Jiantan Reservoir Introduction
In Dalong Village, "Jiantan" refers to the Jiantan Reservoir, which was established in 1956 for water conservation purposes. The legends surrounding the area are numerous and the mythology adds a layer of mystery that has endured over time, making it quite unique. Although not included in the genre of folk tales akin to "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio," these tales certainly enhance the charm of casual conversations. The origin of the name has two theories: one related to Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong) and the other to Lin Shuangwen. The former recounts that over three hundred years ago, Koxinga led troops to Dalong Village to "subjugate the indigenous tribes." After encountering fierce resistance for days, he passed by a deep pond and lamented the unfavorable conditions of war. In frustration, he threw his treasured sword into the pond, which then began to surge with water, calming only after seven days and nights, thus earning the name "Jiantan." However, local folklore deviates significantly from historical accounts, offering only vague and romantic interpretations. The latter theory involves Lin Shuangwen, who launched a rebellion against the Qing Dynasty in Changhua during the 51st year of the Qianlong reign. After a series of battles throughout the province, he faced defeat and, disheartened while building a bridge, hurled his sword into the pond. Another version suggests that as Lin and his soldiers passed the area, they were parched and he struck his sword into the ground, causing spring water to surge and form the pond, where his precious sword was lost. There are also legends about retrieving the sword. One version states that only using a grain husk as a rope would allow one to fish it out. It is said that someone used malt sugar to attach to the husk for fishing and, indeed, the sword appeared on the surface of the pond. However, a voice from afar proclaimed: "That is not a grain husk, but a rope of malt sugar," and the precious sword sank again. Although this tale of distant sound transmission seems absurd, it sparks the imagination. Another version suggests that on the first and fifteenth days of each month, the water in the pond becomes particularly clear, and the sword would float to the surface, but it would sink once more after a while. Local villagers have invited each other to verify this phenomenon, yet no one has succeeded in retrieving the sword to this day.
