Cliff Inscriptions and Stone Carvings on Jiaoshan

Cliff Inscriptions and Stone Carvings on Jiaoshan

The Cliff Inscriptions and Stone Carvings on Jiaoshan are Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Cliff Inscriptions and Stone Carvings on Jiaoshan

Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit – First and Second Batches, Announced after Adjustment in March 1982 Cliff Inscriptions and Stone Carvings on Jiaoshan – From the Six Dynasties to the Tang and Song Dynasties, Located on Jiaoshan, Zhenjiang City In 1988, the “Jiaoshan Stele Forest” was announced as part of the Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units

Also known as Baomo Pavilion, it is located east of Dinghui Temple on Jiaoshan, Zhenjiang, and consists of cliff inscriptions and stele forest carvings. The cliff inscriptions are clustered along the steep cliffs on the western side of Jiaoshan, stretching over 200 meters with a majestic presence. More than one hundred stone carvings from the Six Dynasties onward are preserved here, showcasing a variety of scripts including regular, cursive, seal, and official styles, each with its own distinctive charm. The original site of the “Yihe Ming” (Inscription for the Burial of a Crane), revered by calligraphers throughout history as the “ancestor of large characters,” is located here. Among the existing cliff inscriptions are the Tang Dynasty’s “Vajra Sutra Verse,” the Song Dynasty’s “Yihe Ming at the Site of the Grand View Pavilion,” “Mi Fu’s Inscription,” and “Lu You’s Snow-viewing Visit to the Yihe Ming,” all of which are masterpieces of exceptional value. The stele forest display began with the Baomo Pavilion built in the eighth year of the Qingli era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1048) and was expanded during the Ming Dynasty into Baomo Pavilion. In 1991, Zhenjiang City established the Jiaoshan Stele Museum here, covering an area of 7,000 square meters and housing more than 300 stone tablets. Notable inscriptions include the “Yihe Ming,” the Tang Dynasty’s “Stele of Master Wei,” the “Epitaph of Lord Li of Longxi,” and the Song Dynasty’s “Tale of Keeping a Raccoon Dog.”

Further Reading:

· First and Second Batches of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units