Cliff Inscriptions at Jiuri Mountain

Cliff Inscriptions at Jiuri Mountain

The cliff inscriptions at Jiuri Mountain are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The cliff inscriptions at Jiuri Mountain are located in Fengzhou Town, Nan'an County, Fujian Province.

Jiuri Mountain is famous for its beautiful scenery and numerous historical sites. Standing over 80 meters tall, the mountain features three peaks—east, west, and north—encircling it. Major existing attractions include Bajie Stone, Sutra Turning Stone, Gaoshi Peak, Old Buddha Rock, Jiangxiang Peak, Jiangxiang Tomb, and the Dharani Sutra Pillar.

The most outstanding and precious features of Jiuri Mountain are its cliff inscriptions. On the cliffs of the east and west peaks, there are 75 inscriptions dating from the Song to the Qing dynasties. Among them are 13 wind-praying stone tablets reflecting overseas maritime activities, documenting the historical fact that from the third year of Chongning in the Northern Song Dynasty (1104) to the second year of Xianchun in the Southern Song Dynasty (1266), Quanzhou’s prefect, together with the Maritime Trade Superintendent, prayed for favorable winds for “foreign ships,” wishing them safe and bountiful voyages. Ancient navigation relied heavily on wind power, so fleets would pray for winds to ensure safety before setting out. The wind-praying ceremony was highly solemn, presided over by the Quanzhou prefect or the Maritime Trade Superintendent, and conducted with officials and merchants in front of the sea deity “Tongwang.” A banquet would then be held in the Huai Gu Tang Hall, followed by the engraving of records on stone. The Jiuri Mountain inscriptions also include carvings by figures such as Cai Xiang, Su Caiweng, and Su Shen. At the top of the west peak stands a large stone Buddha, seated cross-legged on a lotus Sumeru pedestal, standing 4.5 meters tall. It was commissioned by Grand Tutor Chen Hongjin in the third year of Qiande during the Northern Song Dynasty (965). (National Cultural Heritage Administration)

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units