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Legends in the Shibashui - Seven Grade Toad

This toad-shaped stone is name the Seven Grade Toad. As is known to all, toad is normally called La Ha Ma in Chinese, and people regard it as something ugly. However, it is not the case in old times. It was once the representative of luck. In ancient times, there are three cultural symbols of toad: the golden toad, the love toad, and the official toad. This Seven Grade Toad belongs to the category of official toad, and its title is seven grade official. It’s rarely heard that a toad can be officiated, but here we have an allusion, and you’ll learn the whole story once I share it with you. It’s said that when Emperor XianZong toured in the scenic spot with a beautiful girl from Yao minority, he noticed that there’s a toad following him. The emperor was so confused and he asked the Yao girl about it. Yao girl smiled and said, “Well, it’s asking you for a packet.” The emperor got even more confused, but the girl later explained, that the toad accidentally saw the emperor making out with Yao girl. According to local customs, the toad was asking the emperor for a packet. It was the first time that the emperor heard that there was such custom in the world. He believed that it was a natural interest that recover to one’s original simplicity, but he got no money on him at that time, even he did want to give a packet to the toad. The girl had a bright idea, and proposed, “You are son of God, and your words can be the most precious packet.” The emperor was very happy. Since the founding of civilization, there have been quite a few emperors during over 4000 years, but he thought that he would be the first emperor who ever officiated a toad. Gladly, he said, “Now you listen.” The toad went down on its knees. “You are a virtuous toad, who witnessed the union of heaven and earth, yet still kept silence and respect. Your deed is original ecological and civilized, and I officiate you as a seven grade toad.” The toad was so thrilled at the news and its mouth remained open ever since. If you’ll take a close look at the toad, you’ll see that this toad has two mouths, with one open and one closed. Why? Well, it’s because that the toad is an official toad! The Chinese character “Official” has two mouths in it!


Here’s another allusion about the toad which comes from the Classic of Mountains and Rivers. It’s said that Chang’e turned into a toad after she flied to the moon, so she’s named moon toad, and the place she lived on the moon was called the toad palace. It’s also said that Chang’e left the moon and came down to earth in XiaoMu Queen (Concubine Shu)’s body. When Concubine Shu was poisoned to death by Concubine Wan, an abnormal astronomical phenomenon of "Tianguo eating the moon" (that is, the eclipse of the moon) appeared in an instant. At that time, the sky got so dark and the wind was extremely strong. One could only hear the sound of a thunderstorm. The body of Concubine Shu disappeared. When the moon was back to normal, there was a fairy-shaped waterfall in Jade Valley, with a moon-shaped lake at the bottom of the waterfall. In that lake, laid a big golden toad. Look, the toad is so vivid with its mouth open. Yao people believe that it was the incarnation of Chang’e. When the toad appeared in the Jade Valley, it meant that Concubine Shu, their beloved Yao girl Tangmei Li, has gone back home.

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Lingnan means the south of the Five Ridges, which is mentioned in Chairman Mao’s famous poem “the Long March”. In that poem, Chairman Mao wrote, the Five Ridges stretch while gentle waves billows”. The Lijiang River originates from the Yuechengling Mountains in the Five Ridges, while Gupo Mountain belongs to the Mengzhuling Mountains in the Five Ridges.[more]

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