Bajiaozhai is also known as Yuntai Mountain. It is 818 meters high. It is situated on the border between Hunan and Guangxi where Yuecheng Mountain and Xuefeng Mountain meet. Bajiaozhai is surrounded by many hills and stands out alone. There are eight peaks on the top of the mountain which resemble eight giant dragons. It is the reason why it is called Bajiaozhai in Chinese. It is a rare type of Danxia landform in China and even in the world. Many famous geologists regard it as “the soul of Danxia landform”. It is very rarely encountered that all peaks of this mountain lean at a 45-degree angle and in the same direction. The mountain is covered in clouds and mist. All the peaks seem to move up and down in the cloud, resembling whales playing in the sea. There is only an old, abrupt and narrow path along the southwestern slope leading to the top of the mountain, as other sides are too steep. Standing on the top of the mountain, you may feel how big the world is and how small the human is. You will forget all your worries and realize the true meaning of life. There is a rock with two big holes in it. Seen from a distance, the rock looks as if it had two big eyes. Therefore, it is called the Eye Rock. It is an inspiration for poets and artists. Each of the eight horns is different. One of them is called “Longtouxiang” (meaning the head of dragon). It resembles a dragon getting ready to fly. The horn is so high that it seems to reach the sky. An abyss under the horn makes it look more precipitous. The complex geologic structure and unique climate created the peculiar landforms in Bajiaozhai. Bajiaozhai was titled as ‘the world Danxia wonder’, ‘the soul of Danxia landform’ and ‘the national high-grade park’. In 2005, it was selected as one of the seven most beautiful Danxia landforms in China.
Bajiaozhai Story
1. Avalokitesvara drove sheep
Long long ago, in a glorious day, Avalokitesvara was driving tens of thousands of sheep form Nanning in Guangxi to Dongting Lake in Hunan under the order of Buddha. When she was passing the Lang Mountain, the barefoot immortal told him that Monk Tang and his disciples got in trouble in the Flame Mountain (Huoyanshan) and they needed her help. Avalokitesvara thought that the flame Mountain was not far from there, so she could come back in a day and the sheep could have a good rest at Lang Mountain. She took off in a hurry to help Monk Tang. When she came back at dusk, she found out that
her sheep had disappeared. She asked the old man who was herding cows nearby, ‘have you seen my sheep?’ the old man answered, ‘I just saw bizarre rocks.’ Avalokitesvara cried, ‘I am so unfortunate! Buddha will blame me for losing the sheep. What should I do?’ The old man said, ‘you are so strange. There are only rocks. Why did you regard them as sheep?” Avalokitesvara wondered, ‘It must be that the old man turned my sheep into rocks. It must be the fate that I have to practice the immortal way here.’ So she sat down on ryondae facing the west with her legs crossed. She did not only practice immortal way here, but also protected the people living in Lang Mountain. It was said that the ryondae she sat on was Bajiaozhai. Nowadays people climb the mountain and burn incense sticks in honor of Avalokitesvara.
2. Baijiaozhai only has seven horns
As mentioned above, Avalokitesvara had practiced immortal way there. Since that many people came to the Yuntai Temple to worship Avalokitesvara and prayed for her protection, it was said that the tea of Bajiaozhai can cure all diseases and after worship men as old as ninety years old felt they were full of energy like youngsters. People believed that all these miracles were caused by Avalokitesvara. One day when Avalokitesvara was at leisure, for the first time she observed Bajiaozhai carefully. But no matter how many times she counted, there were only seven horns. She was very confused. Where was the eighth horn? The earth god who sat next to her laughed, ‘My dear Avalokitesvara, a clever woman has her stupid moments. You have forgotten to count the horn you sat on.’ From this fault, Avalokitesvara understood this truth—even god can not avoid making mistakes, let alone the commoners.
3. Well water turned into wine
Once upon a time, there was an old couple living at the foot of Bajiaoshan. They were very kindhearted and had done many good things. But they were very poor and had no children. Avalokitesvara wanted to help them so she acted as a scruffy white-haired old woman begging for water. After drinking water, she threw two black beans into the well in the backyard of the old couple’s house and told them the flavor of well water was changed, it tasted like wine. The couple heard that, came close to the well, a strong fragrance of wine came out of the well. Then they tasted it, ‘Good wine!’ they shouted. When they turned back, the white-haired woman disappeared. They realized that they met god. They knelt down and bowed to the ground, thanking for the kindness of the god. Since then, they ran a wine shop and made great fortune. They built a new house and adopted a son. A few years passed, they had grandchildren and enjoyed happy life. However, their only regret was that the well only produced wine. If the well also produced vinasse, they could feed pigs. Then they could make more money.
One day, the white-haired woman begging for wine came again. The old couple told how the well water turned into wine and expressed their regret. The white-haired woman said at once, ‘I could give you what you want.’ She came to the well surrounded by the old couple. She put her dirty hand into the well and took two black beans out of the well, then disappeared again. A yellow handkerchief drifted down from the sky above the well, it said, ‘the sky is not high compared to the endless desire of human.’ The couple tasted the well water again. The water lost the flavor of wine; it just tasted like water. The old couple lost the source of fortune, they became poor again.
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