Huanglong Cave Cliff Inscriptions

Huanglong Cave Cliff Inscriptions

Huanglong Cave is located at the northern foot of Bian Mountain, 9 kilometers north of downtown Huzhou. Legend has it that during the Liang period of the Five Dynasties (907–960), a yellow dragon burst out from the cave, hence its name.

More than ten cliff inscriptions still exist at Huanglong Cave, concentrated on the surrounding cliffs. The three regular script characters for "Huanglong Cave" were inscribed by Huang Tingjian (1045–1105), a Northern Song poet and calligrapher, and are noted for their powerful brushwork. Each character is as large as a boulder, measuring 90 cm in height and 87 cm in width.

Two other inscriptions with legible text have been recorded:

In the fifth year of the Shaoding era of the Southern Song (1232), Zhou Bi wrote in small regular script: “The 28th day of the second lunar month in the year of Renchen during the Shaoding era. Zhou Bi of Wenyang, along with Kongxiang Shouhui, accompanied the monk Zongyong.”

In the second year of the Jiayou era of the Southern Song (1238), Cheng Gongxu wrote in semi-cursive script: “YunTai San Shi of Meishan, Cheng Gongxu, passed through Wuxing from Wulin and visited Liu Changweng, Prefect of Dongping. He was asked to bring his son Ruzhen along with the guest from Nanzheng, Su Gai; Hanjia’s Zhao Ting; Meishan’s Wang Musu; they brought wine and with Junyi Zhao Yue, set off from Bilan Hall by boat to visit Xiangying Palace, ascended Bian Mountain, viewed Taihu Lake, peered into the Golden Well Cave, lingered at the Wenyan Rock of Ni Gong, walked through the Jade Forest of Zhao Dai, boated around the Nine-Bend Pond, proceeded to Fahua Temple, climbed upward, and in the evening drank at Shen Family’s Little Exquisite Pavilion. The Golden Well cliff inscriptions and the pillars above were all inscribed with the treasured calligraphy of Master Su Dongpo. The sixth day of early summer in the year of Wuxu, Jiayou era (1238).” Historical records indicate that literati such as Du Mu, Su Shi, Ye Mengde, and Zhao Mengfu once visited this site, leaving behind many poems and writings.

Source: Huzhou Municipal People's Government