Legend of Baiyun Mountain (2)
Text. Ren Baoting
The lush vegetation and Taihang chrysanthemums in Baiyun Mountain
The soil scattered by The Jade Emperor turned into fertile land, so some of the firewood he scattered were firewood sticks. , most of these turned into trees. There are many types of trees, and the trees and shrubs are intertwined, forming a lush virgin forest and providing a paradise for many wild animals.
Among the many trees, there are also many rare tree species. Currently known are green sandalwood , saponaria tree , money maple , sumac, catalpa tree , banyan tree , thuja , Jianglong wood and so on. These are relatively precious and rare tree species. Green sandalwood and other species are also included in the "List of Rare and Endangered Plants in China". The catalpa tree is called a rare and ancient living fossil species by botanists. It has undergone changes in prehistoric geological and landform structures. It is one of the few trees that has been preserved and has many medicinal uses.
The tree named Jianglongmu, also called six-sided wood, has extremely strong toughness and can be broken continuously, like beef tendon. It has six edges and a regular snowflake shape in cross-section, also like six petals. It is often used as a cane or stick weapon. Dragon subduing wood, as the name suggests, has the effect of dispelling evil and detoxifying, suppressing monsters and eliminating evil spirits, and subduing evil dragons. Legend has it that when Yang Liulang, the leader of the Song Dynasty, led his army to attack the Tianmen Formation, the Liao army released a large amount of poison gas into the Song army's formation, causing Yang Liulang's troops to lose their ability to resist and suffering heavy casualties. After Mu Guiying received the information, he brought the Dragon Subduing Wood from Muke Village and distributed it to the soldiers to disperse the poisonous gas, thereby breaking through the Tianmen Formation and achieving a complete victory in the battle. Mu Guiying's dianjiangtai in Baiyun Mountain still exists today and has become a historic site that people pay homage to. In ancient times, the magical Dragon Subduing Wood was also made into chopsticks and presented to the emperor as a tribute to test whether the food was poisonous. Such precious trees exist in large numbers in Baiyun Mountain. If you climb the mountain, you can see them from time to time. There are trees and grass under
. The firewood branches and sticks in the firewood scattered by the Jade Emperor turned into forest trees, while the thatch vines in the firewood turned into lush herbaceous communities. They complement each other and grow symbiotically with the trees, setting off the virgin forest in the Baiyun Mountain area. These numerous plants and trees also provide rich resources of Chinese herbal medicine. Scutellaria barbata, which is very effective against cancer , likes the altitude and cool climate here very much. They can often be seen up and down the mountain. There are also Bupleurum , Forsythia , Atractylodes, Salvia , Polygonatum , Dianthus , Shandan , etc., all of which have found their own paradise here. Although sparse and scattered, they are found all over the mountains and plains. grow.
What attracts the most attention is the Taihang chrysanthemum, known as the Taihang cliff flower. It is a precious species unique to China. It grows on cliffs or exposed limestone at an altitude of 500 meters to more than 1,500 meters. Its petals are tongue-shaped and linear. They are lavender at first and become pure white when fully open. The flowering period lasts for more than three to four months. Each flower The flowers can continue to bloom for more than 20 days. The environment in which it grows is extremely harsh and it often lives in cracks in rocks. As long as there is a crack on the entire stone wall, even if it is as thick as a hair, it will take root tenaciously. With a little more cloud and mist, it will grow and bloom. In the frosty autumn wind, under the cold moon with withered flowers, they hung in clusters on the cliff like a knife and axe, like the jade hands of a goddess hanging one after another. When the breeze blows, they use the vertical cliffs as the background, swaying with the wind, graceful and charming, showing off their elegance and beauty.
In addition, they never mix with other flowers and plants and like to be alone. Their delicate appearance is always so eye-catching and dazzling, and they exude the fragrance of chrysanthemums without hesitation, contributing an alluring uniqueness to Baiyun Mountain. style. Exactly:
Although the Taihang chrysanthemum is small, Ling Han blooms alone. Decorating Baiyun Mountain, the fragrance comes from the cliff.
Things always have two sides.Taihang chrysanthemum is favored by people because of its dangerous growing environment, rare species, and its medicinal value. However, it is precisely because of its dangerous growing environment, rare species, and popularity that it is endangered. It was included in the first batch of the "List of National Key Protected Wild Plants" released by our country, and also included in the "Red List of Endangered Species of the World Conservation Union", which is also a loud cry to save it!
We pray that while Taihang Chrysanthemum will be loved by people, it will also be carefully protected by people, so that it will continue to expand its population, gradually continue and multiply.
Baicainao and Sandaoshanmen
Baicainao, the highest peak of Baiyun Mountain, is 1,350 meters above sea level. Standing here, you can have a panoramic view of rivers, mountains, ditches and beams.
Cabbage Nao, looking up from the bottom of the mountain or from a distance, looks like four growing cabbages, hence its name. In order to seek wealth and honor, it is also called "Baicai Nao" according to the homophony. Since it is four cabbages, it also means getting rich in all seasons. Four trees also have the meaning of dark hair. The Chinese character "eight" is a homophone for "fa", and the Chinese character "four" means that there are "eight" hidden in the house, which means dark hair. Coincidentally, in the "Duo, Lai, Mi, Fa, Swish" of modern music , "fa" is exactly "four", which is also dark hair. It is not entirely a coincidence that
fits so well, because according to legend, Baicainao was created by the gods. It is said that these four cabbages were the rapeseeds contained in the feed that the Jade Emperor accidentally spilled when he stopped to feed the White Dragon Horse while he was planting minerals. They later took root and grew. According to local people's legend, at midnight on the first day of each month, spiritual light reflects back and purple rises from the top of Baicainao, taking on the shape of a cornucopia. If you look at Baicainao from the east, it looks like an official hat, so there is a saying that "those who worship can make people rich, and officials can be promoted, and they can rise to the top and rise step by step."
