Crystal Mine Cliff Inscription at Dongcun

Crystal Mine Cliff Inscription at Dongcun

The Crystal Mine Cliff Inscription at Dongcun is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

The Crystal Mine Cliff Inscription at Dongcun is located on the cliff beneath the highway at the entrance of Xiadong Village, Shaxi Town, approximately 65 li (about 33 kilometers) east of Xinchang County. It leans against Shichang Mountain and overlooks Guixi Stream, sitting at an elevation of 280 meters.

This inscription has a history of over 700 years and documents the events of November in the second year of the Yuandade era (1298), when the Eastern Zhejiang Pacification Commissioner Hala... was ordered to come here and mined 11,374 jin of crystal ore. In the first month of the following year, Hala... recorded the process of crystal mining and had it engraved on this cliff face. The inscription faces south and is divided into left and right sections, with a total of 12 vertical lines of varying character counts. The script is a form of running regular script, carved in intaglio, totaling 130 characters. The inscription covers an area of about 100 square meters. The original text reads:

Left text: “From the first day to the Ren Day of the month, the Vice Director of the Secretariat personally led his men to Shichang Mountain and unearthed a treasure trove of crystals, totaling 11,374 jin, all of which were rare and extraordinary.”

Right text: “In November of the second year of Yuandade, by imperial order, we sought and mined crystals, from Zhanglin in Ninghai to Shichang in Xinchang, tapping into the earth’s treasures, offering them up to the heavenly court, revealing hidden riches below, and manifesting the virtues of Heaven above. Truly, this is the act of a ruler of virtue... [text missing] the affairs of the stone... [text missing].”

Signature: “On the [day] of the first month of the third year of Yuandade, Jinwu Guard... Regional Pacification Commissioner Hala...”

The calligraphic structure and brushwork characteristics of the inscription are distinct. The left section features restrained character structures, with strokes that are straight yet subtly curved, devoid of abrupt pauses. The right section and signature display more open structures, with angular strokes and retained running script elements. Overall, the inscription employs bold yet contained brushwork, with varied yet rigorous structures. Its solemn and majestic aura, coupled with dynamic elegance, stands in stark contrast to the Wang-style calligraphy represented by Zhao Ji at the time, making it highly significant in the history of Yuan Dynasty calligraphy. Additionally, as the inscription provides detailed records of the mineral resources in the Dongcun area, it holds important historical value. It is not only one of the more significant Yuan Dynasty cliff inscriptions in Zhejiang but also an important historical site for studying the region’s geology and mineral resources. It offers reliable historical data for researching Xinchang’s history and geological resources, as well as for developing its economy. Furthermore, it supplements historical records on Hala... found in the "History of Yuan" and "New History of Yuan," and provides valuable material for studying the history of Zhejiang during the Yuan Dynasty—especially its mineral resources.

Due to natural damage such as air pollution and rain erosion, the inscription has suffered severe weathering, with some characters beginning to fade or become damaged. Approved by provincial cultural heritage authorities, the protection project for the Crystal Mine Cliff Inscription commenced on March 25, 2008, and was completed by the end of May of the same year.

This cliff inscription was designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit in 1989.

Shaxi Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Xinchang County. Established as Shaxi Township in 1950, restructured as a commune in 1958, reinstated as a township in 1983, and upgraded to a town in 1988. In 1992, it was formed through the merger of Shaxi Town, Dongcun Township, and Caifeng Township. Located east of the county seat, it is 22 kilometers from the county center, covering an area of 117.7 square kilometers with a population of 17,000. The Jiangba Highway passes through the area. The town administers Shaxi, Wangjianian, Shangling Shan, Zhenzhao, Xinkeng, Shangxu, Hong, Yanjieling, Ganjing, Xinjiao, Liwan, Zhangjiache, Sunjiatian, Waiwan, Hexi, Lishaxi, Tangjiaping, Shangcaiao, Xiaxcao, Liangjiapan, Cha... More details about Shaxi Town++

Further reading:

· Third Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units