The Legend of Celestial Being and Yellow Crane

“仙人黄鹤”传说

Why is the tower named “yellow crane”? There’s a saying that it is related to the legend of “celestial being and yellow crane”.

黄鹤楼为何以“黄鹤”为名？其中有一种说法是带有神异色彩的“仙人黄鹤”传说。

In ancient times, there was a man name Xin living by selling wine at the top of Snake Mountain.

古时候，有个姓辛的人在蛇山黄鹤矶头卖酒度日。

One day a ragged old Taoist priest staggered to him and asked him for some wine. Xin was warm-hearted and ready to help other, even with small capital and little gain. He generously gave wine to this poor Taoist priest. Afterwards the Taoist priest came every day and Xin granted what whatever was requested, which lasted for over a year.

一天,有个衣衫褴褛的老道蹒跚而来，向他讨酒喝。辛氏虽本小利微，但为人忠厚善良，乐善好施。他见老道非常可怜就慷慨应允。以后老道每日必来，辛氏则有求必应，这样过了一年多。

One day the Taoist priest came to say goodbye unexpectedly, and said: “I come here to drink your wine every day and I have nothing to repay you. Luckily, I’ve got a crane that I can lend you as my thanks.” With these words, he picked up the orange peel on the ground, drew a yellow crane on the wall and said to Xin, “As long as you clap your hands and beckon it, the yellow crane will leap down from the wall to dance for and entertain the drinkers.” Then he disappeared.

有一天，老道忽然来告别说：“每日饮酒，无以为酬，幸有一鹤可借，聊表谢意。”说罢，拾起地上的橘子皮在墙上画了一只黄鹤，对辛氏说：“只要你拍手相招，黄鹤便会下来跳舞，为酒客助兴。”说完便不见了。

Xin had a try to clap his hands and the yellow crane leaped down from the wall as expected, danced at the sound of his claps, and went back to the wall after dancing. The news spread and attracted guests from far and near to come to drink his wine, making his business greatly booming. Xin made a fortune as a result.

辛氏拍手一试，黄鹤果然从墙上一跃而下，应声起舞，舞毕又跳回墙上。消息传开后，吸引了远近的客人，都来饮酒，酒店生意大为兴隆，辛氏因此发了财。

Ten years later, the Taoist priest popped up at the tavern and said to Xin, “Can the money you have made in the ten years compensate for the wine I drank?” Xin expressed his thanks promptly. Then the Taoist priest took down the flute from his clothes and played sweet music to the yellow crane on the wall. The crane leaped down when hearing the music and flew away with the Taoist priest on its back.

十年后，老道突然出现在酒店，对辛氏说：“十年所赚的钱，够还我的酒钱吗？”辛氏连忙道谢。接着老道取下身上所带的笛子对着墙上的黄鹤吹起一首动听的曲子，黄鹤闻声而下，载着老道飞走了。

Afterwards, Xin built a tower, named “Yellow Crane Tower”, at the place with the money he had saved bit by bit over the years in honor of this Taoist priest. This is the legend of “celestial being and yellow crane”.

后来，辛氏为了纪念这位老道，将多年积攒的钱在原地盖起一座高楼，取名“黄鹤楼”。这就是“仙人黄鹤”的传说。