Zhang Liang's Tomb
Legend says Zhang Liang cultivated Taoism on Qingyan Mountain for decades and eventually died of old age on Huangshi Village. His death was shrouded in mystery, and when Empress Lü heard of it, she insisted on finding his tomb. But once the decree was issued, over three thousand "Zhang Liang's Tombs" appeared overnight across the land, leaving Empress Lü at a loss. However, according to a secret report from Qiao, the governor of Wuling Commandery, it was determined that Zhang...
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Zhang Liang's Tomb
Legend has it that Zhang Liang cultivated Daoist practices at Qingyan Mountain for several decades, and eventually died of old age on Huangshi Stockade. The story of his death was already quite mysterious, but when Empress Lü heard of it, she insisted on finding his tomb. Yet no sooner was the imperial decree issued than over three thousand "Zhang Liang tombs" were discovered across the land overnight, leaving Empress Lü with no way to proceed. However, according to a secret report from Prefect Qiao of Wuling Commandery, it was determined that Zhang Liang's tomb was in Zhangjiajie, and moreover, that Zhang Liang was buried together with his master, Old Man Huangshi—otherwise, why would a "Huangshi Stockade" have risen there? When Empress Lü heard this, she found it reasonable. She issued a secret edict ordering Prefect Qiao to lead three hundred capable soldiers, bring along a feng shui master, disguise themselves as pilgrims, and go to Zhangjiajie to investigate.
Prefect Qiao and his party climbed three thousand stone peaks and crossed eight hundred mountain streams, but still could not find Zhang Liang's tomb. The feng shui master, having some discernment after all, arrived at Shuirao Simen and felt that this place had extraordinary energy. Look: to the left was "Green Dragon Emerging from Water," to the right was "White Tiger Raising Its Head," in front was the winding Jade Belt Spring, and behind was the towering General Rock. Truly it was "where mountains halt and waters gather, a blessed site; with front screen and rear canopy, a fine burial ground." Zhang Liang, being well-versed in the occult arts, must have chosen this spot for burial! The group searched everywhere and indeed found a tomb on Xianglu Rock. Prefect Qiao parted the branches and saw clearly inscribed on the stele head four seal-script characters: "Tomb of Zhang Liang." The grave was dug open, and inside the pit lay a catalpa wood coffin. When the coffin lid was opened, a wisp of pure vapor floated out and rose into the sky. Where were the bones in the coffin? Only a set of garments and a cap remained! When Empress Lü heard the report, she berated Prefect Qiao severely and ordered him to find Zhang Liang's real tomb within one month. She also said that even without a complete corpse, bones would do; if he succeeded he would be promoted and rewarded, if he failed he would be executed!
Prefect Qiao dared not delay, and had no choice but to return to Zhangjiajie. Just then, someone reported: "The Zhang Liang tomb on Xianglu Rock has risen again!" Prefect Qiao looked—sure enough, the excavated grave had truly been rebuilt, and grass had even grown on the mound! A soldier swung a hoe to dig, and with a "clang," the hoe broke—it was an iron tomb! They dug for fifteen days and nights, yet could not open even a hairline crack. Prefect Qiao, seeing the deadline approaching, was so anxious he could neither sit nor sleep. The feng shui master offered a plan: "Iron is smelted by fire. If you can't dig it open, then burn it!" Prefect Qiao immediately ordered soldiers to cut firewood and pile it on the grave, and they burned it for fifteen days and nights. Prefect Qiao thought: surely it must have melted by now? He stroked his goatee and poked at the fire pile with a poker. With a "boom," the tomb exploded, and scalding molten iron burned his foot and singed his goatee. Prefect Qiao roared: "Get in there, all of you! Whoever picks up a single bone of Zhang Liang will be promoted and rewarded!" The soldiers all rushed forward, scrambling into the fire. Then, the coffin, wrapped in billowing smoke, whooshed up into midair, then slowly settled on the summit of Xianglu Rock, and then slowly a round grave mound grew up. Prefect Qiao, seeing the tomb had flown up
to Xianglu Rock, urgently ordered soldiers to climb up and dig. By the time the soldiers finally struggled to the summit, the tomb had vanished again. The soldiers had no choice but to slink dejectedly back down the mountain. No sooner had they descended than Prefect Qiao shouted: "Get back up there! The tomb has reappeared!" The soldiers looked up—sure enough, the tombstone was still faintly glinting! The soldiers again vied with one another to climb the cliffs and cling to vines to get up, but when they reached the summit, the tomb had vanished once more! This happened several times, and Prefect Qiao, at his wit's end, plopped down on the ground and sighed: "After all, I know not where the bones are buried; yet I ask, who is the person on the terrace?"
