White Tiger Pass

White Tiger Pass

White Tiger Pass

White Tiger Pass takes its name from “Baihu Village.” This village has a long history as the settlement of the Ba people’s Banzhushan (Shield-Bearing Barbarians), who once built a strategic pass here. The Banzhushan were granted amnesty and special privileges by Emperor Gaozu (Liu Bang) for their role in helping him conquer the Qin Dynasty. They specialized in hunting white tigers and were exempted from regular taxes, instead paying an annual tribute of 40 cash per person — hence they became known as the “White Tiger-Restored Barbarians.” As a result, the place name “Baihu” has been in use ever since. The Banzhushan were brave and skilled warriors, making immortal contributions to Liu Bang’s defeat of the powerful Xiang Yu and the establishment of the Han Dynasty. Emperor Gaozu issued an edict exempting seven noble families among the Banzhushan from taxes, while the rest paid only 40 cash per year. Hence, they came to be known as the Cong (tribute-paying) people, a term that eventually became the ethnic designation for the Banzhushan.