Three Gorges Collection: Legend of Peach Blossom Fish

The north bank of the river, 7 miles downstream of LaoZigui, is the Xiangxi estuary. Green streams and golden rivers meet here, completely distinct. Hekou Town, also known as Xiangxi.

Xiangxi originated from Shennongjia mountain area in western Hubei. The stream is evergreen all year round and crystal clear. Legend has it that Zhao Jun often bathes in the stream in his hometown. Once, the necklace around her neck was broken and a string of pearls was scattered in the stream. Since then, the stream has turned clear, and if it contains fat gas, it is named Xiangxi.

Xiangxi produces a rare fish-Peach Blossom Fish. Its scientific name is peach blossom jellyfish. The main body of the fish is like an umbrella, which is slightly milky white and has many tentacles, about 250. It can be divided into 7 levels according to its length, and it rises and falls due to the contraction of the umbrella and the up-and-down movement of the tentacles. Whenever peach blossoms are in full bloom, clusters of peach blossom fish twinkle in the blue waves, as if they were comparable to peach blossoms on the shore. Peach blossoms wither and die with the flowers. This interesting habit was discovered in ancient times. There is a poetic description in Yichang Fuzhi, saying that it "takes peach blossoms as its life and death." ..... is very small, depending on it, only shape, or take a pot as big as a peach blossom. ..... Peach blossoms are gone, and nothing remains. "There is an ancient poem that peach blossoms come in spring and peach blossoms are there. It is best to draw in plain English and deep red. You don't know whether it is a flower or a fish. When the flowers bloom, the fish play in the water, and the fish's play becomes a shadow ... "

? All kinds of legends along the Xiangxi River are almost related to Zhaojun. The legend of peach blossom fish is no exception. Legend has it that before Zhao Jun left the fortress, he returned home from Kyoto to visit relatives and said goodbye to his loved ones with tears. It was when the peach blossoms were in full bloom. She sailed down the river, playing the lute all the way, and couldn't help crying at the thought of farewell. The rolling tears fell in the stream and floated with the peach blossoms on the water, becoming beautiful peach blossom fish. Year after year, flowers bloom and fade, fish come and go, but people still remember Zhaojun. ...