Xianzi Pool Cliff Carvings

Xianzi Pool Cliff Carvings

The Xianzi Pool Cliff Carvings are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Xianzi Pool Cliff Carvings

Located in the middle reaches of Taixi, a tributary of the Jiulong River, in Shajian Town, Hua’an County, about 30 kilometers northwest of Zhangzhou City. The area features undulating mountain ranges and a winding stream that forms pools. On the cliffs along the northern bank by the water, many ancient stone carvings have been preserved. Except for one inscription that reads “From Yingtou to the Nan’an County border at Jiulong Mountain,” which is in Chinese characters, the rest are peculiar and mysterious patterns. The patterns vary in size—from as large as 0.74 meters long and 0.35 meters wide to as small as 0.15 meters long and 0.09 meters wide—and come in diverse shapes, totaling over 50, spanning more than 30 meters in length. They resemble characters, drawings, or symbols—mysterious and profound, indecipherable to people, hence they were mistakenly believed to be written by immortals, thus earning the name “Xianzi” (Immortal Characters). The place is also called Xianzi Pool because of this. During the Tang Dynasty, Han Yu translated them as “Zhao□(original note: one character missing) dark-looking carp, the heavens humble to kill cattle and oxen, Ren and Gui divine script, urgently urgent”; while Tang Dynasty’s Li Xie interpreted them as “Quanzhou and Zhangzhou, two prefectures, divided land in peace, Yong’an and Longxi, mountains high and waters clear, a thousand years without confusion, ten thousand ages as a model.” Since the early 20th century, especially since the 1950s, numerous experts have conducted scientific archaeological investigations and research on these carvings, concluding that they are cultural remains of local ethnic minorities from the Shang and Zhou periods of the Central Plains region. Regarding their ethnic affiliation, there are three theories: Wu, She, or Yue peoples. As for their nature, some say they are characters, while others argue they are rock paintings. As for their content, interpretations vary widely, including totems, dances, events, banquets, battles, commemorative achievements, entertainment for deities, sacrifices, territorial boundaries, and fertility worship.

Shajian Town: Shajian Town (with its seat in Tainai Village) is located in the southern part of Hua’an County, along the Middle Branch of the Jiulong River’s North Stream, and is known as the “Home of Flowers and Fruits.” The town governs 13 administrative villages (Tainai, Lishui, Xiazhang, Baoshan, Ting’an, Daishan, Shangzhang, Dakeng, Jianmei, Xinri, Guangu, Shajian, Shaximei) and one neighborhood committee (Tankou Neighborhood Committee), with a population of 25,500 and a land area of 225.1 square kilometers.

Main Industries: (1) Industry: In the first quarter of 2005, one new industrial project was put into operation, five were under construction, and two were under negotiation. (2) … More details about Shajian Town ++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units