Cliffside Inscriptions along Valley-Flowing Springs at Tianzhu Mountain

Cliffside Inscriptions along Valley-Flowing Springs at Tianzhu Mountain

The Cliffside Inscriptions along Valley-Flowing Springs at Tianzhu Mountain are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Cliffside Inscriptions along Valley-Flowing Springs at Tianzhu Mountain are located in Jingjing Village, Tianzhushan Town, Qianshan County, Anhui Province. There are over 400 inscriptions from the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) to the Republican Era (1912–1949 AD), with the largest number dating back to the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD).

The Cliffside Inscriptions along Valley-Flowing Springs at Tianzhu Mountain consist of three major inscription groups: “Cliffside Inscriptions along Valley-Flowing Springs,” “Tiger Head Cliff Inscriptions,” and “Liu Yuan’s Inscribed Calligraphy.” There are over 300 cliff inscriptions preserved from the Tang to the Republican period.

The carving techniques used on the stone surfaces of these inscriptions are divided into two types: bas-relief (raised) and intaglio (recessed lines). The content covers politics, economy, culture, military affairs, astronomy, geography, and more. The styles are diverse, including poetry, verses, historical records, and inscribed names, making them of great historical, scientific, and artistic value.

The grand scale, abundance, refined taste, and comprehensive range of calligraphy styles of the cliff inscriptions at Valley-Flowing Springs have earned them the title “Stone Museum of Calligraphic and Poetic Art Through the Ages.” This site has long been frequented by high-ranking officials, scholars, and literati seeking tranquil beauty. Famous individuals such as Li Bai, Su Dongpo, Huang Tingjian, Li Gonglin, and Wang Anshi all left poetic inscriptions here—truly invaluable treasures.

The inscriptions are densely distributed across cliff faces, large rocks, and riverbeds in the valley. The authors number in the hundreds, with over a hundred identifiable, including notable figures such as Li Dexiu of the Tang Dynasty, Wang Anshi, Huang Tingjian, and Su Dongpo of the Song Dynasty, Hu Zuozong of the Ming Dynasty, and Zhang Kai of the Qing Dynasty, all of whom inscribed their calligraphy on the cliffs and valleys. The content spans astronomy, geography, politics, economy, military affairs, and culture, featuring diverse forms such as poetry, verses, historical accounts, and inscribed names, and a variety of scripts including regular, cursive, clerical, running, and seal scripts.

The Cliffside Inscriptions along Valley-Flowing Springs form a natural art museum and historical archive, providing precious material for the study of historical figures, literary calligraphy, as well as natural and social sciences. It is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Protected Area: Centered around the cliff inscriptions on both sides from Shiniu Stream to the outlet of Valley-Flowing Springs, extending 50 meters east, 50 meters south, 20 meters west, and 20 meters north. Individual inscriptions located on both sides of Tianxiang Platform behind the Main Hall of Sanzu Temple, around Gaoting, within Valley Temple, and around Yingmeng Well each extend 3 meters outward.

Construction Control Zone: Outside the protected area, extending 50 meters east to the foundation of Valley Temple walls, 80 meters west to the ridge dividing the back mountain, 40 meters south, and 60 meters north.

Jingjing Village: Located at the southern gateway of the national scenic area Tianzhu Mountain, Jingjing Village in Tianzhushan Town, Qianshan County, lies against Tianzhu Mountain and faces Qian River. Just 8 kilometers from Qianshan County town, the village is conveniently accessible via the Beijing–Hong Kong Expressway, which runs through it. Among the eight major scenic areas of Tianzhu Mountain, the Sanzu Temple Scenic Area and Jiujing River Scenic Area are situated within the village. Additionally, several of the “Ten Scenic Spots of Qianyang,” such as Xianglin Leiganyan Shuyu (Deer Cliff Gushing Jade), Jiujing Xifeng (West Wind at Jiujing), Wutang Xiaodu (Morning Ferry at Wutang), and Jiudao Liuxia (Wine Island Flowing Rosy Clouds), are closely associated with Jingjing Village. The village boasts enchanting natural scenery and unique cultural landscapes, making it an ideal destination for tourism and investment development.

Feng... Detailed information about Jingjing Village++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units