Monkey Ancestor Rock

Monkey Ancestor Rock

Monkey Ancestor Rock

In the past, the Cat Leap River was home to many monkeys that appeared unpredictably. By the Cat Leap River near Jiaozi Mountain, there are two strikingly similar rock formations: one called Monkey Ancestor (the male) and the other called Monkey Grandmother (the female). Locals collectively refer to them as “Monkey Ancestor Rock.” Legend has it that in ancient times, Nüwa created humans from clay. Some of the humans she made were obedient and well-behaved, while others were mischievous and unruly. To ensure better reproduction and lineage for humanity, Nüwa assigned everyone distinct bloodlines and family surnames. Most early surnames contained the female radical, such as Ji, Si, Yao, and Jiang. Most groups followed Nüwa’s arrangement and accepted their surnames, but one long-tailed figure, acting cleverly, refused to be categorized by bloodline or adopt a family name. As a result, Nüwa classified all those who accepted surnames as human, while those who refused were designated as monkeys. Humans could leave caves, build nests and houses, and gradually advance toward civilization, while monkeys were confined to deep mountains, caves, and trees, separated from humans. The surname-less monkey multiplied many offspring in the forests along the Cat Leap River. When it grew old, it transformed into what is now known as Monkey Ancestor Rock.