Dongting East Mountain, or “East Dongting Mountain,” is a peninsula extending into Lake Tai in Suzhou, Wuzhong. This location is home to a legendary tale of a hunchback’s miraculous recovery.
In the past, there lived a hunchback named Jin, whose back was “curved like a bow.” Locals affectionately called him “Jin the Hunchback.” Known for his cheerful nature and ability to offer auspicious words, he was often invited to local celebrations to bring joy to hosts and guests alike. Over time, he earned the nickname “Jin Yuanbao” (Golden Ingot). This became his livelihood, allowing him to enjoy feasts and earn generous tips, leaving him “happily drunk and full, with pockets brimming.”
Years later, Jin the Hunchback became prosperous, owning 20 acres of fertile land known as “Rice Granary.” However, a wealthy and greedy man named Moujia coveted Jin’s land. Despite repeated offers, Jin refused to sell. Moujia, harboring resentment, conspired with local officials to embroil Jin in a lawsuit, forcing him to sell his land at half its market value.
Reduced to poverty, Jin was no longer invited to celebrations. One day, while passing by his former land, he sighed deeply. An old tenant informed him that Moujia had orchestrated the plot to seize his land. Realizing the truth, Jin was filled with rage and began carrying a blade, planning to kill Moujia if they ever crossed paths.
One night, learning that Moujia was at a relative’s house, Jin hid by the roadside, intending to ambush him. A thought struck him as he waited: perhaps poverty was his fate. Moujia had lost his conscience in greed; even if Jin avenged himself, he wouldn’t regain his land and might lose his life. Realizing the futility of revenge, Jin threw his blade into the river, abandoning his plan.
On his way home, crossing a bridge, he heard a voice call out: “Jin Yuanbao is here.” Before he could react, he felt himself being pushed down and bound between two boards, which pressed against his hunchback. The pain was so intense that he fainted.
When he awoke, his hunchback was gone. Realizing a divine being had healed him, he rushed home. Opening the door, his wife was astonished to see her once-hunched husband standing tall and strong. Her joyful cries drew the attention of neighbors.
Jin’s recovery became a local marvel, attracting many visitors. His financial situation gradually improved. He kept the details of his recovery secret, claiming he had discovered a cure for hunchbacks. Months later, Moujia, who had taken Jin’s land, visited him with gifts, pleading for help.
Initially, Jin refused, but Moujia persisted. Finally, Jin agreed to visit Moujia’s home. Moujia treated him with great respect, offering a lavish feast and later confiding in him. Moujia’s only son, a cherished child, had become a hunchback after a fall. Desperate for a cure, Moujia begged Jin for his secret remedy, offering a substantial reward.
Understanding this was Moujia’s karmic retribution, Jin remained silent, tears streaming down his face as he recalled his suffering. Moujia, confused by Jin’s tears, listened as Jin recounted his story. They realized that the night Jin was healed was the same night Moujia’s son became a hunchback. Moujia, recognizing his wrongdoing, was filled with remorse and sought forgiveness.
The next day, Moujia invited Jin and his wife to live with him, returning the 20 acres of land. Miraculously, Moujia’s son’s hunchback also healed without treatment. Jin’s decision to abandon revenge led to his healing and the restoration of his land, while Moujia’s son’s condition prompted a change of heart.
This story illustrates the profound wisdom of divine intervention, emphasizing the importance of kindness and forgiveness. It reminds us of the power of letting go and the potential for redemption and transformation.
Follow us on X, Facebook, or Pinterest
