Horse Hoof Rock
Horse Hoof Rock: Long ago, Zhonghu in western Zhangjiajie was still a sizable lake. One year, a large white horse flew in from Yangjia Fort. Every day at the hour of Si it came to the lake to drink and bathe, and at the hour of Wei it leaped to Macao Bay to graze—day after day. This white horse was twelve chi tall and fifteen chi long, with eyes like bronze bells gleaming brightly. Its neigh shook the ground and made leaves fall...
This article has been compiled from historical materials on 'Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network' (33519.com · Specialty Foods / Cuisine / Customs section). Prices, business hours, administrative divisions, and statistical data mentioned in the text may already be outdated. Before traveling, please refer to the latest announcements from merchants, scenic areas, and local competent authorities; the parts involving folk legends and folk customs are local historical and cultural anecdotes, provided for cultural reference.
Horse Hoof Rock
Long ago, Zhonghu, near the western part of Zhangjiajie, was still a sizable lake. One year, a big white horse flew over from Yangjiazhai. Every day at the hour of Si, it came to the lake to drink and bathe; at the hour of Wei, it leaped to Macaowan to graze—day after day, always the same. This white horse stood twelve chi tall and fifteen chi long, with eyes like bronze bells that glittered and flashed. When it neighed, the ground trembled and leaves came rattling down. Ever since this strange horse appeared, Zhonghu was no longer peaceful. After drinking, the white horse breathed out clouds and mist, shrouding a twenty-one-li radius in unending drizzle; when it bathed in the lake, it stirred up waves a hundred zhang high, overturning boats and drowning fishermen. When the county magistrate got word of this, he ordered the hunters of Zhangjiajie to capture it, setting a two-month deadline—if they failed, they would lose their heads.
Now, in the Red Rock House below Xiangzi Rock lived a hunter famous far and wide named Luo Hang. He had an only daughter named Luo Hou, who was born with delicate features and a graceful figure. From childhood, Luo Hou followed her father into the mountains to hunt. She could shoot three arrows in succession and kill a fierce tiger, earning her the name "Fairy of Divine Arrows." Every hunter in Zhangjiajie was a brave man, but none could match the Luo father and daughter. So everyone chose Luo Hang as their leader to capture the strange horse. Luo Hang gave his orders: cut ancient vines a hundred zhang long and as thick as a rice bowl to weave into nets; cut nan bamboo tall as the sky to braid into trip ropes. That day, the white horse came down the mountain again, but the trip ropes could not bring it down—with a gentle kick, it snapped the cables into three pieces! Luo Hang then ordered the nets cast, but the horse rose on its hind legs and the nets broke apart! Seeing itself attacked, the great white horse neighed and charged at the hunters! Luo Tai hurriedly shouted to release arrows. In an instant, ten thousand arrows flew at once, but the white horse opened its great mouth and swallowed every single one!
Luo Hang could not subdue the strange horse and paced about in frantic anxiety. Luo Hou blushed and said, "Father, I refuse to believe there is no one in the world who can bring this horse down. I am willing to post a notice seeking a hero—whoever can subdue the horse, I will marry! "
Hearing this, the old hunter sighed and had no choice but to agree to give it a try.
That very day, father and daughter set up a platform on the little street of Yeji Pu, and Luo Hou stood on it in brilliant attire. Before the platform stood a mast bearing a white banner, on which was written: "Whoever can subdue the white horse, Luo Hou will give herself in marriage!"
Now there was quite a show to see. From a hundred li in front, a hundred li behind, a hundred li to the left, and a hundred li to the right of Yeji Pu, who knows how many fine young men came to see the "living notice." Nine hundred and ninety-nine young men admired Luo Hou's beauty, yet not one of the nine hundred and ninety-nine dared to pull the notice down! Luo Hang counted on his fingers—only three days remained until the deadline! Just as he was growing anxious, someone announced: "The one who will take the notice has come!" A young man of eight chi appeared, with silkworm eyebrows and phoenix eyes, a tiger's back and a bear's waist, walking with swift steps that stirred the wind—what a heroic bearing! The young man clasped his hands in salute and said with a smile, "I am from Zhimata, surnamed Xiang, named Dakun. I have come specially today to subdue the horse!" With that, he lightly chopped the mast with one palm, and with a crack it broke into two! Dakun caught the white banner with one hand and turned to Luo Hou, saying, "Miss, when I subdue the horse, I will need your help!" Seeing his extraordinary skill, Luo Hou was already won over and quickly said, "To cut down evil and rid us of harm, I would not shrink from my duty!" Xiang Dakun then instructed Luo Hou in a certain plan. It turned out that Xiang Dakun, under the guidance of Immortal Master Zhang Liang, had read the Heavenly Book and obtained the Green Snake Sword—all that was missing was a mount. He had long heard that a strange horse had appeared in Zhonghu that a thousand men could not subdue, and he thought: Could this white horse be waiting for me, Xiang, to subdue it? If so, it must be Heaven's help.
The next day, hundreds and thousands of people gathered on all four shores of Zhonghu to watch. After a while, the hour of Si arrived, and the great white horse soared into the air, leaping into the lake like lightning. Xiang Dakun first wielded the Green Snake Sword—chop, chop, chop!—and with a few strokes split open Qinglong Ridge, and the lake water came rushing out until it was dry. At the sight, the white horse gave a shrill neigh and charged at Xiang Dakun! Quick as a flash, Luo Hou shot three arrows in succession, flying in a line toward the white horse. The horse swallowed one in its mouth, but the other two, neither too high nor too low, struck its two ears. In unbearable pain, the white horse dropped to its knees. Xiang Dakun, who had been waiting on the mountain ridge to the side, leaped forward in one bound and mounted the horse's back. Afraid that Dakun might slip, Luo Hou also swiftly leaped onto the horse. The great white horse sprang up on its hind legs with a neigh and, carrying the two of them, bounded toward Yangjiazhai—that single leap covered a full fifteen li. Seeing it could not throw off its riders, the white horse stamped several times on the stone slabs, leaving behind a number of hoofprints—this is the origin of "Horse Hoof Rock." Dakun gripped the mane tightly and shouted angrily, "White horse! Do you recognize me, Xiang Dakun?" The white horse nodded. Xiang Dakun said again, "Since you recognize me, then be my mount—is that agreeable?" The white horse nodded three more times. Dakun smiled, and Luo Hou embraced him in excitement. The great white horse, leisurely and carefree, carried the pair of riders and galloped off toward Zhimata.