It seems that Gong Zhebing, a professor of the Philosophy Department of Wuhan University, is a born master of exploring secrets. Over the past decade, in penetrating regions where ethnic groups live in compact communities in south China, he has not only uncovered the secret of Qianjiadong, birthplace of the Yao ethnic group, but also unexpectedly discovered Nushu, a writing used only by a small number of women. In 1981, after obtaining his master's degree of philosophy from Wuhan University, Gong went to work in the Central-South China Institute for Nationalities, where he took a great interest in research aimed at finding Qianjiadong.

The Yaos were found in the ancient books of Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907). They live in Guangdong, Hunan, Guizhou and Yunnan provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Their language belongs to the Miao-Yao branch of the Chinese-Tibetan family of languages, but Chinese is commonly used. Yao nationals whom Gong contacted in his investigation, referring to the family tree or the story which has passed down on lips, all claimed that their roots were in Qianjiadong.

The legends of their ancestors have been handed down through many generations. Long long ago, the ancestor of the Yaos, Panwang, was reproached by his men when he became the Han emperor's son-in-law. He and his wife were sent to the isolated Qianjiadong by the emperor. In the middle of the place lay a piece of flat land, surrounded by hills. It was linked with the outside world only by a cavernous tunnel. Panwang and his wife and their descendants lived and multiplied there generation after generation.

During the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), someone from the local government entered Qianjiadong through the tunnel and found people there well-clad and well-fed. The local government began to collect the land tax by force. The Yaos were compelled to leave their homeland. Before leaving, 12 tribes of the Yao ethnic group cut an ox horn into 12 parts. Every tribal chief received one part. They swore before the bronze statue of Panwang that after 500 years, Yao people, wherever they were, would return to the homeland, put together the horn and rebuild the holy land.

In order to find Qianjiadong, Gong and his colleagues went deep into the lofty mountains and high ranges in Hunan, Guangdong and Guangxi, where the Yaos live. Using clues from the topographical features described in a book, The travel of Qianjiadong, which had been handed down through many generations, they covered more than 1,000 km and finally at Dupang Ridge, at the juncture of Guangxi and Hunan, found a cavern whose topographical features conform to that of Qianjiadong. They walked into the cavern and suddenly emerged into farmland surrounded by hills.
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My father (Pan, Futong) once told the Chinese government officials in Beijing (during his trip to China in 1989) that the Yaos came from a place called "Qianjiadong" - with that information the Chinese government officials began conducting researches on the Yao people. In 1992 during the World Wide Iu Mien Leaders Meeting, which took place in France. Lee, Weun Fong (from the USA) was there, he saw some photos of Pan, Futong and the Cave 'Qianjiadong' written in Chinese carved on the rock above the Cave Entrance. Lee, Weun Fong recognized that a person in the photo was my father, so he asked one gentleman pointing at the photos, "Who is that man and where is he from?" The man (researcher) answered, "this is Pan, Futong, a Yao from the USA, he was the one who told us about the Qianjiadong and we've found that cave." said the researcher. Since then, all 12 parts of an ox horn that once cut (to represent the 12 tribes) had been returned. Therefore, a tall monument of a huge 'Ox Horn' was built in Qianjiadong to preserve and to commemorate such discovery, which was completed in 1992.

Mr. Lee, Weun Fong recently told me that he was very proud of my father and wanted to have a chance to sit down and have a good discussion with my father about what he'd accomplished, one of the first persons ever to close the gap between the USA Yao and the Yaos of China. But Lee, Weun Fong haven't got the chance to talk to him, my father passed away in Jan. 2007.

Yao People's Origin: ~ Note: This version of article was written in Chinese - Translated by Tommy Phan

Yaos the original inhabitants of Qianjiadong, they lived and worked in peace and contentment. They lived, grew, and multiplied there for many generations. Qianjiadong's surroundings were towering mountains, steep rocks, and rugged ridges, green forests, densed grass, trees, and waterfalls. Through the cavern suddenly lies broad farmland with rich soils, the land dwelled by more than a thousand households of Yaos. These ancient people lived their prosperous lives as farmers, and enjoying their freedoms in a wonderland. Until Song, and Yuan Dynasty, a member from the government had discovered this piece of paradise, shortly thereafter, troops were dispatched to the site to collect funds by force. The Yaos were outraged, overwhelmed, and disturbed by the military officials. Many Yaos were hung to their deaths; buildings were destroyed, and set on fire. Their ancient narrow drums, antiques, arts, household valuable items were all destroyed, or set on fire. Many Yaos feared that there maybe more slaughtering from the government, so the elders blew the ox horn to call together all the 12 clans of Yaos, and warned them that Qianjiadong is about to end its history; that every bird has its own destiny, every beast has its own path, and that everyone must run for his/her life. The elders took the ox horn and saw it into 12 pieces, each leader of the 12 clans kept one piece. They swore in front of the creator King Pan¡¯s bronze statue that within 500 years, the grandchildren of all clans will return and start their lives anew.

As you can imagine, such tragedy which took place in the 1271-1368, still tainted deeply in the hearts of all Yaos. It also had tainted the history itself. It became forever difficult for many Yaos to restrain such pain. More than 500 years had past, many Yaos still cross mountains and wade in deep waters, not fearing of danger, or hardship.

Until recently, modern Yaos still searching for this haunted place called Qianjiadong. In 1986, a group of professors, scholars, and history experts gathered together from all over the mainland, Beijing, Hubei, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan. Everyone's main focus was on Qianjiadong at the time, it was under a different name Dayuan. The scholars came up with great ideas and obtained many identical evidences to the Hunan government demanding that a far away village named Dayuan must change its name to Qianjiadong. Eventually, Hunan government was convinced and had approved the change back to its original name Qianjiadong.

The hearsay was that Qianjiadong was a cavern, completely cut-off by the outside world. It is a wonderland, a paradise which surrounded by grottoes, beautiful mountains forming a pleasant scene, a perfect picturesque cave, encircles sprout of ridges, surrounded by waters. After hundreds of years, it appears that Qianjiadong still intact as a whole, still strong and firm, with the exception of the dark-blue white mulberry; its color has slightly changed due to years of transmigration (metempsychosis).

Overlooking at the cavern, it is said that Qianjiadong was a battleground. Yuan Dynasty and its military took part in marking this life and death historic land. The battlefield held many evidence of horrors, huge old weaponry marked in bricks and stones, and walls, imagine that. The sheeps went around the cragged rocks to bring us a harmonious atmosphere today. It is an old saying, our ancestors had paved the way for the future generations to flourish. Actually, here is a beautiful place, a fairyland stands on top of the battleground; Qianjiadong reflects on all viewers' eyes. It is one of the top spots to attract tourists; it has rich natural resources, 4 huge lands, 9 sources of rivers, maple trees, and many beautiful white ridges, as well as many rare wonderful wild birds.

Last but not least, within the borders many ancient swords, metal torches, old bricks, and grindstones were unearthed. These cave dwellers' relics and ancient utensils had added to Qianjiadong's horrific past.

Radical/Root:

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