The Yuhua stone () is a special kind of stone found in
Nanjing
Nanjing (; , Mandarin pronunciation: ), alternately romanized as Nanking, is the capital of Jiangsu province of the People's Republic of China. It is a sub-provincial city, a megacity, and the second largest city in the East China region. T ...
, China, due to the unique geology of the area. Yuhua stones, or pebbles, are of sedimentary origin and consist of minerals including quartz and other silicates. They are found in the
Yangtze River
The Yangtze or Yangzi ( or ; ) is the longest list of rivers of Asia, river in Asia, the list of rivers by length, third-longest in the world, and the longest in the world to flow entirely within one country. It rises at Jari Hill in th ...
, polished smooth by the action of water. Colors include red, rose, yellow, green, and white.
Legend
The origin of the Yuhua Stone is told through the legend of a Chinese monk named Yunguang () who lived during the
Liang dynasty. Yunguang used to travel around the country to deliver sermons. One day, He travelled to Nanjing, there, he sat on the
Guanghua Gate for three days, talking about his concept, without eating or drinking. According to the legend, his sincerity moved God deeply, so God rained thousands of colourful flowers from the sky to reward him. When the flowers touched the ground, they turned into the Yuhua Stone.
Description
The stone is known for its beautiful patterns, often imagined to look like animals or flowers.
Idiom
"", means "many flowers falling from the sky".
References
{{coord missing, Jiangsu
Stones
Tourist attractions in Nanjing
Buddhism in China
Chinese legends
Buddhist folklore