Culture of Shibaozhai

Lying on the north bank of the Yangtze River between the Zhongxian County and Wanzhou County, Shibaozhai is well known for its colorful culture of mysterious legends and historical tales.

Culture of Shibaozhai - Legend of Shibao Mountain

Shibaozhai is on the Shibao Mountain. According to the legend, there was once a Buzhou Moutain on the earth. The Buzhou Mountain was a stele which supported the sky. Later, the Water Deity and Fire Deity fought each other fiercely and knocked the mountain down. The Buzhou Mountain fell and a big hole emerged in the sky. And people suffered from disasters. The Goddess Nuwa decided to relieve her people and darn the sky with stones. She left one colorful stone out. The stone is the Shibao Mountain on which the Shibaozhai locates.

Culture of Shibaozhai - Legend of Liumi Hole in Shibaozhai

In the main hall of Shibaozhai, there is a stone hole with a diameter like a bowl. The hole is called Liumi Hole which means rice grains flow out of the hole. It is said that after the temple was built in Shibaozhai, there were lots of rice grains flowing out of the hole. So the monks in the temple lived on the rice. Later, some greedy monks wanted more rice and enlarged and widened the hole. To their surprise, there were not rice grains flowing out any more. The greedy monks received punishment.

Culture of Shibaozhai - Tale of Bamanzi

In Shibaozhai there displays a statue of Bamanzi. In the period of Warring States more than 2000 years ago, the Ba State was at its height with a large area. The fact that Ba was increasingly getting more powerful to threaten Qin State. Qin conspired to destroy Ba with evil devices instead of wars. Qin lured some of Ba's officials and drove the King of Ba away.

Bamazi, born in today's Zhongxian County, was the general of Ba State. He was very worried about his state and decided to ask for help from the neighbour, Chu State. He came to Chu and tried to persuade Chu's King to help Ba to overcome the difficulties. Chu' King promised on condition that three cities of Ba be given to Chu.

Chu sent the troops and helped Ba settle the war. Then Chu dispatched envoys to Ba and asked for the three cities. Bamanzi did not want to cede Ba's territory so he cut his head off and sacrificed for his state. Moved by his loyalty, Chu's King buried his head on the top of a mountain and gave him an elaborate burial.

Culture of Shibaozhai - Tale of Heroine Qin Liangyu

In the Shibaozhai there also displays the statue of Qin Liangyu. Qin Liangyu, born in today's Zhongxian County of Chongqing, was a female strategist and heroine in Ming Dynasty. She learned horse-riding and archery at a young age and was good at commanding armies and combating. In late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty, she fought against the enemies and devoted her whole life to Ming dynasty. As a famous heroine in Chinese feudal society, she was forever remembered for her loyalty.