Galloping on Horseback to Seek the Sword-Drawing Spring

Galloping on Horseback to Seek the Sword-Drawing Spring

In 205 BC, during the Chu-Han Contention, Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, fought a major battle against Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, at Pengcheng (modern-day Xuzhou). After suffering defeat, Liu Bang escaped with just a few dozen cavalrymen, breaking through the enemy encirclement and hiding in Huangcangyu for the night. Exhausted and parched, they struggled to find water in the pitch-black valley around four or five in the morning. Liu Bang sighed to the heavens, “Heaven is against me!” In a fit of rage, he hurled his three-foot sword to the ground and led his men to search for water separately. When dawn broke, they returned empty-handed. Suddenly, General Fan Kuai noticed that Liu Bang’s sword was stuck in a rock, and he called everyone over in astonishment. The bravest of them all, Fan Kuai, tried to pull the sword out with all his might but failed. Just then, Liu Bang returned. Seeing the very sword he had used to slay the serpent and rise in rebellion stuck in the stone, he too was amazed. But when Liu Bang grasped the hilt and pulled, the sword came free effortlessly. A clear spring of water gushed forth from the rock. Xiao He exclaimed, “Your Majesty is the son of the Red Emperor, blessed by Heaven—you will surely unify the realm!” And thus the Sword-Drawing Spring was born.