The Remarkable Rocks of Mount Yi

The Remarkable Rocks of Mount Yi

The biggest difference between Mount Yi and other famous mountains is its abundance of peculiar rocks. Moreover, almost every rock has a beautiful legend associated with it, which adds rich cultural significance to the mountain. To the north of the Dangtianti Stairway on Mount Yi, there is a uniquely slanted rock facing southwest. Its shape is unusual, covered with fine patterns in an earthy yellow hue, strikingly resembling the robe of a Buddhist monk. This rock is the famous Bagua Robe Stone of Mount Yi. Mount Yi is originally a sacred Taoist mountain—so why is there a Buddhist monk’s robe here? Legend has it that a battle once took place between Buddhists and Taoists on Mount Yi, and the Buddhists were defeated. However, a monk named Zhiyuan took a liking to Mount Yi and secretly stayed behind. Worried that the Taoists would drive him away, he hid his robe. Eventually, the Taoists found it. But his sincerity moved them, and they allowed him to stay. The patriarch of Taoism was touched by his devotion and transformed his robe into the colorful Bagua Robe Stone, symbolizing the friendship between Buddhism and Taoism.

On the eastern mountain path of the southern slope of Mount Yi lies a magical Tofu Stone. The stone's cracks are exquisitely formed, closely resembling a freshly cut block of tender tofu. Legend says there was a renowned tofu shop at the foot of Mount Yi. When Emperor Qianlong visited Mount Yi, he heard that this shop made especially good tofu, so he ordered that his lunch feature their tofu. Unfortunately, the shop owner’s wife had gone to visit her family, and her child, lacking skill, ended up making a pot of terribly unpalatable tofu. Emperor Qianlong was furious and ordered a fine of a thousand gold pieces, as well as revocation of the shop’s license. When the owner returned, she quickly remade the tofu. With guidance from the legendary immortal Zhang Guolao, she arranged the tofu along the mountain path. As a result, not only did the tofu emit an extraordinarily fragrant aroma throughout the mountain, but the emperor’s horseback procession crossed over it without leaving a single mark. The emperor was delighted and could not help but praise it as “Mount Yi’s Divine Tofu.” Later, the tofu turned into the miraculous Tofu Stone.

The remarkable rocks of Mount Yi are too numerous to list: Drunken Maiden Stone, Child Duel Stone, Divine Sparrow Stone, Self-Sacrifice Stone, Goblin Stone, Bell Stone, Parrot Stone, Ox Stone, Boat Stone, Drum Stone, Phoenix Soaring Stone...