Legend and Culture of Shennong Stream

Legend of Shennong Stream

According to the legend, in the ancient time, plagues were quite rampant. Many people died from famines and plagues. To rescue the people, Emperor Yan, also called Shennong came to the dangerous mountains covered with lush forests in the northwest of Hubei Province. He tasted one hundred kinds of grasses himself and gathered herbs to cure the sick people, and selected seeds to plant crops. Yet he was not powerful enough to climb the cloud-kissing cliffs. So he set up 36 high ladders and climbed up to the cliffs. Later, the flourished pristine forests grew on the ladders. To memorize Shennong, people call this forest park as "Shannong Ladders".

After he explored through the lush mountain and tasting the one hundred kinds of grasses, Shennong decided to go to the Xiang River by way of Yangtze River. He was blocked by a winding stream when he came down the mountain. He felt sad for he was not good at swimming. Surprisingly, a rafttow floated from the upstream. He jumped on the rafttow and floated across the stream and finally reached Yangtze River. Later, people named the stream "Shennong Stream".

Culture of Shennong Stream

Shennong Stream is the hometown of Ba people. It gave birth to the special Ba Culture.

Relics of ancient plank roads and suspending coffins on the cliff on both sides of Shennong Stream were constructed by ancient Ba people using their wisdom.

Sa-Er-He is the pristine Tujia (a name of minority) folk performance of singing and dancing. It was passed down from generation to generation and even today it is still very popular.

Wedding Lament is another special performance created by Tujia people. Just as its name implies, the Wedding Lament is the song the bride sings on the wedding day. It is the unique way for the Tujia girls to express their love and hatred, mortality and ideal by singing songs. It was passed down from generation to generation because of its artistic character of "crying but do not grieving" and "singing resembles crying".

Tang Opera is a local opera popular in Shennong Stream area. It is deeply adored by Ba people due to its distinct national features, colorful local flavors, rich contents, various forms and unique singing ways.