Cliff Inscriptions on Linwu Mountain

Cliff Inscriptions on Linwu Mountain

The cliff inscriptions on Linwu Mountain are located on Linwu Mountain in Jinting Town, Wuzhong District.

Linwu Cave is an important Taoist site in the Taihu Lake basin. During the Tang and Song dynasties, almost every devoutly Taoist emperor would send envoys to organize Taoist priests to perform rituals here annually and place golden dragons and jade slips into the cave. In the Song Dynasty, Li Midai built a hut and lived in seclusion near Linwu Cave, leaving behind the "Record of the Daoist Hermit Garden by Layman Wu’ai." Later, many literati and scholars who visited Linwu Cave also left inscriptions. In 1979, the Xishan Township government began excavating Linwu Cave, dredging the silt inside, and improving the surrounding environment. In 1980, the Jiangsu Provincial Construction Bureau allocated funds to develop the Linwu Mountain Scenic Area, and the Xishan Scenic Management Office was established to enhance the protection of Linwu Cave and the cliff inscriptions. On October 1, 1984, Linwu Cave was officially opened to the public.

The Linwu Mountain cliff inscriptions are distributed at the entrance of Linwu Cave and on Linwu Mountain in Xishan Town, Wuxian City. Currently, there are over 40 stone inscriptions from the Song to the Ming and Qing dynasties, including the "Record of the Daoist Hermit Garden by Layman Wu’ai," inscriptions by Fan Zhixian, and a five-character poem by Bao Shizhao. Among them, the Song Dynasty inscription "Record of the Daoist Hermit Garden by Layman Wu’ai" is the most precious, documenting how Li Midai built a hut and lived in seclusion nearby, possessing significant historical and calligraphic artistic value. The "Record of the Daoist Hermit Garden" by Layman Wu’ai is 1.5 meters wide and 1.7 meters high, written in regular script. It was inscribed by Li Midai in the second year of the Shaoxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1132 AD) on a nearby stone at the mouth of the valley cave. The "Record of the Daoist Hermit Garden" states: “At the southern foot of Linwu Mountain, the land is fertile and rich, with peculiar rocks scattered to the southeast, facing Taihu Lake. Distant mountains encircle it like wings, making it one of the most spectacular views of the lake and mountain scenery. Overgrown with wild vegetation, no one had ever visited before. Layman Wu’ai once strolled here with a walking stick and then hired workers, funded the project, and helped the Taoists develop the garden. To its west is a cliff several zhang high, with yawning caves. The one facing south is called Bing Cave. Climbing up from the northeast of the cave, there is a deep, secluded stone chamber called Yang Valley. Heading east along the mountain, there are piles of rocks resembling a screen, with shapes of cattle and sheep lying or crouching all around, known as Qi Wu Guan (Observatory of Equalizing Things). Further east lies a large rock with a winding path through it, called Qu Yan (Curved Rock). The layman sought enlightenment in obscurity, harmonizing the unharmonious to reach the twisted, though he had not yet achieved it. In front of the rock observatory stand over ten large plum trees, with a pavilion in the center called Jia Fu, offering a vast view as if one could float above the void. Within this garden, bamboo, thatch, and other unique plants are cultivated luxuriantly, backed by hills that subtly point southward. A hut was built here for residence, named Wu’ai Shi (Room of No Obstruction). It is said that Yi Lao Layman would reside here to study the ways of Yi Lao and forget his years. The layman was once a Confucian scholar, his words unconventional and actions faltering. His official career did not work out, so he left. He wandered among Buddhists and swam in Taoist teachings, essentially hiding his Taoism not by physical seclusion but through the seclusion of his path. The layman’s name is Li Midai. Recorded on the fifteenth day of the eleventh month of the Shaoxing Renzi year.” Engraved by Jinwu School Officer Yan? Acting Supplemental Xinxin Official Li Zhang, with contributions from Shen?, Tonggan Bian Liu Chongzheng.

Li Midai, also known as Layman Wu’ai, passed the imperial examination in the fifth year of the Song Dynasty's Chongning era. After the Jin invasion, he served successively as Minister of Justice and Minister of Works, but was later impeached and resigned voluntarily, then built the Wu’ai Hut on Linwu Mountain to live in seclusion. According to the "Chinese Biographical Dictionary": “Li Midai, styled Siju. Passed the Chongning examination. In the early Jianyan era, he was appointed Prefect of Huaining. When Du Yong and others rebelled at night, Midai escaped via a rope from the city. After the rebels were defeated and scattered, he returned but was demoted. Soon after, he was promoted to Minister of Revenue and concurrently Lecturer. When Lu Yihao commanded troops, he appointed Midai as military advisor. Midai reported that the borders were secure and advised against Lu Yihao’s rash movements, also stating that he, as an imperial attendant, should not be summoned by the Chancellor. If the Emperor insisted on keeping him, he should be assigned to a separate department to monitor Lu Yihao’s faults. This displeased the Emperor, and he was stripped of his post and sent home. Later, he was appointed Prefect of Jingjiang, then promoted to Minister of Works, but soon resigned.”

Near the mouth of Dgu Valley Cave, there is a Song Dynasty stone inscription by the magistrate of Wuxian County praying for rain: 48 cm in both height and width, written in regular script. “In the summer of Shaoyang’s Jiayin year, there was a long drought. Farmers reported the drought to the magistrate. Zhao Yanquan prayed at the Dragon Cave, with Chen? and Yao Xi accompanying him. Twelfth day of the fifth month.”

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units