Abstract
Every timeless legend contains the wisdom and essence of its regional culture. The reason why the legend of Xu Xun defeating the evil dragon is so widely spread over Poyang Lake region is that the people in that region have suffered from flood for years. Their ecological sensitivity of and reverence for nature triggered by the fluctuation of water helped create the image of an evil dragon that causes tempests, and the defeat of the monster in the end reflected their strong desire to overcome natural disasters. Xu Xun is remembered by people in Jiangxi, a province that has produced and cultivated so many famous figures in history, ultimately because flood control has always been a top priority in this frequently flooded province. In fact, Xu Xun’s idea of “chaining the evil dragon with iron pillar” has inspired people to plant trees, as their roots could conserve water and soil. His prophecy that “even if the world is in chaos, this place will be safe” means Jiangxi will have competitive advantage in ensuring stable yields despite drought or excessive rain after extensive tree planting. His other prophecy that “when the sand is higher than our shoulders in the north, gods will come to the city” tells us that “wherever there is danger, there will be salvation”. All in all, The Legend of Xu Xun reminds us to appease nature with awe, respect, and care, and the correct method is to balance the forces in nature.
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Notes
- 1.
Based on the previous studies, there are more than 600 Wan Shou Temples outside Jiangxi Province.
- 2.
“The water lies between Duchang and Xingzi county of Jiangxi province, stretching 24 km. As a link of Poyang Lake and the Yangtze River, it is a long and narrow inlet and since ancient times it has been the most dangerous part of Poyang Lake for its fast-flowing streams and raging breakers. Shipwrecks often occur here. Therefore the water is known as ‘the Bermuda Triangle in China’ or ‘the Devil Triangle of Poyang Lake’ with its unique mysterious features”. Hu Xiaojun: “The First Confirmed Discovery of a Sunken Ship in the Mysterious Waters of Poyang Lake”, from “Guangming Daily”, March 25, 2013.
- 3.
Xu (2003), p. 50.
- 4.
In the well of Iron Pillar Wan Shou Temple in Nanchang, there are iron pillars and iron chains which show that the evil dragon is still chained at the bottom of the well. At the front gate of Yulong Wanshou Temple in Xishan, there stands a giant sculpture of the evil dragon chained by Xu Xun with iron chains.
- 5.
Zhang (2004), p. 291.
- 6.
Feng Menglong, “Suppressing the Monster with Iron Trees in Jingyang Palace”, Jing Shi Tong Yan, vol. 40.
- 7.
Zhang (2004), p. 277.
- 8.
Zhang (2004), pp. 278–279.
- 9.
“The water level rises without raining, which is called ‘Qingzhang’ by scholars”. Fang Shao: Bozhai Novel, the 3rd volume.
- 10.
Zhang Zhebing, The Study of Divination Narration. Beijing: Social Sciences Academic Press, 2013, p. 207.
- 11.
During the Eastern Han dynasty, Yuzhang county had the second largest population in the country, with the largest rice yields in China. See Xu (1993), p. 43.
- 12.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, except for grain tax, tribute grain and feeding a large number of people, Jiangxi also transported and sold large quantities of grain to five provinces: Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, and Anhui. In the fifty years of the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1785), Hubei Province suffered from famine. Jiangxi donated as much as 62,500 tons rice in a short time in order to maintain the social stability. See Chen et al. (2004), pp. 426–428.
- 13.
Zhang (2004), pp. 35–36.
- 14.
Meng Haoran, “Visiting Longsha in September”.
- 15.
Heidegger (2000), p. 40.
- 16.
In a symposium organized by Publicity Department of CPC Jiangxi provincial committee on January 18, 2008, my proposal was accepted that Jiangxi should construct an ecological economic pilot zone surrounding Poyang Lake. Approved by the State Council on December 12, 2009, Poyang Lake Ecological Economic Zone became the first regional developmental strategy in the history of Jiangxi Province that has been approved by the central government.
References
Chen, Ronghua, et al. 2004. Jiangxi Economic History, 426–428. Nanchang: Jiangxi People’s Publishing House.
Heidegger, Martin. 2000. Elucidations of Holderlin’s Poetry, 40. New York: Humanity Books.
Xu, Huailin. 1993. Jiangxi Historical Manuscript, 43. Nanchang: Jiangxi University Press.
Xu, Huailin. 2003. A Historical Investigation of Poyang Lake Basin’s Ecological Environment, 50. Nanchang: Jiangxi Science & Technology Press.
Zhang, Wenhuan. 2004. Wan Shou Temple, 291. Beijing: Huaxia Press.
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Fu, X. (2021). In-Depth Interpretation of Xu Xun Legend. In: Chinese Narratologies. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7507-5_13
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-7507-5_13
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