Jiantan Reservoir Introduction
In Dāilóng Village, "Jiantan" refers to the Jiantan Reservoir, constructed in the year 1956 for water conservancy purposes. Legends abound by the pond, with myths adding to its mystery, making it a unique place that remains intriguing over time. While it may not be included in alternative folk tales, it certainly adds some flavor to conversations during tea time and meals. The origin of the name comes from two sources: one is associated with Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong) and the other with Lin Shuangwen. According to legend, over three hundred years ago, Koxinga came to Taiwan and led troops to Dāilóng Village to battle the indigenous people. After several days of unfavorable encounters, he happened upon a deep pond nearby and lamented his military failures. In anger, he cast his precious sword into the pond, which caused the water to surge. It took seven days and nights for the water to calm down, hence the name "Jiantan." However, local tales significantly differ from historical accounts and are filled with mystery and allure. The second story speaks of Lin Shuangwen, who raised a rebellion against the Qing Dynasty in Changhua in the 51st year of the Qianlong reign. After a series of battles across the province, he faced defeat and, despairingly, threw his sword into the pond while crossing a bridge. Another account suggests that as Lin Shuangwen and his soldiers were parched, he plunged his sword into the ground and a spring emerged, forming the pond, where his precious sword was lost. There are also legends regarding how to retrieve the sword. One story claims that it can only be fished out with a grain husk as a rope. Some have tried to use malt sugar to stick onto a grain husk to fish for the treasure, and indeed, the sword appeared at the surface. However, a distant voice warned, "That is not a grain husk, but a malt sugar rope," and the sword immediately sank. Though the notion of sound traveling over such a distance seems absurd, it certainly fuels the imagination. Moreover, it is said that on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, the pond's water becomes exceptionally clear, and the sword may float to the surface, but it always sinks again after some time. The villagers have invited each other to verify this, but to this day, no one has succeeded in retrieving it.
