In the center of one of the most famous garden and park ensembles in China, on Tiger Hill (Huqiu Shan) in Suzhou, amidst elegant pavilions, winding streams, and lush greenery, lies a gloomy and mysterious artifact from the distant past. This is the Rock of a Thousand People. It is a beautiful natural formation, but it is associated with a cruel legend.
The Severe Beauty of the Stone
Ascending the paths of Tiger Hill, visitors come out onto a vast open area. Here, a huge flat rock opens up to their view. The Rock of a Thousand People is a massive natural stone plateau occupying a significant area. Its surface is heterogeneous. It has a characteristic reddish-brown hue, especially noticeable after rain when the stone gets wet. This color feature is central to the most famous legend.
Next to the site, at the foot of the Cloud Rock Temple Pagoda, there is another interesting attraction—"The Sword That Split the Rock" or "The Sword Testing Crack." It is a deep and even crack in the monolithic rock, as if from the blow of a giant blade.
The Legend of the Thousand Craftsmen
The most famous legend, explaining the name of the rock and its color, is associated with Helü, king of the state of Wu during the Spring and Autumn period (5th century BC), and the legendary weapons master Gan Jiang.
According to the legend, King Helü, known for his love of rare weapons, commissioned Gan Jiang to forge an unparalleled sword for him. The master worked tirelessly, but the metal refused to melt. In despair, his wife, Mo Ye, sacrificed herself by throwing herself into the furnace so that a human soul would help the alloy come to life. This is how two magical twin swords were born: "Gan Jiang" and "Mo Ye." Gan Jiang brought one sword ("Mo Ye") to the king. But Helü, fearing that the master could forge such a fine weapon for someone else, ordered his execution.
The legend then moves to Tiger Hill. It is believed that it was here, on this large rock, that King Helü himself was buried. Along with him, three thousand of his best swords were to be placed in a huge tomb. After the tomb was sealed, to keep the burial site a secret, his son and successor, King Fuchai, ordered the execution of a thousand workers and craftsmen who had participated in its construction.
The blood of the innocently killed poured onto the rock and was forever absorbed into the stone, staining it a rusty-red color. This is how the rock got its name—the Rock of a Thousand People. The even crack nearby is the mark from that very magical sword "Mo Ye," with which either Helü himself or other heroes tested its sharpness.
Historical Facts and Scientific Explanation
Real history, as often happens, is more prosaic but no less interesting.
• Geology: The reddish tint of the rock is not blood but a natural result of the oxidation of iron contained in the rock (a sandstone conglomerate). When the stone gets wet, the water enhances this color, making it more saturated and creating a "bloody" gleam effect. This is a purely natural phenomenon.
• Archaeology and History: The legend of Helü`s burial with three thousand swords on Tiger Hill is part of folklore. The real tomb of King Helü has still not been found, and its location remains one of the great archaeological mysteries of China. Tiger Hill is indeed an ancient necropolis, but the burials here belong to later periods.
• The Crack: Scientists believe that the even crack "The Sword That Split the Rock" is the result of centuries of erosion along a natural fault line in the rock. However, the artistry of nature is so perfect that it fully corresponds to the aesthetics and mythology of the place.
The Rock of a Thousand People is not just a stone; it is an important cultural symbol. Throughout the centuries, it has inspired poets, artists, and writers. Its images can be found on ancient engravings and in literary works. It served as a meeting place, and during the Ming and Qing dynasties, folk festivals and performances were held here.
