The Legend of the Peach Blossom Fairy

2020-11-12

Legend has it that long, long ago, Lushan Mountain—and indeed the entire area where we now stand, including the West Sea—was once a vast, boundless ocean. All sorts of creatures thrived here, living in harmony and peace with one another. These creatures ranged from giant pterosaurs soaring through the skies to tiny cnidarians like the hydromedusa—a “water sprite” that has been dwelling in Earth’s waters for over 600 million years, feeding on microscopic organisms. They coexisted quietly with this world, witnessing countless transformations and vicissitudes of time and space. Then, following several major shifts in land and sea, this region gradually rose above sea level, and Lushan Mountain emerged abruptly, its peaks rising dramatically from the waters. Slowly but surely, the seawater receded entirely, leaving behind a lush, terrestrial landscape. The hydromedusas, having lost their habitat, transformed into spirit stones and hid themselves deep within river valleys. Thousands of years later, a young man living along the Xiu River found himself in dire straits: his elderly mother was gravely ill, and they had no money for medical treatment. So the young man often went to the Xiu River, casting nets to catch fish, preparing fish soup for his mother to help her recover. One day, as he set out again to fish, he passed by a valley near the Xiu River, where a grove of peach trees flourished. Suddenly, he was drawn to a spirit stone gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight. He picked up the stone and took it home, placing it in a flower pot. Every day, when he returned from his outings, he would bring back a jug of dew from the peach grove and carefully pour it over the spirit stone. Strangely enough, as the stone absorbed the nourishing dew, it became increasingly radiant and full of spiritual energy. Meanwhile, his mother’s illness began to improve steadily. Then, one day, the spirit stone suddenly transformed into a graceful and beautiful fairy. The young man was utterly astonished. The fairy explained, “I am the Peach Blossom Fairy, reincarnated from that spirit stone you found in the valley. It must be that we were destined to meet in a past life. Moreover, seeing your extraordinary filial piety these days, I’ve taken human form and wish to become your wife.” This was truly a blessing from heaven, and the young man was overjoyed. After they exchanged vows and became husband and wife, they cared for his mother with utmost devotion and lived in perfect harmony with their neighbors, becoming the most admired and loving couple throughout the surrounding villages and towns. Yet not long after, the Jiujiang region was struck by an unprecedented drought—one that hadn’t occurred in a thousand years. The people not only faced total crop failure but also nearly ran out of drinking water. Moved by compassion, the young man and his neighbors climbed up to the Peach Blossom Peak in search of a water source—but there, at Huangjing Cave, the young man fell from a cliff. Upon hearing of her husband’s death, the Peach Blossom Fairy burst into tears of sorrow. Strangely enough, as her tears fell onto the ground, they gradually merged into a small stream, winding its way down the hillside. The more she cried, the sadder she became, until finally, the stream grew into the West Sea, banishing the drought completely. But the Peach Blossom Fairy herself, having cried away all her tears, eventually turned once more into a spirit stone.

The story of the Peach Blossom Fairy gradually spread among the villagers, and so they began to call the place where the fairy often chopped wood by the name of... Fairy Gorge The place where the fairy bathes is called Peach Blossom Creek The place where I live now is called... Peach Blossom Island The tale of the Peach Blossom Fairy, who turned her tears into an ocean, also reached the Heavenly Court and moved the Jade Emperor deeply. Thus, the Jade Emperor bestowed upon her the title of Goddess of the Western Sea, earning her universal reverence and worship. From then on, the Peach Blossom Fairy became the embodiment of beauty in the Western Sea and the guardian deity of love. In a sense, thanks to the presence of the Western Sea Fairy, the Western Sea came to be known as the “Fairy Sea.” A poem praises her thus: “The Peach Blossom Fairy dwells in the Western Sea’s hollow—only peach blossoms are seen, not a single house. She resides deep within Peach Blossom Island, where peach blossoms bloom only in the Western Sea’s hollow.” Another poem goes on to say: “On the peak of Peach Blossom Hill lies Peach Blossom Hollow; within Peach Blossom Hollow stands the peach tree; beneath the peach tree runs the peach blossom path, and on that path one meets the Peach Blossom Fairy.”

Keywords:

The Legend of Yijia River

The Story of Luohan Vegetables

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