According to legend, on the battlefield of Banquan, where the fierce battle between the Yan Emperor and the Yellow Emperor took place, there stood a mountain called Juchi Mountain. On Juchi Mountain grew a special herb known as the “Yan-Huang Harmony Grass,” which symbolized the reconciliation between the two emperors. The Yan Emperor and the Yellow Emperor were half-brothers, sharing the same father, Shaodian. After their father’s death, the brothers became estranged, and the Yan Emperor, with his supporters, left the Youxiong tribe and moved to the south.
Later, the Yan Emperor’s grandson, Chiyou, wanted to seize the throne from him. Chiyou united with his eighty-one brothers and waged war against the Yan Emperor, causing chaos among his people. The Yan Emperor, unable to resolve the situation on his own, turned to the Yellow Emperor for help. The Yellow Emperor immediately led his troops to assist, driving away tigers, leopards, and other wild beasts, breaking through Chiyou’s fog traps, and defeating the wind and rain gods. Ultimately, the Yellow Emperor was victorious over Chiyou.
After the battle, the Yellow Emperor noticed that the four great rulers of the world had different totems, systems, and practices. He realized that if things continued this way, more wars would be inevitable. So, he persuaded the other rulers to unite under a single banner, bringing peace to the world. The Green Emperor, Black Emperor, and White Emperor, having witnessed the Yellow Emperor’s virtue and strength during the battle against Chiyou, agreed to his proposal. However, when the Yellow Emperor proposed this idea to the Yan Emperor, he was met with refusal.
The Yan Emperor believed that the Yellow Emperor had used his assistance in defeating Chiyou as a way to force him into submission. The Yan Emperor also believed that the Zhuolu Plain rightfully belonged to him, as it was the land where his ancestors had lived. According to him, the Yellow Emperor had violated the will of their father, Shaodian, by occupying the land. Thus, the Yellow Emperor, striving for unity in the world, and the Yan Emperor, holding onto his pride, both led their people to war.
The conflict between the Yellow Emperor and the Yan Emperor was long and brutal. In the south, where the Yan Emperor resided, the fire god Zhuyong assisted him. Zhuyong was a deity with the head of a bull and the body of a man, riding two red dragons and capable of spewing flames. Although the Yan Emperor was a benevolent ruler, he was influenced by Zhuyong, and his descendants believed that Zhuolu was their rightful land. Over time, the Yan Emperor himself began to believe this as well, and with the support of his people, he marched to battle against the Yellow Emperor.
The two armies met on the battlefield of Banquan. The Yan Emperor said to the Yellow Emperor, “Yellow Emperor, my brother, the Zhuolu Plain was developed by my people, and the richness of the land is a result of our hard work. Why have you brought your people here to occupy my land?” The Yellow Emperor replied, “Yan Emperor, my brother, the Yangtze River is our mother river. When the river flooded, we had to move to the Zhuolu Plain, which is also the home of my people. Both our people, though they belong to different camps, are all children of Nüwa. You and I are brothers, and if we lay down our weapons and pick up farming tools, this land will thrive even more. This will be more meaningful than war.”
The Yan Emperor responded, “Yellow Emperor, my brother, I still call you that. But do you think the prey of a tiger can be given to others?” The Yellow Emperor sighed deeply and said, “Yan Emperor, my brother, is every moment of harmony just the prelude to war? Very well, then, let us fight for survival!” The Yan Emperor declared, “Come, warriors! Lift your weapons high; the land is our best reason for war!”
The two armies fought fiercely for three days and nights, their battle raising dust so thick it blocked out the sun. The Yellow Emperor, seeing the stalemate, gathered his generals in his tent and said, “The worst kind of war is one where the two sides are evenly matched. Watching so many soldiers die weighs heavily on my heart. How can we end this war quickly?” One of his generals replied, “Yellow Emperor, I have heard that in the deep sea, there is a kingdom of the White People, where a divine beast called Feihuang lives. If we could ride Feihuang, we would be able to fly over the enemy’s lines.”
The Yellow Emperor, seeing the possibility of victory, sent this general to search for Feihuang. After traveling for a day and night, the general arrived at the edge of the sea. He saw a peaceful scene with blue waters and seagulls flying overhead. At a distance, he noticed a mountain that shimmered with silver light, which he believed was the island of the White People.
Upon landing, the general met an elderly man with a white beard. The general asked, “Respectable elder, could you tell me where the Kingdom of the White People is? I seek the divine beast Feihuang.” The elder, seeing the general’s respectful manner, smiled and said, “Congratulations, young man, you have arrived at your destination. But Feihuang lives deep in the forest. It will not be easy to find.”
The general thanked the elder and ventured into the forest. For three days and nights, he searched, but found nothing. Then, one day, he saw a fierce bird carrying a fox in the air. Feeling pity for the fox, he shot an arrow and rescued it. To his surprise, as the fox fell to the ground, it grew two long white horns on its back. The general, not noticing the horns, said to the fox, “Dear fox, will the fierce bird harm your golden fur?”
The fox laughed and said, “Ha, fox? Do you see my sharp horns? These are the sign of Feihuang. I was testing your kindness. Now that you have shown it, come quickly, for the war is about to begin!” The general climbed onto Feihuang’s back, grabbing its horns. Feihuang’s tail, like a nine-tailed fox, flicked and signaled to its companions. Soon, a group of Feihuang followed them, joining the Yellow Emperor’s forces.
With the help of Feihuang, the Yellow Emperor’s army quickly gained the upper hand, and the Yan Emperor was captured. When the soldiers brought the Yan Emperor before the Yellow Emperor, the Yellow Emperor personally untied the ropes binding him and said, “Yan Emperor, my brother, we are all children of Nüwa. The world should be united as one family. You, as the ruler of your people, are needed by them.”
The Yellow Emperor welcomed the Yan Emperor back to Youxiong. Under the advice of Taiyi, the two brothers ascended Juchi Mountain, where they visited their father Shaodian’s tomb. Overcome with emotion, they wept bitterly, their tears soaking into the earth beneath their feet. A mountain bird brought a seed, dropping it into the moist soil. The following spring, the seed sprouted and grew into a plant with two flowers blooming at its tips. After the flowers withered, two horn-like rods grew, intertwining like the horns of a goat. By autumn, the rods twisted together so tightly that they could not be separated. People believed this plant symbolized the deep harmony between the Yellow Emperor and the Yan Emperor, and it became known as the “Yan-Huang Harmony Grass.”