“Liuxian Spring” Stone Carving

“Liuxian Spring” Stone Carving

The “Liuxian Spring” stone carving is a cultural relic protected at the district level in Lianyungang District.

“Liuxian Spring” Stone Carving (Republic of China Era)

The “Liuxian Spring” stone carving is situated on the western side of the road on the southern slope of Hukou Ridge in Liuyunling Village, Sucheng Subdistrict. It is carved on a large rock beside the spring, displaying the three characters “Liuxian Spring” in clerical script. An accompanying inscription states: “The place where the Han Dynasty monk and eminent monk Liuxian drank from the spring. There used to be an inscribed plaque here long ago, but after thousands of years, the characters have become blurred. In the 13th year of the Republic of China (1924), Zhenya re-engraved it, and Xuliufen wrote the calligraphy.” The signature is in regular script.

This stone carving was created in the 13th year of the Republic of China (1924) by Zhenya, the abbot of Fayiqi Temple. Fayiqi Temple was built during the Han Dynasty and was known as the foremost Buddhist monastery in the Huaihai region. As early as the Han era, eminent monks from the Western Regions came here to preach and teach sutras. The Kuchean monk Kang Senghui arrived during the Chiwu era of the Wu Kingdom to propagate the Dharma and was first welcomed in Jianye. The ruler of the Eastern Wu, Sun Quan, built a stupa for him called Jianchu, marking the beginning of Buddhist temples. Later, Fayiqi Temple in Sucheng continued the tradition of teaching sutras and became the final resting place of eminent monks. The temple originally had the Jiu Peak Pagoda, which served as a burial site for monks from the Western Regions. This inscription by Zhenya provides evidence for the study of the eastward spread of Buddhism and the origins of the Maritime Silk Road.

Liuyunling Village: Located approximately 2 kilometers northwest of Sucheng Subdistrict. … More details about Liuyunling Village++

Further Reading:

· First Batch of District-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units in Lianyungang District