Jiantan Reservoir Introduction
At Dalong Village, "Jiantan" was named after the Jiantan Reservoir, which was established in 1956 to facilitate water conservancy. The pond is surrounded by various legends and myths that add an air of mystery and have not lost their charm over time. While it may not be included in alternative folklore collections, it certainly provides additional interest for conversations during meals. The origin of the place name has two interpretations: one relates to Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong), and the other is associated with Lin Shuangwen. The former suggests that over three hundred years ago, Koxinga led troops to Dalong Village to combat indigenous tribes, facing resistance in battle. One day, while passing a deep pond nearby, he lamented his military setbacks and angrily threw his sword into the pond, causing the waters to surge for seven days and nights before settling. This event gave rise to the name "Jiantan," although local legends differ significantly from historical records and possess an obscure beauty. The latter interpretation refers to an event during the 51st year of the Qianlong era when Lin Shuangwen led a rebellion against the Qing dynasty in Changhua, facing defeats and retreating across the province. In despair, he tossed his sword into the pond after constructing a bridge. Another tale suggests that Lin Shuangwen, while leading troops past the pond, found his soldiers suffering from thirst. He raised his sword, and spring water emerged, forming the pond where the sword eventually sank. Regarding how to retrieve the sword, legends vary; one states that a husk must be used as a rope to fish it out. There was an individual who stuck maltose to the husk to try to catch the treasure, and indeed, the sword appeared on the pond's surface. However, a voice from afar declared, "That's not a husk, but a maltose rope," and the sword sank again. Although the story of distant voices may seem absurd, it does induce flights of fancy. Another tale claims that on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, the pond water becomes particularly clear, and the sword will float to the surface, but once time passes, it sinks again. Villagers have invited each other to verify this claim, yet no sword has been found to this day.
