Bai Zhangyan Cliff Carvings

Bai Zhangyan Cliff Carvings

Bai Zhangyan Cliff Carvings is a cultural relic protection unit of Wenling City.

Bai Zhangyan Cliff Carvings are located on the steep southern face of Bai Zhangyan in Yanxia Village, Chengdong Subdistrict, Wenling City. The cliff features four poems inscribed within framed borders, written in regular script and arranged from east to west. The total area is approximately 3 square meters. The first poem’s frame measures 56 cm in height and 38 cm in width, featuring a seven-character quatrain: “The cloud-rooted peaks rise proudly above Five Dragons Summit, with rows of offspring standing far in view. If there were a ladder stretching ten thousand zhang high, why seek the stars via Zhang Qian’s way.” The signature reads “Chen Chongwei of Baigang.” The second poem’s frame is 68 cm in height and 40 cm in width, featuring a five-character regulated verse, mostly legible: “□□□ Mountain at dawn, mist and rosy clouds thick around the cottages. The towering cliff resembles a white elephant, the vast lake sleeps like a coiled blue dragon. Birds seem to escape their cages on the cliffs, □□ farm the land □□, □□□□□, white deer rejoice in fragrant caves.” The signature reads “Chen Chongwei of Baigang.” The third poem appears to be a five-character quatrain based on traces; its frame measures 44 cm in height and 40 cm in width. Except for the identifiable signature “Chen Chongbin of Jingxuan,” the rest is illegible. The fourth poem’s frame is 86 cm in height and 60 cm in width, featuring a five-character regulated verse, and is the clearest of the four: “Green hills run with Five Dragons, Bai Zhang rises as a lofty peak. Sun and moon shine from east to west, mist and clouds seal it morning till night. Orchids grow clustered in the valley, cranes nest in pines where flocks convene. Dwelling near where climbers roam, how many layers to Penglai’s domain?” The signature reads “Also composed by Chen Chongbin of Jingxuan, autumn of the Ji Hai year in the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty.” Research shows that “autumn of the Ji Hai year in the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty” refers to the 27th year of Wanli, i.e., 1599 AD. The authors of the poems, Chen Chongwei and Chen Chongbin, remain unverified but were likely ancestors of the Chen family from Yanxia Village.

Yanxia Village: Yanxia Village is located in the southern part of Chengdong Subdistrict, Wenling City, covering an area of 2 square kilometers. It currently has 555 households, a population of 1,703, and 47 Party members. In 2014, the village collective economy generated an income of 570,000 yuan, and the per capita rural resident income was 20,360 yuan. Historically known as “Bai Zhangyan Xia” (Below Bai Zhangyan), the village nestles against mountains and faces water, boasting beautiful surroundings and profound cultural heritage, along with well-developed infrastructure and community service facilities. In recent years, the village Party branch has further strengthened its core role by implementing measures such as intra-Party democratic discussions, team-based services by Party members, the “Three-Three System” for village-level organization operations, and intra-Party care... More details about Yanxia Village ++