Stele of Emperor Gaozu of Han Slaying the Serpent

Stele of Emperor Gaozu of Han Slaying the Serpent

The Stele of Emperor Gaozu of Han Slaying the Serpent is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Stele of Emperor Gaozu of Han Slaying the Serpent is a monument erected in later times to commemorate Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, slaying a serpent and launching his uprising.

According to historical records, after slaying the serpent, Liu Bang hid among the rocks and marshes of Mangdang Mountain. He later returned to Pei County, killed the local magistrate, raised his banner in rebellion, and initially operated in the Mangdang Mountain area, using it as a base to recruit soldiers and expand his army. Several years later, he finally established the Western Han Dynasty in 202 BC.

Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, raised a three-foot sword by the marshes of Mangdang Mountain and slew a serpent to launch his uprising. From here, he rose against the tyrannical Qin, contended for supremacy in the Central Plains, and founded the Han Dynasty. During the reign of his son, Emperor Hui, an imperial edict stated: “Feng and Dang were the spiritual haunts of Emperor Gaozu. The relevant authorities are ordered to first establish a temple in Feng, then erect a memorial at the true site in Mangdang, and also build a temple in front of the rocks. Enshrine the meritorious officials beside it, and dispatch commoners to pay homage.” (From the 12th year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty’s *Dangshan County Annals*). During the reign of Emperor Wen, a temple for Emperor Gaozu was built in front of the Purple Qi Rock of Mangdang Mountain, and a stele commemorating the slaying of the serpent was erected on the northern shore of the large marsh in front of the temple. The temple and stele gradually fell into disrepair and ruin amid the historical upheavals of the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties. By the Yonglong era of the Tang Dynasty, it was rebuilt as the “Wanggong Temple”; in the seventh year of the Xiangfu era of the Song Dynasty, Emperor Zhenzong visited and renovated it, bestowing the name “Junqing Temple”; by the fifth year of the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty, Zuo Siming, a man from Shaanxi who served as the magistrate of Yongcheng, renovated the Temple of Emperor Gaozu and re-erected the “Site Where Emperor Gaozu of Han Slew the Serpent” stele, which still exists today. As the inscriptions on the stele had become blurred over time, in 1982, the People’s Government of Yongcheng County recarved the ancient Ming Dynasty stele on the original site, built a stele pavilion for protection.

The Stele of Emperor Gaozu of Han Slaying the Serpent is a monument erected in later times to commemorate Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, slaying a serpent and launching his uprising. The current stele is located at the southern foot of the main peak of Mangdang Mountain, under a small hexagonal pavilion with yellow glazed tiles, painted wooden pillars, and a colored base. Beneath the pavilion lies a giant stone turtle, said to be the ninth son of the Dragon King, Yan Chen. On the turtle’s back stands a stone stele, with the stele’s top inscribed in intaglio regular script with “Sun and Moon” and “Site Where Emperor Gaozu Slew the Serpent” flanking either side. Below, the inscription begins with an account of Liu Bang’s uprising in Mangdang Mountain, while the back features a stele erected in 1982 by the People’s Government of Yongcheng County.

When night falls and light is shone directly on the stele, the over two-meter-tall structure suddenly disappears. Instead, the image of an ancient emperor clad in golden radiance appears to approach you. He wears a tall crown, armor, a jade belt, and tall boots, with piercing eyes fixed straight ahead. One hand strokes his black beard, the other rests on his sword. One leg steps forward, as if issuing commands before battle—rich in three-dimensionality, like a figure in a painting. People say this is the manifestation of Emperor Gaozu of Han. Turning to the back of the stele and shining light on it reveals another marvel: the stele itself vanishes once more, replaced by the radiant image of an empress wearing a crown. She appears to be resting on a rock, bending down to feed a child. Many say this is Empress Lü accompanying her son to Mangdang Mountain in search of her husband.

The images of an emperor and empress from over 2,200 years ago appearing together on one stele are hailed as a wonder of the world. Stories of this phenomenon have spread far and wide, growing ever more fantastical. People from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and even international tourists all flock to Mangdang Mountain to witness this marvel.

Liu Bang’s slaying of the serpent and launching of his uprising is well-documented in history books, and local legends about the event also abound. Liu Bang, a native of Fengyi in Pei County during the late Qin Dynasty, once served as the head of the Sishui Pavilion in Pei County. When tasked with leading a group of laborers to Mount Li to build the mausoleum for Emperor Qin Shi Huang, most of the workers fled when they reached the marshes of Mangdang Mountain. Drunk one evening, he untied the ropes binding the laborers and said, “Go flee for your lives quickly. I will go into hiding too.” Some laborers, moved by his righteousness, chose to stay and follow him. They wandered through the marshes, intending to hide in Mangdang Mountain. Suddenly, those ahead reported, “A huge serpent blocks the path—let’s take a detour!” Emboldened by alcohol, Liu Bang declared, “What’s there to fear?” He stepped forward and drew his sword. The white serpent said, “I am the son of the White Emperor. I wished to join you in overthrowing the tyrannical Qin and share the empire. Why must you kill me?” Liu Bang refused. The serpent retorted, “Then strike me down. Sever my head, and chaos will befall your head. Sever my tail, and chaos will befall your tail.” Fueled by wine, Liu Bang raised his sword and split the serpent in two, then continued on his way. Suddenly, an old woman cried out, “My son was the son of the White Emperor. He took the form of a serpent to block your path and seek recognition, yet you, the Red Emperor, slew him.” With that, she vanished. From then on, the ground grew crimson grass, said to be stained by the serpent’s blood—this place was once called Red Grass Slope. When word reached Liu Bang, he was secretly pleased. His followers, having witnessed the event and aware of Liu Bang’s unusual behavior, revered him even more, convinced he was destined for greatness and pledging their loyalty. Realizing he would likely be executed if he continued to Mount Li, Liu Bang went into hiding in Mangdang Mountain, later returned home, killed the Pei County magistrate, raised his banner in rebellion, and was acclaimed as the Duke of Pei, eventually becoming the founding emperor of the Han Dynasty.

Regarding the weeping of the serpent’s mother and the blood staining the grass, Zhao Yuan, the prefect of Guide Prefecture in the Qing Dynasty, wrote in *The Stele of Emperor Gaozu of Han Slaying the Serpent*: “In the Central Plains, contenders vie for power; a serpent blocks the valley’s heart. With sword drawn, the White Emperor meets his end; the serpent’s mother weeps in autumn fields.” The contemporary Yongcheng poet Lian Zhenji wrote in *The Site Where Emperor Gaozu of Han Slew the Serpent*: “The Duke of Pei passed through Mangdang by night; a white serpent blocked his path, enraging him. Sword strikes flew, splattering red; the serpent, ignorant, died by mistake. How could the imperial cause hinge on this snake? It happened by chance, not design.” The Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai wrote in *Imitated Rhapsody on Resentment*: “…Slaying the serpent, he rallied his troops, cleared the nation’s path, grasped the jade mandate and ascended, gazed heroically from the purple altar, then one day departed, leaving the realm in mourning.” He believed Liu Bang slew the serpent to inspire his followers.

Admission Fee

No separate admission fee. Included in the 30 RMB ticket for the Hanxingyuan Scenic Area.

Location

Within the Hanxingyuan Scenic Area, Shiyuan Village, Mangshan Town, Yongcheng City, Shangqiu, Henan Province