Baicainao is towering into the clouds, steep and precipitous. Its east, west and south sides are all sheer cliffs. Only the north side has a narrow road, which becomes the only way to climb the peak. The road winds up along the ridge with dizzying cliffs on both sides. It is so dangerous that many people either dare not set foot on it or turn back midway.
Those who dare to take risks start from the foothills and climb upward. When we reached a height of about 1,000 meters, we saw three mountain gates. Every mountain gate is guarded by one man and cannot be opened by ten thousand men.
The first mountain gate is artificially built with stone arches, vertical halls on both sides, and a stone lion lying on one side, glaring at the door. The entire stonework is exquisitely carved, regular and well-structured. There are two heavy wooden doors installed on the mountain gate. The door leaves have bubble nails the size of steamed buns. They are strong and heavy and can be opened and closed. Once closed, climbers will be unable to fly.
Continue climbing and finally reach the third mountain gate. It is also artificially built, and its shape is the same as the first mountain gate, except that the altitude is about 100 meters higher. The earliest construction time of these two mountain gates cannot be determined. The only evidence that can be confirmed is the remains of a stone tablet left during the reconstruction. If you look carefully, you can clearly see that the reconstruction date recorded in it is the 20th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty. That is 1592 AD, 430 years have passed since then.
It is a pity that the first and third mountain gates were demolished and smashed during the Cultural Revolution. The huge and heavy stone carving rolled down the abyss amidst the cheers of the Red Guards, accompanied by the sad echo of the mountain that echoed for a long time. What we can see now is only the incomplete foundation and some broken stones. There is a semi-arched stone with carved patterns lying quietly in the grass beside the mountain road, seeming to tell you about them. their misfortunes, their vicissitudes.
The second mountain gate is completely different from the first and third gates, and its fate is also completely different. This gate is not a man-made structure, but a natural barrier. After passing the first stone gate and climbing dozens of meters up, you will find the second mountain gate. It is a natural mountain lying on the ridge. A gap suddenly opened here, less than two meters wide.And just above this gap of less than two meters, a huge stone as big as half a house flew from nowhere in what year and month, and was stuck at a height of two meters. It was not high, not low, not big, not small, and formed a stone door. It looks like the situation is dangerous and there is a danger of falling. But for I don’t know how many years, it has been firmly supported there, no matter how you shake the mountain, "I will remain unmoved." Nature is so magical that you can’t help but marvel at it!
This natural stone gate has experienced so many natural vicissitudes, withstood many wars and wars, and witnessed many political storms, but none of them have touched it. How lucky it is!
After passing the three stone gates, an unknown force is pushing you. You will continue to climb up without stopping until you reach the 1350-meter peak of Baicainao. There were two temples built there at least during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. One is the Jade Emperor Temple built on the highest peak, and the other is the slightly lower and grand Bixia Yuanjun Temple. The Jade Emperor Temple stands on the top of the mountain, looking down on the surroundings and having a panoramic view of all the weather. At this time, the poem "I will be at the top of the mountain, I can see all the mountains at a glance" will definitely blurt out. Therefore, Baiyun Mountain is known as "Little Mount Tai" " known as. Bixia Yuanjun Temple is located under the Jade Emperor Temple, facing south, with a broad mind, clusters of buildings, and an air of immortality. At that time, the non-stop incense in the two temples affectionately expressed people's endless gratitude and solemn commemoration of the Jade Emperor's kindness and kindness in ancient times.
Regrettably, these two temples, like the two destroyed mountain gates, were also destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and have now disappeared. However, the stone wall foundation still exists intact, and fragments of the temple's colorful glazed tiles can still be found in the grass and gravel around it. You can also see half of the stone lintel "Bixia Yuan" carved in the grass on the mountain road. Obviously, this is the remaining stone plaque of the "Bixia Yuanjun" temple door.
In addition, there are also strange peaks and rocks such as the Eight Immortals Cave, Checkerboard Stone, and Turtle Stone. These ruins are showing their historical existence and replaying the mystery and glory of the past.
About the author:
Ren Baoting, courtesy name Maoshan, owner of Jiguzhai, is currently the consultant of the Folk Culture and Chinese Studies Research Committee of Hebei Province, the honorary director of the Hebei Arts and Crafts Research Center, the consultant of the Tai Chi Association of Hebei Province, and the honorary director of the Expert Committee of the Handan Enterprise Federation. , Chairman of China Huaye Calligraphy and Painting Association, member of China Metallurgical Writers Association, Hebei Province Writers Association member, Hebei Province Calligraphers Association member. His works include "The Public Context of Calligraphy Aesthetics", "The Shape of Calligraphy", "Three Explorations of the Orchid Pavilion Preface", "Why the Nephew Memorial Manuscript Becomes the Second-best Running Script in the World", "Artistic Interpretation of Cold Food Poems", "Read Three Books Well and Walk a Good Path in Life". "Read More, Read Good Books, Know How to Read" and other lectures, and published essay collections such as "Qianshi Runiu", "Ode to the Pioneers", "Missing Blue Flower Cloth" and other works. "The Thoughts of Blue Floral Cloth" won the Hebei Province's first Internet Literature Five-One Outstanding Work Award, and its prose "Bauhinia Flowers Bloom in Two Places" and "Shuangquan Emerged from Blue Floral Cloth" were selected into the book "Chinese Contemporary Prose Grand View".
Picture and text author Ren Baoting Editor-in-chief Chang Xiaoli
