Glimpses of Pugong Mountain

In Xixian County, everyone knows Pugong Mountain. In Xinyang, everyone knows about Dabie Mountain. The Dabie Mountains spanning Hubei, Henan and Anhui are endless and powerful, nourishing the people of the three provinces. Viewing the Dabie Mountains from the air, the bulging mountains stand like a group of majestic giants in the Central Plains. Occasionally, one or two beads are scattered and they become a mountain. For Xixian County, Pugong Mountain is like the pearl scattered here in the Dabie Mountains, full of aura and blessing.

Xinyang is a prefecture-level city in the southernmost part of Henan Province, with seven counties and two districts under it. As one-seventh of Xinyang, Xixian County faces Guangshan and Huangchuan in the south, Huaibin Gushi in the east, Xincai Zhengyang in the north, and Xinyang City via Luoshan in the west. Judging from the map alone, Xixian County is located in the southeast of Henan Province and northeast of Xinyang. Among the more than 2,800 county-level places in China, Xixian County is one of the many sons and daughters of the motherland, nestled in the water and soil of Xinyang.

Pugong Mountain is located at the northernmost end of the Dabie Mountains and belongs to the remaining range of the Dabie Mountains. The once-existing Pugong Mountain and Xixian County faced each other across the water, with the mountain in the south and the city in the north. The Huaihe River, a strip of water, flows slowly from here. From a geographical point of view, riding from Kaifeng (called Bianliang, the capital city in the Song Dynasty) at the northern end of Henan Province to the south, you will see plains and endless wilderness all the way. Most of the farmland is made up of wheat fields, all of which are covered with green shepherds and wheat, which can be seen for miles and miles. No wonder, when people who are used to seeing plain scenery come here, they suddenly see a majestic bulging figure standing in front of them, and suddenly feel that the mountain is powerful and tall.

In fact, the altitude of Pugong Mountain in history was only more than 100 meters. However, since there is no reference around it, it looks tall and abrupt in the wilderness. The Huaihe River, one of China's seven major river systems, flows all the way here. It flows through the foot of Pugong Mountain and winds around the mountain, forming a twists and turns scene. In this way, there are mountains in the water and water in the mountains. At sunrise and sunset, the water vapor on the water and the water mist in the mountains create a radiant glow. What a huge mountain, people at the time claimed. The sun shines on the mountain, and the golden light shines brightly. Let's call it Fuguang Mountain. Yes, the original name of Pugong Mountain is Fuguang Mountain.

There are many solitary peaks in one mountain, and the other mountains are there to take care of them. Not far from each other are Cao Mao Mountain and Qinglong Mountain. Although the mountains are not high, the three mountains echo each other and form an undulating trend. The mountains are not alone, there is water, and the peaks are not alone, there are companions. In this way, Fuguang Mountain is not lonely. It has stood in a corner of southern Henan for many years.

The soil in Xixian County is fertile, how can you tell? Go and see Pugong Mountain. The ancient trees covered with canes can reach the sky, and the wings covered with pine needles can caress the clouds. In the winter of 1080 AD, a man came here. He walked all the way from the capital Bianjing to this place. There was ice and snow all the way, and the journey was so hurried. "The snow embraces the blue and the horse stops moving forward." This person is used to seeing the scenery and seeing the faces. This person was filled with emotions all the way. But right here the car stopped. In a place he was not familiar with, many people were waiting on the roadside. They don't care what others think of him, or whether he is demoted at this time, they only know that he is a great writer and a good person. Here, the people of Xixian County gave him a warm embrace. Warm lights and sincere smiles make winter feel as warm as spring. A cup of Maojian tea from Xinyang was sent to him, "Good tea! Huainan tea, Xinyang Maojian!"

The hope ignited in the warm heart, ready for the journey, the message of spring is in Brewing in the snow. A little dust and dust of fame and fame, how could I ever keep it in my heart? Even in the cold winter, the snow was falling, but the 44-year-old man could not stop his hope and enthusiasm. Accompanied by local people in Xixian County, he climbed to the top of Pugong Mountain. Eight hundred miles of journey, eight hundred miles of endless scenery, only this place is different. Although his life was full of great events and he had seen many famous mountains and rivers. When I saw this 100-meter-high hill on the plains of southern Henan, I was silent and silent, and the lush greenery had protected the soil and water for many years. How much confusion, how much past, like the pine waves passing by in the mountains, has not been described in detail, and cannot be described in detail. Looking at the rocks under his feet and the red sun in the distance, this gentleman couldn't help but feel emotional. Yes, he had so many unspeakable emotions.

"Bring me a pen!" The entourage was already waiting aside, and "the first peak in the southeast" was created in one stroke. Unfortunately, as time went by, this monument disappeared without a trace. But in the hearts of Xixian people, it is like a part of Pugong Mountain, which has never disappeared and has always been there.

See "Henan General Chronicle": Pugong Mountain contains Su Dongpo's ink, so it is also the first peak in the southeast.

In fact, Wang Anshi had also been here earlier than Su Dongpo and climbed Pugong Mountain. There are mountains and rivers on one side and heaven and earth on the other. The sun rises in the east, the clouds surge into the setting sun, the sky and water are the same color, and the fishing boats sing late.

