Jiang Castle

　　   Jiang Castle is situated south of the Wei River in Shenlong Town, Weibin District, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province, near the Jiang River (present-day Qingjiang River, also known as Qingjian River). It was historically called Jiangshi City. The "Da Ming Yi Tong Zhi" (Great Ming Unified Gazetteer), compiled by Li Xian and others in the fifth year of the Tianshun era of the Ming Dynasty (1461), contains research on both Jiangshi City and the Jiang River. Volume 34, "Fengxiang Prefecture · Historical Sites," states: “Jiangshi City: Located seven li south of Baoji County, with the Jiang River to its south. According to 'The Chronicles of Emperors': The mother, a woman from Youyu Clan named Jiandi, was the consort of Emperor Shaodian. While traveling in Huayang, she was touched by the divine dragon’s head and gave birth to the Yan Emperor, which happened here.” The Jiangshi City of today is known as Jiang Castle. To its south lies Yimen Fort, and to the west of the fort flows the Qingjiang River, a tributary of the Wei River.

　　   Ancient records about the Jiangshi City site can be found in the "Baoji County Annals" from the 36th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1608): “(Jiangshi City) It was once said that the Yan Emperor and Jiang, the mother of Zhou, were born here.” The "Baoji County Annals" from the 29th year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1764) state: “Jiangshi City, five li southeast of the county, has ruins at the southeastern edge of the Jiang River. To the east lies the Nine-Eyed Spring where the Sage was bathed.” The "Fengxiang Prefecture Annals" from the 31st year of the Qianlong era, Volume 3, note: “Jiang... Temple: located at Jiangshi City, south of Baoji County,” and “Shennong Temple: one at the eastern outskirts of the county, another above the Nine Dragons Spring to the south of the county.” The 23rd year of the Republic of China (1934) "Continuation of Shaanxi General Annals Draft" provides clarification regarding Li Daoyuan’s claim that the Qi River was the Jiang River. The "County Annals" therein say: “What originates from the Great Ridge of Du Yang is the Qi River; what flows from the Great Pass of Qinling is the Jiang River. Li Daoyuan did not investigate and mistakenly transferred the name of the Jiang River to the Qi River by relocating Jiangshi City accordingly—an error. Today, the Jiang River is three li south of (Baoji) County, with Jiangshi City further east along its southern bank, where the Nine-Eyed Spring where the Sage was bathed still remains.”

　　   The Yan Emperor Shennong of ancient times was born here. Legend says Shennong was born in Mengyu Valley on Changyang Mountain, with a human body and an ox head. After his birth, his mother, Lady Jiang (Jiangshi), carried him to the Nine Dragons Spring to bathe. He grew up by the Jiang River. After bathing in the Nine Dragons Spring, the horns on Shennong’s head disappeared, and he became even more intelligent. Later, he became the leader of the Jiang clan. Because he tasted hundreds of herbs, discovered medicinal plants, and taught people how to treat illnesses, he is regarded as the inventor of traditional Chinese medicine in China. At the same time, Shennong taught people how to make pottery, created the first ploughs, introduced oxen for plowing, and instructed people in farming. These innovations advanced primitive society from hunting and gathering to agriculture, earning him the title of “God of Agriculture.” From then on, the Jiang clan tribe, led by the Yan Emperor Shennong, lived in this area.

　　   The Wei River basin in Baoji boasts extremely rich Paleolithic and Neolithic human sites. Jiang Castle is one of the typical Yangshao culture sites. The Jiangshi City site discovered in the Jiang Castle area covers approximately 490,000 square meters. The largest house found at the site measures 10.7 meters in length and 10.5 meters in width, with an area of about 124 square meters. In comparison, the largest house at the Beishouling site is only 88 square meters. The unearthed production tools and pottery are similar to those at Beishouling but relatively more advanced. This shows that the Jiang Castle site period corresponds to the prosperity and development phase of the Beishouling clan tribe—precisely the transitional period from matriarchal to patriarchal clan communes, aligning with the legendary time of the Yan Emperor. Currently, over 40 ancient cultural sites have been discovered in Baoji. These numerous sites collectively reflect the entire history of the Yan Emperor tribe’s growth, development, and expansion.

　　   Backed by the Qinling Mountains and with the Qingjiang River flowing nearby, Jiang Castle faces Beishouling across the Wei River, featuring a more open terrain that offers vast land resources for agricultural production. As one of the birthplaces of Baoji city and the homeland of the Holy Mother Jiang and Shennong, Jiang Castle is rich in historical and cultural heritage. It still retains historic landmarks such as the Holy Mother Temple and the Earth God Temple. Centered around Jiang Castle, a complete chain of Yan Emperor Shennong culture is formed by sites including Tiantai Mountain, Changyang Mountain, Mengyu Valley, Nine Dragons Spring, Qingjiang River, Yan Emperor Mausoleum, and Yan Emperor Temple. This cultural chain illustrates the entire journey of the Yan Emperor—from birth and growth to his eventual resting place—providing detailed evidence for the establishment of Chinese primitive agriculture and the birth and development of traditional Chinese medicine.