Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms

Geography, Volume 11

original: 地理十一卷 (Dili Shiyi Juan)

Shaoshi Mountain is located eighty li a traditional Chinese unit of distance; approximately 40 kilometers or 25 miles northeast of the Shaozhou Prefectural seat present-day Shaoguan City in Guangdong Province. The rocks of this mountain are strange and marvelous. It features three peaks and four "plank paths" original: 棧 (zhan); cliff-side walkways made of wooden beams, along with formations known by names such as Coiling Dragon, Camel, Lion, Rainbow, Phoenix Pavilion, and Horse Saddle. The two main "Shao rocks" stand facing one another like a ceremonial gate original: 闕 (que); traditional freestanding gate towers found in front of palaces or temples.

According to legend, when Emperor Shun a legendary sage-king of ancient China traveled south on his tour of inspection, he climbed these rocks and performed music; the mountain was named "Shao" in honor of this music.

A poem by Han Yu a famous poet and statesman of the Tang Dynasty (768–824 CE) says:
Ashamed, I wish to moor my boat beneath the Shao rocks,
To serve as a guest to Emperor Shun, straightening my cap and robes.
original: 慙欲繫船韶石下，上賓虞舜整冠裾

A poem by Wang Anshi a prominent reformer and poet of the Song Dynasty (1021–1086 CE) says:
The strange rocks are steep and craggy, rising into the heights of heaven,
Where the ancients once performed the Xiao-Shao music.
original: 怪石巉巖上次寥，昔人於此奏簫韶. "Xiao-Shao" refers specifically to the ritual music of Emperor Shun's court.