Suddenly, there seemed to be a Buddha's light flashing through it. When I looked closer, it turned out to be a rock on the top of the mountain. It reflected the sunlight and was soaked by the water vapor in the mountain, creating a confusing mirror image. This scene is both real and illusory, and coupled with the popular theory of Taoist priests ascending to immortality, this rare spectacle made Wang Anshi write the words "Sun Monument". Just imagine what Su Dongpo must have felt when he climbed to the top of the mountain and saw Wang Anshi's handwriting. The two met in the temple, talked loudly, and their talents and military strategies were equally matched. It was precisely because of the differences of opinion between Su Dongpo and Wang Anshi in the Wutai case that he was demoted. Passing here, the ordinary mountains and fields are not as majestic as the Five Mountains and Three Mountains. Even in such a place, both of them have stepped on this land, but it is very sad. We may have different political opinions, but we all have the same mind and artistic conception to climb high and look far into the distance to overlook everything in the world. Fate seemed to have set a trap that made the two of them blush, but they met here and regained some similarities.

If maturity is a kind of sound that is round but not greasy, a kind of calmness that no longer needs to observe the words and expressions of others, an atmosphere that finally stops complaining to the surroundings, a kind of smile that ignores the noise. , a kind of indifference that washes away the extreme, a kind of funeral that does not need to be announced, a kind of height that is not steep. This maturity seems to be written to Pugong Mountain. Isn’t Pugong Mountain such a mountain? There is no need to flatter others, no need to show off, and no need to flatter the world. In fact, we do not seek fame or fortune.

However, Pugong Mountain is not a nameless hill, it also has its own business card. As a remnant of the Dabie Mountains, Pugong Mountain is first of all a protrusion in the geographical sense. Its course is a protrusion formed by crustal movements over tens of thousands of years. This formation makes it no different from all mountain formations on the earth. This can be regarded as the naked formation of Pugong Mountain. "The mountain is not high, it is famous if there are immortals." It is not because there are immortals on the mountain, as Xie Lingyun said, it is covered with mystery. In fact, the rise of Pugong Mountain is related to history. It is a mountain with historical color.

According to legend, during the Tang Dynasty when Taoism was flourishing, a Taoist named Pu Pu came here and lived in seclusion in the mountains. Taoist Pu Pu collected medicines and made elixirs while hanging pots to help the world. Because of his noble medical ethics, he cured countless civilians. After Taoist Pupu passed away, everyone renamed the mountain Pugong Mountain in memory of him.

As a rare protruding mountain on the plain, every March 3rd, men, women and children of all ages go hiking on the mountain. The Pugong Mountain Temple Fair is the largest.

According to records, when March 3rd was the most prosperous day, pilgrims from Zhoukou, Chenzhou, Yingzhou, Ruzhou, Caizhou, Guangzhou, Puzhou and other places with thousands of miles around flocked to Pugong Mountain. Whether Taoist or not, good men and women gathered together. People gathered from all directions along the paths, shoulder to shoulder, toward the top of the mountain. BMWs, fragrant cars, officials, ordinary people, and pawns all marched all the way to Pugong Mountain. There are crowds of people on the top of the mountain, and people strolling along the river below. The water in the Huaihe River can be seen clearly at the bottom, and the sand spreads all the way to the foot of the mountain.

March 3rd is a feast of spring. On this day, you can travel far, sing and dance, drink happily, and talk to each other. Because there are mountains, you can climb high and look far away, and feel the world of heaven, earth, and people; because there are water, the clear currents are turbulent, reflecting the surroundings. March 3rd is a romantic encounter. In the late spring weather, beauties by the river are walking along the water, looking at the old relics. "The spring beauty of Yonghe has been there for thousands of years, and the heart of Qushui Township has been credited for thousands of miles."

March 3rd, as the Shangsi Festival, has been around since ancient times, and can be traced back to the Zhou Dynasty. It was originally a customary activity based on witchcraft beliefs to beg for marriage and fertility, and later evolved into an ancient song festival for the love between men and women in my country. In the Han Dynasty, "Shangsi" in March was designated as a festival. After the Wei Dynasty, Shangsi was officially designated as the third day of the third month of the lunar calendar, that is, the spring wedge, as an important festival in the middle of each year. By the Jin Dynasty, Shangsi Xiujie had evolved into an entertaining festival for spring outings and waterside banquets. For example, Wang Xizhi's "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion" mentioned that "at the beginning of late spring, we will gather at the Orchid Pavilion in Shanyin, Kuaiji to repair the bad weather." The "weed repair" is the Shangsi Festival, which is March 3rd.

As time has passed, Pugong Mountain has been submerged in the long river of history with the excessive mining of limestone. It is a gift from the earth to the people of Xixian County, and it gives everything back to the people here. But the stories and legends of Pugong Mountain are still told in the spring breeze, and they are still there on March 3rd every year. Whenever the spring breeze comes and the earth turns green, people will always think of Pugong Mountain; every March 3rd, the city is still crowded with people.

Now people have more choices, such as Forest Park and Mayan Square. In the land of southern Henan, the newly emerging county town of Xixian has been repairing its bumpy roads for many years, and traffic is extending in all directions.

The hard-working Xixian people walked out from here and traveled to all directions of the motherland. People have not forgotten Pugong Mountain and built Pugong Mountain Heritage Park on the original site. For thousands of years, the water of the Huaihe River has still flowed slowly as before, and the scenery on both sides has changed. The ancient land exudes the style of the new era.