The Legend of Lüduan

In the 1980s, a large sculpture of Lüduan was erected on the square east of the archway at Luzhi Ancient Town, and Lüduan was adopted as the town’s emblem; the square itself came to be known as Lüduan Square.

The inscription on the stone-carved Lüduan stele reads: “The Lüduan is, according to legend, a wondrous and auspicious beast that travels eighteen thousand li in a single day, understands the languages of all four directions, and knows of events far and wide. It resembles the suanyun in form and dwells exclusively in sites blessed with supreme feng shui.”

Those who have visited the Forbidden City in Beijing may recall that there, too, stands a golden lüduan.

In fact, the Lüduan and the Qilin are a pair of unicorn‑like mythical creatures conjured up in ancient folk tradition. They symbolize integrity and righteousness, impartial justice, auspiciousness and good fortune, as well as favorable weather and bountiful harvests.

It is said that after Qin Shi Huang unified the empire, he ordered the confiscation of precious treasures from across the land and developed a fondness for exotic birds and strange beasts. On the outskirts of Xianyang, he erected a “Garden of Birds and Beasts” spanning thousands of mu to domesticate rare avian and animal species.

One day, Emperor Qin Shi Huang visited the “Beast Garden” to observe the animals. Suddenly, he turned to the garden’s administrator and asked, “I have heard of a creature unlike any other in the world—can you capture it?” The administrator replied, “Your Majesty, I do not even know what kind of beast it is; how dare I claim we could catch it?” Upon hearing this, the emperor found the response reasonable and declared, “I order you to crossbreed the beasts in this garden, so as to breed a most extraordinary creature.” The administrator dared not disobey the imperial decree.

The officials of the “Beast Garden” had been busy for several years. One day, they witnessed a massive wild ox in labor, which unexpectedly gave birth to a pair of horned monsters—one male and one female. Their appearance was most peculiar: rhinoceros horns, a lion’s body, a dragon’s back, bear’s claws, fish scales, and a bull’s tail. Overjoyed, the officials deliberated on a name before reporting the good news to Emperor Qin Shi Huang, ultimately settling on the name “Luduan.”

Upon receiving the report, Emperor Qin Shi Huang immediately led his court officials to the “Beast Garden” to behold the strange creatures. When the emperor laid eyes on this pair of unprecedented beasts, he was greatly delighted. He inquired, “What are these creatures called?” The garden official hastened to reply, “They are called ‘Luduan.’” The emperor asked, “Why this name?” The official explained, “This beast has a single horn that grows straight up from the center of its head, neither leaning nor deviating—hence the name ‘Luduan.’” The emperor remarked, “The name ‘Luduan’ is still somewhat lacking. I hereby bestow upon them the name ‘Luduan.’ Does anyone here understand the meaning behind it?” A cautious official ventured, “Your Majesty’s naming of ‘Luduan’ conveys this: the character ‘jiao’ (horn) consists of seven strokes, with its radical resembling a pair of horns, referring to the horns of a two-horned beast; the character ‘lu’ (Luduan) has six strokes, its radical resembling a single horn, denoting the horn of a unicorn. Your Majesty’s choice is most excellent.” The emperor burst into laughter and said, “Indeed! You are quite astute.” He then ordered the official to take exclusive charge of the breeding of Luduan.

Poor were the garden officials, unaware of the chance encounter that had brought them the Lu Duan, and ignorant that the offspring of such a cross‑breed possessed no capacity for reproduction. After five years of waiting, with no report of the Lu Duan’s progeny, Qin Shi Huang ordered that, should another generation fail to be born, one official per month was to be put to death. Learning of this decree, the Lu Duan, lest it bring further harm to the garden officials, broke free from its confinement in the dead of night and soared southward into the sky. Upon hearing this, the emperor dispatched his Imperial Guards to capture the Lu Duan; failing to do so, they were to strike down the creature without mercy.

Luduan fled for its life, and just as it sought to rest along the way, its bizarre appearance drew a crowd of local onlookers, forcing it to flee once more. Flying over the clear, vast waters of Cheng Lake on the outskirts of Fuli Town, Luduan beheld a scene of crystalline beauty, where gentle ripples carried the fragrant essence of the marshes—exquisitely serene, imbued with an aura of profound vitality. Lacking the surging tides of the Yangtze and the boundless grandeur of Taihu, it quietly descended and concealed itself within the lake. Far from pursuing or harassing it, the locals instead provided food, even erecting a large shed by the lakeside for the creatures to dwell in. Seeing their simplicity, kindness, and integrity, Luduan settled peacefully on the shores of Cheng Lake. Whenever a ship sank or someone fell into the water, Luduan would soar forth, carry the drowning person on its back to safety, and then tow the vessel to the shore. Since Luduan’s arrival, the region around Cheng Lake has enjoyed favorable weather and few natural disasters. Later, the two Luduan perished, and the villagers buried them together on the lake’s banks.

The Lüduan is a symbol of swiftness, keen insight, and the safeguarding of peace and prosperity; it also embodies the spirit of the people of Luzhi—keeping pace with the times, relentlessly innovating, scaling new heights, and working for the well-being of the community. Erecting the Lüduan as the town’s landmark is an outstanding concept that seamlessly integrates history, culture, folk traditions, and legend.