Legend of Shitang Mountain Shitang Mountain is located in the west of Zhaqu Township, Neixiang County. It has a superior geographical location, surrounded by mountains, dense bamboo forests, gurgling springs, natural caves, and houses built alone, which is actually a place for spiritual practice. Together with the township's provincial cultural relics protection units Dengyao Site and Wuya Residential Village, it forms a "golden triangle" and is the best place for sightseeing. The "Legend of Shitang Mountain" is well-known in Neixiang. According to legend, during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, there was a Taoist monk named Li He who was instructed by an immortal to come to Shitang Mountain and practice Taoism there for forty years. This year, there was a long drought and no rain, the earth cracked, and the crops withered. The people were eager to see the sky and were about to starve to death. At this time, there was a farmer named Zhang Shuang at the foot of Yongqing Mountain. He gathered everyone to discuss and said, "It is said that Shitang Ma Yizi is a living immortal who has the ability to move mountains and seas and call the wind and rain. Now it is a scorched earth. Why don't we form a society to pray and save the lives of the people?" After Zhang Shuang finished speaking, everyone responded immediately. For a while, firecrackers rang and drums and music shook the sky. Everyone surrounded Zhang Shuang and went up Shitang Mountain to pray to Li He for rain. Everyone came to the gate of Shitang Mountain, burned incense and kowtowed. Li He went out to greet them. Everyone saw Li He with white hair and a childlike face, long beard fluttering on his chest, and he was as beautiful as an immortal, and they all cheered and jumped for joy. Zhang Shuang explained his purpose, and Li He responded with a voice: "Wulian Tianzun", and then said: "The Tao is the same as heaven and earth, and it can influence all people. If you are sincere, the heaven will pity you. Everyone can go home with peace of mind. I will pray to the heaven for a heavy rain within three days." Everyone was happy and said goodbye and went down the mountain. Seeing everyone leave, Li He returned to Shitang Mountain to rest his mind. At midnight, he climbed up the Temple of Heaven on Shitang Mountain, let his hair down and held a sword, stepped on the magic circle, chanted incantations and cast spells. Two days passed without a single movement, and the sun was still like a blazing fire and the ground was like a steamer. Li He was anxious: Taoism is boundless, but why doesn't God help me? Just as he was praying, twelve children with different faces suddenly rushed in from outside. When they saw Li He, they knelt down and kowtowed: "We are here to see the real master!" Li He was surprised: There are dangerous mountains and steep ridges, and tigers and leopards are everywhere, where can so many children gather? He hurriedly said: "What village are you from? You are not with your parents to observe mourning and study, but why are you in the mountains and forests, and you call me Master when you see me?" The twelve children said: "We have been with the master in the stone hall for decades, and we are ashamed to listen to the ancient teachings. Now we are summoned by the master, so we come here to pay homage." Li He seemed to understand something after hearing this, and said seriously: "You are sent by the heaven to help me. I am worried about the people, you can help me perform rituals and give clouds and rain." The twelve children heard it and said in unison: "I will obey the master's order!" After speaking, they returned to the stone hall. The next day, at noon, the sky was clear. Li He was worried, and when he stepped outside the gate of Shitang, he suddenly saw twelve little dragons playing in the water of twelve springs. The little dragons saw Li He and hid in the springs together. - Dabai, Li He was very happy. On the third day, at noon, fog suddenly rose from the southeast, and wind blew from the northwest. Suddenly, dark clouds gathered and dark clouds pressed down. After a flash of lightning, there were several rumbling thunders, followed by heavy rain pouring down from the sky. The people were happy to see the rain and clapped their hands. After the rain, the sky cleared, all things revived, and the people were jubilant. They ran around to tell each other, and it was a grand event that shocked the capital. Emperor Taizong of Tang was very pleased and conferred Li He the title of "Cihui Puji Zhenren". He built a lot of buildings and expanded the temple. Shitang Mountain has since become a place where people pray to gods for rain, pray for medicine and children, and worship. Now experts and scholars of the China "Zhouyi" Research Association praise the scenery here and believe that it has important academic value and rich cultural heritage. "Shitangshan Legend" has many genres such as stories, folk songs, poems, etc. The legends reflecting humanities include "Ma Yizi Visiting the Ancestor", "Qiu Chuji and the Wild Wolf Cave", "Chen Chuan Paying Tribute to the Master", etc. The legends reflecting scenery include "The Legend of the Twelve Dragon Ponds", "The Legend of the Big and Small Tianchi", "Listening to the Qin in the Bamboo Garden", etc. The legends reflecting scenic spots include "The Legend of the Millennium Cypress", "The Origin of Paomaling", "Worshiping the Immortal in the Cave Heaven and Blessed Land", etc. These legends have distinct local characteristics and religious colors, with diverse forms and rich content. They carry forward the Taoist doctrine of unity of man and nature, harmony and beauty, and the good wishes of the local working people to advocate truth, goodness and beauty. In March 2008, "Shitangshan Legend" was announced by the Nanyang Municipal Government as the first batch of intangible cultural heritage of Nanyang City.