Jiantan Reservoir Introduction
In 1956, the Jian Tan Reservoir was established in Dalong Village for irrigation purposes. The legends surrounding the pond are numerous and its mythos adds an air of mystery, making it persist in popular imagination. Although it does not rank among the folk tales of strange occurrences, it undeniably adds some flavor to casual conversations. The origin of the name comes from two sources: one is related to Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong), and the other refers to Lin Shuangwen. According to legend, over three hundred years ago, Koxinga arrived in Taiwan with troops to "subjugate the indigenous people" in Dalong Village. After several days of unsuccessful battles against the indigenous warriors, Koxinga happened upon the deep pond and lamented his unfavorable military situation. In his anger and disappointment, he threw his treasured sword into the pond, causing the water to churn for seven days and nights before it calmed down, thus earning the name "Jian Tan." However, local folklore often diverges from historical accounts and carries an indistinct beauty. On the other hand, Lin Shuangwen led a rebellion against the Qing Dynasty in Changhua in the 51st year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign, fighting battles across the province. After his forces were defeated and he was forced to flee, feeling despondent as he crossed a bridge, he threw his sword into the pond. Another version of the story states that Lin Shuangwen’s troops were thirsty and could not endure the heat, prompting him to raise his sword, causing spring water to emerge and form the pond, leading to his treasured sword sinking into it. There are also legends about retrieving the sword. One tale suggests that it can only be fished out using a rope made of grain husks. There was an instance when someone tried to use maltose to stick grain husks and fish for the sword, and it actually appeared on the pond's surface. However, a distant voice said, “That is not a grain husk, but rather a maltose rope,” and the sword sank back down. This claim might sound absurd, yet it sparks the imagination. Another belief holds that during the first day and the fifteenth day of each lunar month, the pond's water becomes particularly clear, allowing the sword to float to the surface, although the sword eventually sinks again. Villagers have invited each other to witness this phenomenon, but as of now, no one has succeeded in retrieving it.
