Cliff Inscription "Record on the Eastern Cliff of Yulin Temple in the East Sea"

Cliff Inscription "Record on the Eastern Cliff of Yulin Temple in the East Sea"

The cliff inscription "Record on the Eastern Cliff of Yulin Temple in Donghai County" is located on the rock face east of the "Flying Spring" at the site of the Sui Dynasty Yulin Temple in the Huaguoshan Scenic Area, Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province. The inscribed stone faces south, with a clean surface area of 2.1 meters in height and 5 meters in width. The text is carved vertically from right to left. The first line is a seal script title, followed by the main text and signature totaling 24 lines, each with 17 characters, and an average character size of 18 cm. The full text contains 392 characters and vividly depicts the natural landscape of YunTai Mountain. Its brushwork and layout use slender yet elegant strokes and orderly yet free-flowing character structures to convey a unique style that seeks to surpass the Jin and Wei dynasties and directly channel the spirit of Han dynasty clerical script.

"Record on the Eastern Cliff of Yulin Temple in Donghai County" is a travelogue written by Cui Weipeng, the Prefectural Governor of Haizhou during the Tang Dynasty, along with his son Cui Yi and others during their visit to YunTai Mountain. The Qing Dynasty's "Jiaqing Haizhou Direct-Controlled Prefecture Annals" records: "Lion Cliff, as noted in the 'Chen Annals,' is located twenty li north of Donghai City. It is named for its lion-like shape. There is a spring called Zhuoying. Beside it are carved the two large characters 'Feiquan' (Flying Spring). Below is Yulin Temple, where many cliffs are inscribed with writings from the Tang and Song dynasties." Yulin Temple was originally built during the Sui Kaihuang era. On these rugged cliffs, literati and scholars from the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties have all left behind calligraphic inscriptions, making it a true treasure in the history of Chinese calligraphy art. This inscription was included by Northern Song epigrapher Zhao Mingcheng in his "Records of Metal and Stone · Catalogue of Existing Stone Tablets," and among the Ming Dynasty's "Thirty-Six Scenic Spots of YunTai," it was referred to as the "Immortal Palace Stele Seal Script."

The full text is as follows:

The record states: In the seventh year of the Kaiyuan era of the Great Tang, in the cyclical year of Jiwei. On the first day of the first lunar month, Gengyin. At that time, the honorable official was appointed as Prefectural Governor of Haizhou. According to protocol, he was to inspect subordinate counties, inquire after the elderly and the sick, tour the coastal areas, and listen to the people’s grievances. With the people at peace, he then turned his carriage back in contemplation, gazing into the distance at the cloud-covered mountains, seeking the place of purple and green hues, ascending the winding path of dragons and serpents. It was his desire to seek the dwelling of the divine and auspicious, and to cleanse the dust from his thoughts. The towering cliffs rose steeply, and the deep recesses lay profound: the misty moon and the blue sea shared the same depth, while the morning glow rivaled the majesty of Chicheng Mountain. Through the ages, there were those who knew of it but could not reach it; those who reached it but could not appreciate it; and those who appreciated it but could not fully grasp it. I heard from our Prefect of Donghai County, Magistrate Yuan from Henan — his brilliance illuminated these hidden traces, stirred my heart with the mountain springs and rocks, conceived ideas and constructed artistry, cleansing the scenic beauty. Thus, he parted the thick bamboo, chiseled away the collapsed cliffs, causing the cascading waters to spray forth, concealing the rain of the night yet arriving timely; the reclining rocks buried in clouds, touched by the wind yet never scattering. Over time, flowers and trees bloomed, their reds and purples nameless, while melodies of songs reached the ears, their musical tones naturally harmonious. Truly, it could serve as a separate residence for immortals or a detached palace for the primordial origin. To climb Mount Kuaiji and explore the Yu Cave, to admire antiquity and ponder deeply — what more wonder is there? Is it not better to have one’s ambitions in the imperial court yet one’s heart wandering the rivers and seas, to forget both position and retreat, to cast off both right and wrong — only Magistrate Yuan achieved this. Before our appreciation was complete, shadows gathered in the valleys, so we urged the carriage to turn back, the clustered peaks surrounding our horses. My father looked around and sighed: “Do you know that those who visit famous mountains and carve inscriptions are not those whose thoughts ascend to the profound or whose path lies in the void, how else could they casually come here and do such a thing? In my youth, I served among the clouded forests, in later years, I was tied to worldly traces. In my old age, my heart’s matters are all expressed in these rocks. My child, take note of this, and leave it for those who come after. Have all those seated with like-minded purpose, engrave them in succession!” Written by Cui Yi, son of the Prefectural Governor, of Qinghe, styled Wen. Signed by Cui Weipeng, Prefectural Governor of Haizhou, of Qinghe, styled Jianzhi; Yuan Ai, County Magistrate of Donghai, styled Huiming; Yan Chaobin, Assistant Magistrate; Sun Keyou, Registrar; Gou Baojian, Magistrate’s Deputy; Shangguan Chongsu, Magistrate’s Deputy; Dou Yan, Military Officer.