[1][2] At the top of the Western Peak of Mount Hua, there is a historic giant stone which is a hundred feet high, called Axe-splitting Rock, that has been cut neatly into three parts.

Legend has it that it was cut by Chen Xiang to split the mountain in order to save his mother, who was trapped within it.

[3] According to the Tang dynasty folk tale The Magic Lotus Lantern, his mother, Huayue Sanniang, a goddess in the Heavenly Palace, fell in love with a mortal scholar, Liu Yanchang.

His teacher varies depending on the preference of the storyteller including Monkey King, Lü Dongbin, He Xiangu, Li Tieguai, Taibai Jinxing, Pili Daxian and Shen Gongbao.

[5] After he defeated his uncle, Chen Xiang split open Mount Hua with his magical axe and rescued his mother, reuniting his family.