Zhang Zai (1020 ——1077) was born in Hengqu Town, Yan County, Fengxiang Prefecture, Shaanxi Province in the Northern Song Dynasty. Zhang Zai's famous saying, "Make a heart for heaven and earth, make a life for the people, link the past with the future, and create peace for all generations", is called "four sentences in a horizontal canal" by contemporary philosopher Feng Youlan. Because of its simplicity and atmosphere, it has been praised by people throughout the ages. Zhang Zai spent most of his life writing, teaching and educating people. He inherited and developed Confucius' educational thought, promoted the development of Guanzhong education, prospered Guan Xue, educated the people, brought up a large number of scholars and changed Guanzhong folk customs.

The avenue leading to the cemetery

There are still myths about Zhang Zai among local people, which are quite different from the official records.

In the area of Hengqu Town, Yan County, a rich family wanted to invite a talented teacher to educate their children, so they invited Zhang Zai, a famous person at that time, from Shu State. After coming to Hengqu, Zhang Zai quickly attracted many disciples because of his profound knowledge.

There is a man named Li San in Hengqu Town. He runs a local bar. In order to attract customers, Li San stipulates that the first guest is free every morning. There is a Taoist who comes to drink before dawn every morning. He often talks about everything, such as astronomy, geography, society, military affairs and history. Because Li San is the first customer every day, he never takes money when paying. After a long time, the two became familiar. One morning, the Taoist priest was a little drunk. He told Li San that he was actually a fox. Because he was greedy for drinks, he went to the bar alone.

Zhangzaifu tomb

After learning that the Taoist priest was a fox spirit, Li San quietly told Zhang Zai the news, so they designed a knowledge collection about the fox spirit.

One morning, Fox Fairy came to Li San's pub early as usual, and Zhang Zai happened to come. After Li San's introduction, they drank wine together. From time to time, Li San also came to join in the fun, but secretly did something in the wine. Fox fairy got drunk and began to lose her mind. Suddenly, she spit out a red bead from her mouth, and Zhang Zai picked it up and swallowed it. Fox fairy lost her true spirit, showed her true colors and died slowly. Before the death of Fox Fairy, Zhang Zai made an oath in front of her and buried Fox Fairy with her after her death. Zhang Zai and Li San buried the fox spirits in the north of Zhang Zai's tomb.

Zhang Zai absorbed all the knowledge of Fox Fairy and wrote a book, becoming a famous thinker in the Northern Song Dynasty and the founder of Guan Xue.

Zhang Zai keeps his orders.

After the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty, two descendants of Zhang Zai thrived in Korea and Japan respectively. In the 1990s, Zhang Zai's descendants from South Korea and Japan came to Hengqu to seek their roots, and they invested in the construction of the present Zhang Zai's tomb.

This is a folk story about Zhang Zai told by Zhang Zai's grave keeper himself. Whether it is true or not, the story itself adds a rich legend.