Clear Spring Rock

Qingquan Rock

On Qingquan Rock in Zhangpu County, there are numerous cliff inscriptions carved during the Southern Song Dynasty or early Ming Dynasty, including "Gradually Parting from the Mundane World," "Deep in Penglai," "Nine Carp Leaping," "Peach Blossom Cove," "Luxuriant Trees and Tall Bamboos," and "Ascending to Rest and Govern." Qingquan Rock earned the "Imperial Brush" because of Cai Xin, and in turn, it shines even brighter because of that "Imperial Brush." On one stone wall are inscribed two characters, "Jue’an" (Awakening Shore), with a square seal in seal script reading "Qianlong Imperial Brush" in the center, and the signature "Your Servant Cai Xin." This corresponds with the earlier stone inscription "Ascending to Rest and Govern," personally written by Cai Xin, confirming that although the Qianlong Emperor’s brushwork is present, the emperor never actually visited Zhangpu. The later legend that "the Qianlong Emperor came to Cai Xin’s home and toured Qingquan Rock in Dananban, Zhangpu County, Fujian Province," together with him, is baseless. Moreover, without even delving into historical records showing that the farthest south Qianlong traveled during his "Southern Tours" was Hangzhou and that he never went to Zhangpu, one can determine the emperor never came here simply based on the word "驻节" (stopping over while on official duty). Had the emperor truly visited, the inscription on Qingquan Rock would have read "驻跸" (imperial sojourn), not "驻节"—since the former refers to an official’s temporary stay, while the latter specifically denotes an emperor's halt during travel. The difference in meaning is significant.

"The sound of springs from two valleys echoes through the Buddhist realm; the autumn hues of the sky scatter over Liang Ridge." Through the ages, Qingquan Rock, established in the Song Dynasty, still retains the grandeur of a renowned ancient temple in southern Fujian: spring water meanders and flows around the rocks, waterfalls cascade straight down the cliffs; the mountains are quiet while birds chirp noisily, and the faint fragrance of incense mingles with the distant chants. Cai Xin, the highest-ranking and longest-serving official in southern Fujian, top scholar of the first year of the Qianlong reign, and native of Xiabu in Zhangpu, served as Minister of Works, Minister of Justice, Minister of War, Minister of Rites, and Minister of Personnel, as well as Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall and Chief Compiler of the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries. He shared an inseparable bond with Qingquan Rock. His father and uncle were both scholars who studied at Qingquan Rock. Before entering officialdom, Cai Xin used the temple as a place for study. In the 19th year of Qianlong’s reign, he had the two characters "Jue’an" bestowed by the Qianlong Emperor engraved on Qingquan Rock, which he loved. After retiring, he built a study next to Qingquan Rock, and his own calligraphy reading "Peach Blossom Cove" reveals just how deeply he cherished the place. By the small bridge shaded by green bamboo in Xiabu, the bridge railing once bore the inscription "Evergreen Verdant Fields," a "Imperial Brush" gift from Emperor Jiaqing to his teacher Cai Xin. In the main hall of Cai Xin’s former residence under Qingquan Rock hangs a plaque inscribed with "Armory of Veteran Heroes," also personally written by Emperor Qianlong.

Located in the culturally rich village of Xiabu beneath Qingquan Rock, the area has become even more refined thanks to the imperial favor bestowed upon Cai Xin across generations, reflecting an elegant local ethos. Descendants of the Cai family, such as Cai Xin’s elder brother Cai Han (who passed the imperial examination in the 10th year of Qianlong’s reign and rose to the position of Hanlin Bachelor), stayed behind to care for their mother so that Cai Xin could pursue his career with peace of mind. Cultivated individuals like Cai Han held high status in the countryside. They cared deeply for Qingquan Rock, practiced Zen within its grounds, and to express their piety to the Buddha, they dedicated the land surrounding the temple they owned to the Buddha. In front of Qingquan Rock Temple, there is still preserved a "land deed" — the "Record of Qingquan Rock’s Legacy of Passing on the Dharma Torch" — written by Cai Han.

Not far to the east of Qingquan Rock lies the "Six Young Masters’ Cave," a summer retreat built by Cai Xin’s youngest son, known as the Sixth Young Master, for leisure and play. It features inner and outer stone chambers, stone beds, and more, with multiple cliff inscriptions on the rock walls, such as "Sound of the Stream" and "Kites Soaring and Fish Leaping."

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