Quannan Tianlong Mountain

Quannan Tianlong Mountain

Quannan Tianlong Mountain, named for its mountain ridges that rise like a soaring dragon, is located 9 kilometers east of the county town at the border with Longnan County, and is one of the important historical sites in Quannan County. The mountain features perilous and uniquely shaped cliffs, rising abruptly on three sides with jagged rocks. In the sixth year of the Wanli era during the Ming Dynasty, the enlightened and benevolent Zeng Maoda built Tianlong Mountain Temple on the main peak. With eminent monks presiding and their profound Buddhist practice, the temple flourished in incense offerings and became famous far and wide. The Ming Dynasty philosopher Wang Yangming, upon ascending Tianlong Mountain and seeing its peculiar rocks, composed a poem on the spot: “The peaks of Tianlong Mountain pierce the clouds, the winding Taoh River embraces the mountains, evergreen through all seasons, a land of outstanding people and heroes.” In June 1940, Mr. Chiang Ching-kuo visited Tianlong Mountain during an inspection tour and praised it in his travel notes: “Truly a fine landscape of Chu ridges, a beautiful southern mountain, truly a heavenly dragon’s splendid site.”

Legend has it that before the formation of this mountain, the area was an expanse of flat land. Later, the daughter of the Dragon King of the East Sea fell in love with a poor young man from Tianlong Village. Their love was so deep that she refused to return to the palace. Enraged, the Dragon King sent a dragon prince accompanied by shrimp soldiers and turtle generals to capture her. Unexpectedly, this tale of steadfast love moved the Jade Emperor, who intervened to mediate and even bestowed many copper coins upon the poor young man. Left with no choice, the Dragon King of the East Sea ordered the sea to recede three hundred li, allowing the dragon girl to remain by the side of Tianlong Mountain — now known as the majestic peak of Apo Ji. A tuft of green at the summit resembles the traditional hair bun worn by Hakka women today. It is said that the Hakka women’s custom of wearing buns originated from the dragon girl’s hairstyle, making Apo Ji, in a way, the grandmother of the Hakka people.

On the main peak of Tianlong Mountain grows a unique species of tree. Its trunk stands straight with no side branches, shaped like an umbrella. In autumn, it blooms and bears fruit, with flowers that hang in clusters resembling strings of copper coins. When gently shaken, the coins-like flowers fall down, which led locals to aptly name it the “Money-Shaking Tree.” Legend says this Money-Shaking Tree was planted by the same poor young man from Tianlong Village after receiving the copper coins bestowed by the Jade Emperor.

On the western side of Tianlong Mountain’s main peak, within the reclining rock formation, lies a coiled dragon ridge stretching toward the main peak. This dragon ridge is said to be the dragon prince himself, who, moved by his sister’s unwavering devotion to love, shed tears. The spring water that flows endlessly in front of the Reclining Dragon Rock is believed to be formed from those emotional tears. About twenty meters away from the Reclining Dragon Rock lies a massive stone turtle resting on a pool, poised in a posture as if crawling toward the main peak of Tianlong Mountain. This sea turtle is none other than the turtle general who accompanied the dragon prince.

The fame of today’s Tianlong Mountain is also closely linked to Jin Yong’s internationally renowned novel “Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils.” According to local elders, the legendary battles of celestial soldiers and generals bear a striking resemblance to the fierce fight scenes described in “Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils.” This is probably something even the great writer Jin Yong could not have anticipated.

It is said that Tianlong Mountain is highly efficacious. In the early days when incense offerings at Tianlong Mountain Temple were flourishing, a greedy monk secretly tried to flee at night with a sack of copper coins. Strangely, no matter how far he walked, he ended up back at the starting point by dawn, when he was discovered. From then on, the monk devoted himself wholeheartedly to the temple and eventually became a celebrated eminent monk. Within the Tofu Rock on the western side of the main peak, another story is passed down. In 1944, a defeated Japanese army unit passed through Tianlong Village, committing arson, murder, and looting. A local group of over 400 villagers from Tianlong Village hid under Tofu Rock, just ten meters away from the Japanese soldiers, yet they went completely unnoticed. Locals marveled that it was the spiritual power of Tianlong Mountain that protected the villagers.