Pingchang Yin-Yang Mountain

Pingchang Yin-Yang Mountain

Yin-Yang Mountain is situated southeast of Shiyaxiang Township in Pingchang County, Sichuan Province. It covers an extensive area, stretching from Chongshiling in Paotai Village to Dawujī in Yingfeng Village and the high and perilous Gaoxianxiu region. It primarily includes Mount Xiaoguanzi, Yin-Yang Ridge, Qinggangliang, Gangchangliang, Yuanjialiang, Pengjialiang, Nijialiang, Xueguanling, Huguanzhai, and Yinxianzhai, extending over twenty li. The majority of the areas of five villages within the township—Paotai, Xiangyang, Huangjue, Daying, and Yingfeng—are embraced within this mountain. In the past, an ancient official road (later partially destroyed when some villagers, local dignitaries, and scholars pooled funds to build a rural road known as the Red Army Road in 2007) ran through the middle of the mountain’s summit, dividing the mountain into eastern and western parts. One side was called Yinshan (Yin Mountain), and the other Yangshan (Yang Mountain). Together, they formed what is known as “Yin-Yang Mountain.”

Along the Yin-Yang Mountain area, there are numerous historical relics and sites, such as the Zitong Temple Grand Shrine (destroyed during the Cultural Revolution), the Guanyin Bodhisattva and Earth God Temple at Xiaozitong Temple, the Ciyun Cave in Daying Village, the ancient stone cave burial complex in Xiangyang Village, Sanqing Temple (destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, with remnants still present), and the Guanyin Hall (also destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, with surviving traces). The reason Yin-Yang Mountain is considered a mystical mountain is due to the local legend that during the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang, the military advisor of the Shu Kingdom, once observed the celestial signs here at night. He then conferred seals and titles to Zhang Fei at Yinxianzhai, ordering him to ambush troops in the mountains to defeat the tens of thousands of soldiers sent by Sima Yi’s forces in a surprise attack on Bazhou. (This remains a legend with no concrete evidence.)

On a cliff face in Yin-Yang Mountain, there was once small regular script writing: “In the first year of the Jiaqing reign of the Great Qing (1796), during the twelfth lunar month, the White Lotus rebels caused unrest. Bao’ning... led Nanjiang... Zhao Ling... a martial arts scholar... Chun Tun at Guanzizhiyan battled... the rebels at Yin-Yang... Ridge.” This is believed to be a record by predecessors of the White Lotus Rebellion. (Many people used to see it, but unfortunately, during the construction of the Red Army Road, it was not given attention and was destroyed—it’s truly regrettable. The Guanzizhiyan mentioned in the text may refer to today’s Guanzi Mountain, while Yin-Yang... Ridge likely refers to a specific location on Yin-Yang Mountain, such as Qinggang Ridge.) On a massive boulder near Mount Xiaoguanzi, the following inscription remains: “In the second year of the Jiaqing reign, national rebels acted wickedly, mercilessly slaughtering the people and invading our rivers. Witness today the affairs of the realm—this land belongs to the royal court. Written by Wang Yangxuesi.” Another inscription to its left, signed “Sizi Book,” is now only partially legible. Its historical research value remains undetermined and awaits appraisal by historical experts. For now, it should be preserved.

In the early years of the Republic of China, the Gelaohui (a secret society) was prevalent in Shiyaxiang Township. Members of the society referred to themselves as “Han Liu” or “Han Liu,” but locals jokingly called them “Han Niu.” These members often met and gathered in the dense forests of Yin-Yang Mountain to discuss internal affairs of the society. In the 1930s, the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, led by Xu Xiangqian, Xu Shiyou, and Li Xiannian, along with the Jiangkou Independent Regiment, were stationed here and engaged in protracted battles with the Sichuan warlords of the Kuomintang. Many real and legendary stories remain, widely circulated among the people to this day, awaiting urgent organization and excavation.

