Group of Stone Carvings on Yilu Mountain

Group of Stone Carvings on Yilu Mountain

The Group of Stone Carvings on Yilu Mountain is a cultural heritage conservation unit of Jiangsu Province.

The Group of Stone Carvings on Yilu Mountain is located on Yilu Mountain in Yilu Township, Guanyun County, Lianyungang City. The carvings are mainly distributed on the central and western peaks of Yilu Mountain. The central peak centers around Zhong’an, where on the stone wall beside the well in the courtyard, there is a large cursive script inscription reading “Qiquan” (Miraculous Spring) by Wang Tong; in the southeast corner of the courtyard, there is a 2.4-meter square stone carving. In the natural cave on the east-facing cliff, there is an inscription by Wang Tong reading “Yundong” (Cloud Cave) in running script; on the stone slope beside the southwestern steps below Zhong’an, there are four large characters “Gaoshan Liushui” (High Mountains and Flowing Waters) inscribed by Wang Tong in regular script.

On the eastern rock face of the Jesus Church at the foot of the western peak of Yilu Mountain, there are clerical script characters reading “Gengyichu” (Changing Room) and regular script characters reading “Xianbeichu” (Wine Cup Holding Place); on the southern side, there are regular script characters “Longshenyan” (Dragon God Rock) and seal script characters “Yuequan” (Moon Spring). Above the “Longshenyan” carving, there are clerical script characters “Yunguan” (Cloud Pass); to the south, there are regular script characters “Hanguang” (Containing Light) inscribed by Wang Tong. Above the “Yunguan” carving, there are clerical script characters “Cuibi” (Jade Wall); on the western side, there are regular script characters “Yunlongtan” (Cloud Dragon Pool). At the site of the Dragon Shrine (Erlang Temple), there are inscriptions by Liao Shizhao. Above the “Cuibi” carving, there are clerical script characters “Sanshengshi” (Three Lives Stone), and at the top of the western peak, there are clerical script characters “Di-yi Feng” (First Peak).

The Group of Stone Carvings on Yilu Mountain features a complete array of scripts including seal, clerical, regular, running, and cursive scripts, and holds significant value for the study of calligraphic art in Lianyungang City during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 2001, it was announced as part of the third batch of municipal-level cultural heritage conservation units in Lianyungang. In 2011, it was designated as part of the seventh batch of provincial-level cultural heritage conservation units.

Protection Area:

Main Peak: North to the main peak’s watershed, east to 100 meters east of the “Yundong,” west to 100 meters west of the “Gaoshan Liushui,” and south to 20 meters beyond the base of the mountain.

Western Peak: East to Mabizi, west to 15 meters west of the Yilu Jesus Church, and south and north to 20 meters beyond the base of the mountain.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage Conservation Units