Ancient Battlefield of Maling Pass

Ancient Battlefield of Maling Pass

The Ancient Battlefield of Maling Pass is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

The Ancient Battlefield of Maling Pass is located in Maling Village, Dazhangjia Town, Shenxian County, extending ten li east to the county seat of Fanxian, bordering the Jindi River to the south, and surrounded by open terrain to the east and west. Legend has it that there were originally two earthen mounds here, between which lay a narrow, rugged path hidden within ancient woods, making the terrain extremely perilous. It was the essential route from the State of Wei to the State of Qi during the Warring States period. It is now a key cultural relic protection unit of Liaocheng City.

In 341 BC, Wei general Pang Juan launched a campaign against the State of Han. Han sought help from its neighbor, the State of Qi. The ruler of Qi appointed Tian Ji and Tian Ying as generals, with Sun Bin as military advisor, to attack Wei. Sun Bin employed the “reducing cooking hearths” strategy to lure Crown Prince Shen of Wei and Pang Juan into the intricate and easily defensible Maling Pass. Sun Bin’s troops, lying in ambush, unleashed a barrage of arrows, decisively defeating the Wei army. Crown Prince Shen was captured, and Pang Juan committed suicide. This battle became the defining victory of Sun Bin, the great-great-grandson of the ancient military strategist Sun Wu, and one of the most famous examples of winning with fewer forces in world military history.

The poem “On Maling Pass” by Meng Zhipu, the magistrate of Fanxian during the Yuan Dynasty, vividly describes the site: “A vast expanse on the eastern plain, not as towering as Mount Emei’s peak. Levees accumulate with impact, collapsing into a mighty river. Houses lean and twist, paths wind in several turns. Marvelous indeed is Sunzi’s wisdom, reducing hearths to capture Pang Juan” (from Fanxian County Annals). The site once featured deep trenches and massive ravines, as well as earthen mounds and hills. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, these trenches served as natural communication ditches for the anti-Japanese forces. Maling Village, also called Maling Pass, remained crisscrossed with gullies until the early days of the People’s Republic; although later leveled, traces of the trenches remain visible. Dao Kou Village, at the entrance of Maling Pass and also known as Dao Gou, derived its name from the large gully. The area is not only uneven but also features unusually winding streets, often confusing visitors, hence earning the nickname “Maze of Souls.” To the north of Maling lies a high earthen mound called Huangsang Gang. Legend says a towering yellow mulberry tree once stood there, beneath which Pang Juan took his own life. West of Huangsang Gang originally stood the Temple of Sun Bin, with soaring eaves, upturned roof corners, glazed tiles, and resplendent decorations, a truly spectacular sight. In front of the temple stood a stele, flanked by two wells, known as “One Hundred (Stele) and Two (Wells).” Legend has it that these wells were dug by locals to station ambush troops when Sun Bin laid out his battle formation.

To showcase this historically significant battle, the local government built a memorial hall covering over 6,000 square meters on the site. The hall features novel displays, rich content, grand scenes, and a unique layout, making it an ideal place to learn about history and experience the Battle of Maling.

Dazhangjia Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Shenxian County. In 1949, it belonged to the Third District of Guancheng; in 1956, it was placed under Fanxian’s Guancheng District; in 1964, it returned to Shenxian County; in 1971, Dazhang Commune was established; in 1982, it was renamed Dazhangjia Commune; in 1984, it became Dazhangjia Township; and in 1987, it was upgraded to a town. Located in the southwestern part of the county, it is 50 kilometers from the county seat and borders Fanxian and Qingfeng counties of Henan Province to the east and west respectively. Covering an area of 58 square kilometers with a population of 41,000, it is traversed by the Shen (County)–Puyang Highway. The Tuhai River runs through the central part of the town, while the East Chi Irrigation Channel flows from south to north. The town administers Zhaili, Zhaowai, Xicang... More details about Dazhangjia Town++