The Six Idlers Pines and the Reclining Dragon Pine

The Six Idlers Pines and the Reclining Dragon Pine

On the northeast slope of Yuanjun Temple stands an ancient pine with a thick trunk that leans forward, its twisted branches resembling dragon whiskers and claws—thus named the “Reclining Dragon Pine.” In front of the Tongtian Gate are six Pinus tabuliformis trees from Mount Tai, all over 500 years old. Their ancient and proud forms exude an otherworldly charm. In the past, Li Bai, together with Kong Chaowen, Han Zhun, Pei Zheng, Zhang Shuming, and Tao Gai, went to seclude themselves in Mount Culai, and were known as the “Six Idlers of Bamboo Brook.” These six ancient pines are named in their honor.

These six ancient pines boast ancient and proud forms, standing at ease with an otherworldly charm that evokes thoughts of Li Bai. During the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, Li Bai traveled to Mount Tai, and later retreated with Kong Chaowen, Han Zhun, Pei Zheng, Zhang Shuming, and Tao Gai to the Bamboo Brook in Mount Culai, where they became famously known as the “Six Idlers of Bamboo Brook.” Embracing nature amid mountains, forests, and springs, living behind humble doors surrounded by scattered orchids and irises, they lived according to their hearts’ desires, exuding noble and transcendent characters. These six ancient pines are named in their honor. On the northeast slope of Yuanjun Temple stands an ancient pine with a thick trunk that leans forward, resembling a dragon lying down. Its twisted branches look like dragon whiskers and claws, hence it is called the “Reclining Dragon Pine.”

The Reclining Dragon Pine stands atop Wolong Peak, located east of Shixin Peak, and is one of the nine famous pines recorded in ancient texts. The original Reclining Dragon Pine used to grow along the path to Wenshu Monastery but mysteriously “flew away through the wall” at some unknown time. The current Reclining Dragon Pine grows horizontally from the cliff face on the eastern side of Wolong Peak. About 20 centimeters above the base, the trunk splits into two coiling branches that merge at the top, arching as if lying prone, head raised, horns sharp and beard spread—evoking the powerful image of a dragon skimming the waves. A Qing Dynasty writer described it as a “hundred-foot slumbering divine dragon.”

It was said to “lie across the cliff, about thirty feet long. Where the cliff ended, the pine’s head sought to rise proudly, but heavy branches threatened to droop. Then a rock suddenly jutted out from the cliff face to support it, allowing the branches to curl around emerald leaves and cover the top of the rock.” It is said this pine was cut down by woodcutters from Taiping and no longer exists. The current Reclining Dragon Pine grows horizontally from the cliff face on the eastern side of Wolong Peak.

The Reclining Dragon Pine splits into two coiling branches about 20 centimeters above the base, with the upper branches merging in reverse to form a prone shape, head raised, horns sharp and beard spread—vividly resembling a dragon skimming the waves. The Qing Dynasty writer Cao Lin described it as a “hundred-foot slumbering divine dragon.” The Ming Dynasty poet Tang Shijing wrote a poem in praise: “An old trunk lies across the ravine, / Its hoary beard soars among a thousand peaks. / The breaking winds and clouds dare not rise, / For I now believe there’s a dragon lying in these hills.”