The book *Selected Excerpts from the Battle History of the Fourth Front Army of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Supplementary Volume)* contains the following account: —After occupying Beishan Field, Gaoguanzi, Yinxianzhai, and Longtai Temple, Liao’s Brigade constructed positions on the new line. After the Red Army defeated Meng’s Brigade at Jinhua Temple, they capitalized on their victory and turned to attack Liao’s Brigade positions at Gaoguanzi and Yinxianzhai. At midnight, the Red Army launched a fierce assault on Rao’s Regiment of Liao’s Brigade. One part attacked head-on, while another flanked from the right rear, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy. At this time, Fan Shouxing, seeing the unfavorable situation at Beishan Field, ordered Liao’s Brigade to hold the main defensive line without retreating and urgently dispatched the general reserve forces, including the special pistol battalion directly under the division headquarters, a submachine gun company, and Zhou Zhijing’s Regiment from Fan’s Brigade, to swiftly reinforce the position. At dawn, part of the Red Army fiercely attacked the rear of Rao’s Regiment from the dense woods. Liao’s Brigade’s reserve, Rao’s Regiment, also threw all its strength into the battle. From 3:00 a.m., the two sides fought for control in a seesaw battle until 1:00 p.m. the next day. The Red Army, having achieved its goal of striking the enemy, gradually retreated under cover. Liao’s Brigade suffered over a thousand casualties. Meanwhile, the *History of the 21st Army of the Republic of China* records in Chapter Six, “The Siege of Northern Sichuan”: After occupying Beishan Field, Gaoguanzi, Yinxianzhai, and Longtai Temple, Liao (KaiXiao) Brigade built positions on the new line. After the Red Army defeated Meng (Haoran) Brigade at Jinhua Temple, they capitalized on their victory and turned to attack the left-wing corps at Gaoguanzi... On March 15 (1934), Fan Shouxing ordered Fan Nanxuan’s Brigade to occupy Wangjialing before advancing toward Yuanjiaping and Jinhua Temple. Liao KaiXiao’s Brigade moved out from Gaoguanzi and Yinxianzhai but was blocked at Tudiya. Meng Haoran’s Brigade occupied Bamiashan but faced valiant resistance from the Red Army at Guanzi Mountain and Yin-Yangzhai, making no progress. This fully illustrates how brutal and bloody the battles along Yin-Yang Mountain were at the time.

During the 1960s and 1970s, educated youths from cities like Chongqing and Daxian came here to settle in the deep mountains and undergo re-education by poor and lower-middle peasants. Together with local backbone youths and militia members, they conducted military training exercises on the mountain, reclaimed land, planted tea trees, and dedicated their fiery youth to this unassuming great mountain. This mountain also nurtured them. To this day, some of those former educated youths still maintain connections with the local people. The Western Box Fort mentioned in writer Yiran’s (Li Ning, originally from Group 6, Xiangyang Village in this township, now residing in Bazhong City) novel *The Silent Tonghe River* is located at the junction of Group 4, Yingfeng Village, and Group 6, Xiangyang Village, at the southern end of this mountain.

The contemporary master of calligraphy and painting Sun Zhenzhong (now deceased) was born in Yingfeng Village at the foot of Yinxianzhai. “Lush green trees and blue mountains slant uniquely; steep ridges and jagged peaks where even monkeys dread to climb. Standing alone in Bashan without vying for beauty, it possesses a divine charm all its own between heaven and earth.” This is the truest portrayal of Yin-Yang Mountain.

Strange landscapes of the Yin-Yang Mountain area:

Yin-Yang Mountain Pine Forest and Red Cliff Inset: Located on Yin-Yang Mountain in Group 5, Xiangyang Village, Shiyaxiang Township, it can be reached on foot or by car or motorcycle by walking about five kilometers southeast from the township center along the Red Army Road. The pine forest is beautiful, and the rock inset is peculiar.

