Iron Lock Pass

Although Chinese history has spanned many centuries, the importance of Yangtze River from the military perspective has been rarely mentioned and discussed - Iron Lock Pass is one of the rare that is the remains of a military setup left from the South Song Dynasty.

Iron Lock Pass - History

On the northern bank of Qutang Gorge, opposite the Mengliang Stairway, there is a small branch of the Yangtze River, called Caotang River. Just at the place where the Caotang River flows into the Yangtze River, there is a huge stone bearing two iron posts. On the southern bank, there is a stone hole. In ancient times, people threaded iron chains between the posts and the hole in order to block the Yangtze River and prevent the intrusion of the enemy. This is called the Iron Lock Pass. The Iron Lock Pass was firstly constructed during the Tang Dynasty. Xu Zongwu, a general of the South Song Dynasty, once deployed seven iron chains to prevent the invasions of the Mongolia Army in the year 1264. It was recorded that the chains measured a total length of 920 meters (3018 feet).

Iron Lock Pass – Tax Pass

During the peace period of ancient China, the Iron Lock Pass was also used as a tax pass of the government. Officials collected tax from the commercial ships passing the Yangtze River. Since Tang and Song Dynasties, Iron Lock Pass had become the biggest tax toll-gate of China, also called Kui Pass. The commercial ships were not allowed to go without paying tax. It tells us that the economy and transportation have been flourishing since Tang Dynasty.

Iron Lock Pass – Legend

Dayu, is regarded as an ancient hero for his great contribution in controlling flood in prehistoric times in China. Dayu once came to the location of today's Iron Lock Pass. At that time, there was not such a pass but just a lofty mountain blocking the Yangtze River. The roaring flood of the Yangtze River ran to the area that surrounded by the mountain on three sides and could not go any further. Seeing this, Dayu drove his magic ox to hit the mountain in order to make a way for leading the flood. However, the ox failed to make even a cranny. Dayu then cleft the mountain with his magic ax. To his surprise, the mountain was still whole though he had the ax broken and the hand hurt.

Therefore Dayu gathered the stonecutters, woodchoppers, hunters and fishermen around this area to deal with this mountain. They finally decided to use fire. Consequently, Dayu set a fire at the foot of the mountain. People added pine rosin and firewood to it. The tongue of flame quickly reached the peak to make the mountain into a fire ball in an eyewink. With the blast of the tough stones, the huge mountain was separated into two, which were later named Chijia and Baiyan. The two mountains formed Kuimen Gate which we still can see in Qutang Gorge today. A pass, namely today's Iron Lock Pass, was formed between the two mountains with Yangtze waters flowing through.