Abstract: In Yunnan, stories about Yang Shen (1488-1559) are wide spread, especially in Kunming, Dali, Baoshan and Honghe where the Ming scholar and official paid most of his visits during his Yunnan days. While his stories circulating in Dali are clear cut, those told in Kunming are often mistaken with stories about Yang Yiqing (1454-1530), a native of An'ning, Kunming in the same Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) as these two Yangs shared the same surname, had similar self-chose scholarly designations, met in person at the court session of the imperial examinations of the same year, and were both associated with An'ning, Kunming. Mistakes of this nature, however, are far from harmful as they show how these two Yangs are known and loved by the people of Yunnan.

Key words: Yang Shen, Yang Yiqing, folk story, mistake