Xuyan Cliff Inscriptions

Xuyan Cliff Inscriptions

The Xuyan Cliff Inscriptions are a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province.

Xuyan is located on Xiangtai Mountain in Taozhi Village, Xiaoxi Township, about twenty kilometers southwest of Yudu County. It was the hermitage of Wang Hong, a calligrapher and Neo-Confucian scholar of the Northern Song Dynasty. Within an area of approximately 2 square kilometers around Xiangtai Mountain, including sites such as Xuyan, Muguiyan, Diaoyan, and Hanxu Cave, there are over 18 cliff inscriptions distributed across more than four locations. Most of these inscriptions were personally engraved by Wang Hong.

According to the *Chinese Biographical Dictionary*, Wang Hong was a native of Yudu, with the courtesy name Yidao. He was the 24th-generation descendant of Wang Xizhi, known for his extensive learning and skill in cursive script. After failing the imperial examination once, he chose to live in seclusion in the mountains and once annotated the *Tai Xuan*. The Xuyan Cliff Inscriptions were carved during his time in seclusion on Xiangtai Mountain. In addition, there are other inscriptions left by literati and scholars throughout various dynasties. The calligraphy of the Xuyan inscriptions is primarily in seal script, with some in clerical and cursive scripts. These inscriptions are valuable materials for the study of China’s calligraphic stone carving art and local history. On March 9, 2018, they were designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit by the People's Government of Jiangxi Province.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units