The mountain and its tales
A famous Buddhist mountain since ancient times, Fanjingshan's strange peaks, odd rocks and old temple relics have given rise to many legends passed down by word of mouth. Their origins are hard to trace, yet they hold local awe and imagination toward the hills and water.
A few kinds of story you hear
- The origin of the rocks: for Mushroom Rock and other odd stones, folk tell varied imaginings;
- Tales of practice: stories of old temples and monks carry a region's memory of faith;
- Mountains and people: themes of herb-gathering, pilgrimage and forest-guarding tell of lives entwined with the mountain.
How to listen and tell
- Chat with locals in tea houses and homestays for the liveliest telling;
- Read the tales alongside steles and relics — more vivid than listening alone;
- Enjoy legends as culture: neither superstitious nor garbled.
Note
Legends add charm, safety comes first; care for the relics so these stories keep their roots and endure.
