Shenyu Well

Shenyu Well

Shenyu Well

Shenyu Well is located on the south side of No. 3 Middle School in Liping County, Guizhou Province. The rectangular well is enclosed by neatly cut white stones forming a 0.45-meter-high parapet. Its structure is solid and sturdy, elegant and generous, featuring an architectural style from the Ming Dynasty. Six 0.8-meter-high square stone pillars stand at the four corners and both the front and back sides. The tops of the pillars are carved into diamond shapes with mortises on the sides, into which six pieces of white jade are embedded, creating symmetrical patterns on all sides. It is most famous for its abundant water supply, which can provide water for half of the city’s residents, as well as for its water that stays warm in winter and cool in summer, never drying up throughout the year.

There are two legends about how Shenyu Well got its name. It is said that in the early days, there were multicolored patterned fish in the well, very different from ordinary fish. These fish were quite sociable — when people tossed in rice grains, they would rush to eat them, creating a remarkable sight. By the time of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, these fish had mysteriously disappeared, which astonished the locals. They called them “divine fish,” and thus the well became known as Shenyu Well.

Another legend says that hundreds of years ago, a fish was caught by someone living near the well and was taken home to be pan-fried. Half of the fish was already burnt, yet it was still alive. Suddenly, thunder and rain poured down, scaring the person into not cooking it further. They then pierced a small ring through the fish’s mouth and released it back into the well. Not long after, someone spotted this fish — with one half black and the other red, and a ring through its mouth — in a river under a bridge in Jingzhou, Hunan. Hence, people began calling it a “divine fish.”

The area where Shenyu Well is located is also called Wugui Chong (Valley of Five Nobles), because five distinguished individuals came from this valley: He Tengjiao, Mei Youyue, Zhu Wannian, Long Qilei, and Hu Changxin.

To the left of the well is the Temple of Lord He, the former residence of He Tengjiao, a Ming Dynasty hero who resisted the Qing invasion. The place gains fame because of the person, and the person adds glory to the place — hence there is also a saying that He Lang (Lord He) was the incarnation of the divine fish. The *Liping Prefecture Records* state: When He Tengjiao was born, a fish emerged from a cave. Villagers saw it, caught it, and brought it home to fry. Half of it turned yellow and burnt, yet it did not die. Just as they were about to flip it over, the fish suddenly thrashed in the pot, and the well water also surged violently. The villagers, frightened, quickly returned the fish to the well. Immediately, the water calmed, and the fish swam and played as before. When Tengjiao died, the fish disappeared, so it was called the “divine fish.” Thus, the well earned the name “Shenyu Well.” He Tengjiao (1592–1649) was from Liping Wei (now Liping County). During the Chongzhen era, he served as the magistrate of Nanyang. Later, he held positions such as Principal Secretary of the Ministry of War, Assistant Minister, Regional Commander of Huaichai, Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, Vice Minister of War, and Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of War. In the first year of the Hongguang era (1645), he was appointed Governor-General of Huguang. He was granted the title of Duke Dingxing and served as Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall with the honorary title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. During the Longwu era, he allied with Hao Yaqi, a former subordinate of Li Zicheng, to resist the Qing. In the first year of the Yongli era (1647), the Qing army captured Changsha. Later, due to the betrayal of Xu Yong, a defected general who led Qing troops to attack Xiangtan, He Tengjiao was captured. He refused to surrender and died after seven days of captivity. The Southern Ming court posthumously honored him as the King of Zhongxiang and gave him the posthumous name Wenlie. Emperor Qianlong later added the title Zhongcheng, and he is commonly referred to as “Loyal Duke.” The Temple of Lord He has been destroyed and no longer exists, leaving only Shenyu Well as a memorial.

Since ancient times, Shenyu Well has been a renowned source of drinking water for the people of Liping City. Although almost every household now uses tap water, people’s affection for Shenyu Well has not faded, and it remains a popular spot for drawing water. Many visitors from other places, drawn by the well’s fame, make sure to visit it when in Liping. Zheng Zhen, a poet from Zunyi during the Qing Dynasty, once visited the well and composed an ancient poem. Two of its lines read: “The bleak spring wind blows over the old well; countless common fish tire of bread thrown their way.”