The Mythic Origins of Kuaiji Mountain

Kuaiji Mountain stands as one of China’s most revered sacred sites, its history intertwined with the legendary Emperor Yu the Great. According to ancient texts, this was where Yu convened the feudal lords after taming the floods that once ravaged the land. More remarkably, it became his final resting place, transforming the mountain into a spiritual nexus where heaven and earth converged.

The eastern foothills hold a mysterious well, its depths said to connect directly to the Eastern Sea. Local Yue people call it “Yu’s Well,” believing it served as the emperor’s observation point for monitoring tidal patterns. The mountain’s slopes cradle Yu’s tomb, an extraordinary five-zhang-high (about 50 feet) mound composed of multicolored earth, as if soils from across the realm were gathered here in tribute. Even after millennia, the tomb remains pristine—no weeds mar its surface, no erosion scars its slopes—maintained by an extraordinary natural phenomenon.

The Miracle of Yu’s Tomb Guardians

Lu Zhonglian, the renowned scholar and diplomat, witnessed this wonder firsthand during his journey through the region. As he stood before the tomb encircled by ancient pines, he observed thousands of birds performing their sacred duty—uprooting weeds in spring and clearing debris in autumn. Local Yue tribes enforced strict taboos against harming these avian custodians, with violators facing relentless pursuit.

When Lu questioned whether officials maintained the site, his guide shook his head: “No hunters even enter Kuaiji Mountain—how could government workers survive here?” Moments later, the forest erupted with the sound of countless wings as birds descended to clear the area, flying silently past the astonished visitors before disappearing toward the distant sea.

The Enigmatic Ruoye Stream

Beyond Yu’s tomb lay the Ruoye Stream, a place of four wonders that Lu’s guide eagerly described. First, its waters once forged divine swords in the cave of master smith Ou Yezi. Second, its banks saw Xi Shi’s clan wash their legendary sheer silks. Third, its mirrored surface perfectly reflected surrounding peaks like a painted scroll. The fourth wonder proved most perplexing—after Ou Yezi and Xi Shi departed, the stream lost its former magical properties for sword-making and silk-washing.

Undeterred by warnings, the adventurous Lu climbed to a perilous overlook where he beheld the stream’s breathtaking beauty—a sapphire pool cradled in emerald foliage, its surface dancing with mountain reflections. Overcome by the view’s perfection, he carved four characters into an oak tree: “Landscapes That Mislead Men.” Moments later, dark clouds engulfed the scene, transforming the idyllic vista into something ominous and foreboding.

The Five Cascades and Hidden Knowledge

Their journey continued to Wuxie Peak (Five Cascades), where Lu marveled at nature’s grandeur—five successive waterfalls plunging nearly 700 feet down sheer cliffs. As he criticized the prosaic name, a haunting melody echoed through the valleys. The guide translated the ancient Yue song into classical Chinese, revealing its poignant beauty—a love ballad expressing unrequited affection that Lu lamented never made it into the Confucian Classic of Poetry.

This musical prelude introduced Lu to his true destination—the Southern Mohist school hidden in the mountains. A mysterious white-clad girl, displaying supernatural agility, guided him through concealed paths to a secret valley where the Mohist master awaited.

The Southern Mohist Legacy

The master, once a fiery reformer who split from the main Mohist school over ideological differences, had transformed into a serene elder. Their philosophical debate centered on reviving the exiled poet-statesman Qu Yuan to lead Chu’s reform movement against Qin’s expansion. While skeptical of Qu Yuan’s current capabilities, the master nevertheless entrusted Lu with Southern Mohist disciples throughout Chu territory, represented by the remarkable girl Yue Yan who had guided him.

Cultural Significance and Lasting Legacy

This journey through Kuaiji Mountain’s sacred landscape encapsulates profound themes in Chinese thought—the interplay between human endeavor and natural forces, the tension between activism and withdrawal, and the enduring search for governance models. The Southern Mohists represent a fascinating “what-if” in Chinese history—a path not taken that combined technological prowess with humanitarian ideals.

The region’s legends continue to inspire, from Yu’s flood control achievements to Xi Shi’s beauty and Qu Yuan’s poetic patriotism. Modern visitors to Kuaiji Mountain can still sense the mystical atmosphere that so captivated Lu Zhonglian, walking the same paths where history and mythology intertwine.

Modern Relevance

Kuaiji Mountain’s legacy speaks to contemporary concerns about environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and balancing tradition with progress. The avian guardians of Yu’s tomb offer an early example of ecological conservation, while the Mohist debates about governance models prefigure modern discussions about social organization.

The journey reminds us that China’s philosophical diversity once encompassed schools like the Mohists who combined technological innovation with egalitarian ideals—a tradition that might have developed very differently had history taken another course. Today, as China reconnects with its classical heritage while forging a modern identity, these ancient stories gain new resonance.