In Chongqing, China, there is a county called "Fengdu". However, Fengdu has been called "ghost city" by people. There are many ghost legends here. So why is Fengdu called ghost city? What is the reason behind it? Let's get to know it with me today.
Fengdu is located on the North Bank of the Yangtze River in the lower reaches of Chongqing. The old city "Fengdu ghost city" was "Bazi biedu" in ancient times. It is a famous tourist city in China. Fengdu county is different from other tourist cities. Other tourist cities are either green mountains and green waters, cultural relics, or economically developed. But Fengdu is famous for its "ghost city". It is said that Fengdu ghost town is the place where people's souls return after death. Many famous literary works in China have made a lot of rendering here. The monkey king in journey to the west is here to make a big fuss in the hall of hell, which completely cancels the life and death of all people surnamed sun. Imitating the Yangjian judicial system, this place has created a "hell of the devil" with strict hierarchy, integrating the functions of arrest, detention, trial, judgment and education, and punishing those who committed crimes during their lifetime. In fact, "ghost town" does not mean that the city is haunted, nor is it as terrible as the legend. It is mainly famous for various ghost and God cultures in Fengdu County.
The historical origin of Fengdu:
Fengdu County has a long historical tradition. It has existed in the West since the Han Dynasty, but it was not called Fengdu County at the beginning, but Pingdu County. During the Three Kingdoms period, Liu Bei established the state of Shu and combined Pingdu County and Linjiang county at that time. It was not until the Sui Dynasty that the name Fengdu County was restored.
Fengdu was first built in the Eastern Han Dynasty, with a history of more than 2000 years.
1. The origin of Taoism
Here is a figure from the Three Kingdoms. He was a hostile force when Liu Bei entered Xichuan: Zhang Lu.
Zhang Lu is the grandson of Zhang Daoling, the founder of wudoumi Dao. When Zhang Daoling founded wudoumi Dao, he absorbed a lot of witchcraft and said a lot about ghosts and gods.
Zhang Lu took over Zhang Daoling's wudoumi Dao and carried it forward. In 198 ad, he established "pingduzhi" with Fengdu, and became the missionary center of wudoumi Dao for a time.
Later, wudoumi Dao changed pingduzhi into Luofeng mountain, and it was also said to be the ghost capital of Beiyin emperor. In addition, there are many ghosts and gods in wudoumi Dao, which are related to Luofeng mountain. Therefore, people have designated it as Fengdu for a long time.
2. Belief of Ba and Shu Nationalities
This origin is said to be earlier. It is that the Ba and Shu nationalities were active in ancient Sichuan.
During the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, the two ethnic groups established bazibedu in Fengdu area. The two ethnic groups blended and cooperated here, and gradually formed a common religion and a common belief God: Tubo.
Tubo, also known as the ghost emperor, is actually a person recommended by the two nationalities of Ba and Shu. This person lives in Youdu, which is today's Fengdu.
Because of the residence of the ghost emperor, of course, people slowly regard it as the ghost capital.
So far, the site of "Youdu" can still be found in Fengdu.
4. The theory of Buddhist Yama
"Yanluo" is transliterated in Sanskrit. It is the ghost king of the underworld in Indian mythology.
Buddhism inherited Indian mythology and granted him 18 judges in charge of 18 levels of hell.
Buddhism was introduced into China, and the eighteen halls of Yama became the responsibility of our ancient people. For example, Bao Zheng was one of the eighteen Yama kings. In addition, it also found a place once said to be the ghost capital for the king of Hell: Fengdu, as the capital of hell.
5. The novels of the Ming and Qing Dynasties contributed to the flames
Later, in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the advent of ghost novels such as journey to the West and Strange Tales from a lonely studio closely combined myths and legends with Chinese Bashu ghost culture, Taoist culture and Buddhist culture. Most of these novels have a very magical and exquisite description of Fengdu, which makes the legend of Fengdu ghost city more popular. So, do you understand?