Duxian Bridge

Duxian Bridge

Duxian Bridge, also known as the "Zigzag Bridge," is a new scenic spot built in 1999 as part of the Xiangge Terrace complex. It was created based on the wonderful and magical story of the "Nine-Twist Pearl."

The story goes: when Confucius led his disciples to the State of Chen, before entering the capital city, they became extremely thirsty and were looking for water to drink. They arrived at a village, where at the entrance they met two mulberry-picking girls. The shorter girl glanced at them and said, "The southern branch is slender, the northern branch is long." The taller girl also looked at Confucius and said, "The Master will surely run out of food in Chen." Confucius was puzzled by their words but felt they were very inauspicious. Before he could even ask, the shorter girl added, "The nine-twist pearl cannot be threaded," and the taller girl giggled, "Then you know to ask the mulberry-picking maidens." Feeling thoroughly disheartened by the situation, Confucius decided not to ask for water any longer and immediately ordered Zilu to drive the carriage away quickly.

Soon after they arrived in the capital city of Chen, they did indeed run out of food. Remembering the encounter with the two mulberry-picking girls before entering the city, Confucius sent Zilu to find those two girls.

When they reached the place and found the house, an elderly woman (the girls’ mother) came to open the door and greet Zilu. Zilu explained their purpose to the old woman, who replied, "My two daughters are not at home." After offering him a seat, she went inside and brought out a watermelon for Zilu to eat and quench his thirst. Seeing the watermelon, Zilu was delighted and suddenly slapped his forehead, exclaiming, "You’re not really asking me to eat the melon, are you? You’re telling me that the person (or benevolence) is inside!" The old woman laughed upon hearing this, realizing her riddle had been solved, and promptly called her two daughters out. Zilu said to the girls, "My master and disciples have had no food for nearly seven days. My teacher has sent me to ask you, elder sister, where we can borrow some grain." The taller girl said, "We know, we know, but you must first thread this silk through the 'nine-twist pearl' before we can tell you." The shorter girl then placed a long, thin silk thread and a nine-twist pearl in front of Zilu. Faced with the long, delicate silk and the twisted pearl, Zilu was at a loss and felt helpless. He shook his head, his face red and neck flushed with embarrassment, feeling quite ashamed. He thought to himself: I am a distinguished disciple of Confucius, yet I’m stumped by two young girls. Observing Zilu’s awkward and pitiable state, the old woman quietly whispered in his ear, "Coat the silk with honey, tie an ant to it, burn it slightly, let the smoke drive the ant through, and the ant will thread the pearl." Zilu followed her advice, and sure enough, he managed to thread the "nine-twist pearl." The taller girl then told Zilu which household had grain and how to get there. Zilu hurried off. The zigzag "Duxian Bridge" is a linked scenic spot of the Xiangge Terrace, built based on the story of the nine-twist pearl.

Source: Huaiyang Government Website