It is said that afterward, many people also saw Zhang Liang's tomb, but the opportunity was always rare, because it appeared and disappeared, faint and elusive. Later, a master of yin-yang studies, after repeated investigation, concluded that the one buried on Xianglu Rock at Shuirao Simen was indeed Zhang Liang, and wrote a poem:
Treading all the green mountains seeking the ancient one, where four gates of water surround, a fine burial ground is won;
On Xianglu Rock stands the old earthen mound, the tomb of Zhang Liang, Marquis of Liu of the Han.
(Collected by Xifang Zi and Ma Ling)
About Zhang Liang's Retirement to Zhangjiajie
Zhang Liang (?–189 BCE), minister of the Western Han Dynasty. Courtesy name Zifang. A native of present-day Bozhou, Anhui Province. A noble of the State of Han. He once associated with assassins and attempted to ambush Qin Shi Huang at Bolangsha (present-day Yuanyang, Henan Province) but failed, and was pursued by Qin officials. It is said that at Xiapi (present-day Pizhou, Jiangsu Province) he encountered Old Man Huangshi and obtained the "Taigong's Art of War." He later assisted Liu Bang in pacifying the realm and establishing the Han Dynasty, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Liu. Liu Bang once praised him: "Devising strategies within the tent, deciding victory a thousand li away."
In the tenth month of the seventh year of Emperor Hui of Han (188 BCE), Empress Dowager Lü Zhi assumed regency. Zhang Liang, finding himself in peril, resolutely resigned from office and left Chang'an. He said: "I wish to abandon the affairs of the world and roam with Chi Songzi." From then on he vanished into the rivers and lakes, his whereabouts unknown, becoming one of the great ancient mysteries of Chinese history. However, the "Chronological Table of Chinese and Foreign History," edited by Jian Bozan, records that Zhang Liang died in the sixth year of Emperor Hui of Han, i.e., 189 BCE, the year of Renzi. Legend has it that after Zhang Liang's death, hundreds of Zhang Liang tombs were discovered overnight in many places across the country, and Zhangjiajie had one too, which made Zhang Liang's death even more bewildering and mysterious.
According to the "Gazetteer of Lizhou Prefecture" and the "Gazetteer of Yongding County": "Chi Songzi lived in seclusion on Chi Song Mountain (the highest peak east of present-day Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie is called Chi Song Mountain), and there is a cinnabar furnace listed as one of the sixteen peaks of Tianmen. Zhang Liang roamed with Chi Songzi, and many traces remain on Tianmen, Qingya, and other mountains." It also states: "The tomb of Zhang Liang, Marquis of Liu, is at Qingya Mountain (the ancient name of present-day Zhangjiajie). After Zhang Liang obtained the book from Old Man Huangshi, he roamed with Chi Songzi. In the county, on Tianmen, Qingya, and other mountains, many traces remain." To this day, many poems about Zhang Liang still circulate among the people of Zhangjiajie. For example:
Peace was originally won by generals, yet generals are not allowed to see peace.
The foolish covet rank and die on the blade; better to go straight to the woods and springs and hide one's name.