Fengquan Ruins

Fengquan Ruins

Fengquan Ruins is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Hunan Province.

Fengquan Ruins

Address: Reshui Town, Rucheng County   Era: Ming Dynasty

Legend has it that during the Hongzhi era of the Ming Dynasty, a high-ranking official from Rucheng named Fan Yuan, who held the position of Vice Commissioner of the Board of Revenue, returned to his hometown in glory. Passing by Tanghe River, he found steam rising everywhere, which seemed very strange, so he sent someone to inquire about the cause. A fake Taoist priest then spread rumors to him, claiming that this was a feng shui treasure land, but now heat was emanating from it, which actually meant the “leakage” of the feng shui energy of the precious land, endangering the official’s career prospects. He should find a way to stop it. Therefore, in order to protect his long-lasting official fortune, Fan Yuan spent a great deal of manpower, material resources, and money. He gathered tung oil from the border areas of Hunan, Guangdong, and Jiangxi provinces — namely from Rucheng, Renhua, and Chongyi counties — mixed it with lime and sand, and poured it onto Tanghe River, hoping to seal the hot springs and prevent them from ever “leaking” again. However, his efforts were in vain. Geothermal springs cannot be blocked. After many years, the hot spring water broke through all obstacles and emerged once more, bringing its unique benefits to the local people. The piles of tung oil ash left behind at that time have turned dark gray, forming what is now known as the “Fengquan Ruins.”

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Hunan Province