Daying Village Cave: In Group 3, Daying Village, Shiyaxiang Township, about one kilometer from Qiaohébà on the Beishi Road, beneath the ridge divide of Yin-Yang Mountain, there is a naturally formed large rock cave. The cave has a flat rocky base and spacious terrain, with a wide cave entrance. The cave ceiling is supported by a huge, flat, solid rock spanning three sides of the cave walls, forming a large arc. The cave remains cool in summer and warm in winter, with a year-round trickle of stream water flowing down from the mountain gully above. There is also seepage water from the cave walls flowing out through small channels. During the rainy season, flash floods send large amounts of water pouring down from the cave ceiling, creating a spectacular waterfall scene with deafening echoes that resound through the surrounding mountains—a major local wonder. In the 1970s and 1980s, Yang Zhiti and his family of four lived in the cave, building wooden doors and windows, bedrooms, storage rooms, a kitchen, a living room, as well as pigsties, cowsheds, sheepfolds, and even raising chickens, ducks, geese, dogs, and cats. Their cave-dwelling lifestyle became widely known, attracting many visitors. The cave remains intact but is now uninhabited. In the late 1980s, when his son got married, the local calligraphy master Sun Zhenzhong wrote a couplet for them: “Outside the Water Curtain Cave, the sky is high and the land is vast; inside the wooden doors, the household thrives and prospers.” This became a much-told tale. Ancient forts and relics in the Yin-Yang Mountain area: Western Fort: Located not far from Yuanjialiang on the sunny side of Yin-Yang Mountain. Its construction date is unknown. Currently, only damaged remnants of the fort gate lie overgrown in the grass.

Huguanzhai: Located on the mountaintop of Group 6, Xiangyang Village, and Group 4, Yingfeng Village, with visible remnants of fort paths and platforms. Ciyun Cave: Located on the sunny side of Yin-Yang Mountain, beneath the cliff of Mangweiling in Daying Village. The cave houses several Buddha statues and is accessible only via a perilous path.

Yinxianzhai: Located on the mountain ridge of Group 7, Yingfeng Village, and Group 6, Xiangyang Village (Zhangjialiang). It earned its name because the ridge resembles an ink box, and an ancient stone fort wall was built on the mountain. The fort wall stones have since been dismantled by locals for house construction. Sanqing Temple: Located on the shady side of Yin-Yang Mountain in Group 5, Xiangyang Village. It was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution when a reservoir was built and militia trained on a large flat dam.

Zitong Temple Grand Shrine: Located on the flatland at the junction of Guanzi Mountain and Yin-Yang Mountain. It was demolished during the Cultural Revolution, and the site was converted into farmland. Small Zitong Temple and Guanyin Bodhisattva: Located in Group 4, Xiangyang Village. The current Small Zitong Temple is a restored version of the original, which was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. The Guanyin Bodhisattva remains in its original form. Guanyin Temple (Hall): Located in Group 3, Xiangyang Village (now the Xiangyang Village Primary School). It was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, with only remnants remaining. The temple was built in the late Qing Dynasty. Originally, there were seven massive rocks around the temple. Legend says that Lu Ban once herded seven fat pigs here, but when the rooster crowed and the sky began to brighten, the pigs refused to move and turned into stones, thus remaining rooted there. The original Guanyin Temple was a traditional ancient structure with three wooden rooms covered with tiled roofs, featuring upturned eaves. The roof was adorned with a dragon-and-pearl sculpture, and the central hall had two treasure vase pillars with prominent couplets carved on them: “The temple hall shines brilliantly, spiritually responding to protect all beings; the compassionate boat ferries the good, dispelling evil and safeguarding health.” The middle hall housed statues of Liu, Guan, and Zhang. The left hall featured Guanyin and the Compassionate Ferry. The surroundings included 108 guardians. The right hall had statues of the Buddha, the Medicine King, and Laozi. Before liberation, there were three monks in the temple, and about thirty acres of fertile land around the temple belonged to its estate. The fields were farmed under a 60/40 split to support the three chanting monks who managed the temple. On the first and fifteenth of each month, worshippers from miles around flocked to the temple to offer incense, pray, and chant scriptures. The incense was abundant. After liberation, the village primary school was established here. Due to several school expansions, the temple facilities were completely destroyed, and the large Buddha statues vanished during the Cultural Revolution. The current Xiangyang Village Primary School stands on the former site of the Guanyin Hall. Only the statue of the Compassionate Mother remains, tucked away in the woods behind the school.

Ancient Tombs: The Yin-Yang Mountain area is dotted with numerous ancient tombs. Countless were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. The exact number of surviving or partial remnants is unknown. A few examples are listed below:

The Joint Tomb of Zhao Bangrong and His Wife: Located in Zhaojia, Group 5, Xiangyang Village. It remains well-preserved.

The Joint Tomb of Zhao Nengwen and His Wife: Located in Zhaojia, Group 5, Xiangyang Village. It remains relatively well-preserved.