Han dynasty

The Han dynasty appears as a historical time marker in the legend associated with Mount Tiantai: Liu Chen and Ruan Zhao are said to have wandered into the mountain and met celestial maidens. This allusion gives the landscape a storied past, contrasting its legendary beauty with the steep, winding paths encountered by travelers in the present narrative.

The Mount Tiantai Legend

The account invokes a tale from the Han dynasty in which Liu Chen and Ruan Zhao entered Mount Tiantai by chance and encountered celestial maidens. The story is offered as evidence of the mountain’s exceptional beauty, rather than as an episode recounted in full; its function is to make the setting seem resonant with an older, wondrous history.

Place in the Narrative

The reference occurs as Qiao Feng follows Monk Pozhe toward Zhiguan Temple. The mountain’s landscape is described as tranquil, but its rugged, tortuous paths are difficult to follow. The ancient legend and the difficult terrain establish a contrast between the imagined enchantment of the place and the practical demands of traversing it. Here, the Han dynasty serves as a chronological anchor for local lore, not as the setting for the main action.