tuan went to the Southern Tang (present-day Shou County) but did not find what he sought, returning disappointed. On his way back, passing by the banks of the Pu River south of Mengcheng, he suddenly caught the scent of wine, drank until drunk, and lay down for a hundred days without waking. In his dream, he saw Zhuangzi fishing leisurely and spoke at length about the joys of resigning from office and living in seclusion. Upon waking, he attained enlightenment and chose to retreat to cultivate his spirit. Another version says that after being enlightened by Zhuangzi, Chen Tuan achieved immortality and ascended to heaven from the bridge. There is also a legend of Chen Tuan’s “Sleeping Poem”:

What most people value is trivial,

But sleep alone is truly profound.

While all the world breathes,

The soul departs yet the spirit remains unmoved.

Upon waking, none know a thing,

Yet greed stirs within their hearts.

Laughable are those of the dusty world,

Who do not realize dreams are but dreams.