Cliff Inscriptions at Dinghu Mountain

Cliff Inscriptions at Dinghu Mountain

The cliff inscriptions at Dinghu Mountain are a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

The cliff inscriptions at Dinghu Mountain from the Tang Dynasty to the Republic of China are located in Dinghu Mountain, Zhaoqing. They are distributed on the stone walls along the path to Qingyun Temple in Tianxi Scenic Area, along the path to Feishuitan and around the pool, as well as on the stone walls within Yunxi Scenic Area, totaling 76 inscriptions, described as follows:

There are 31 inscriptions in Yunxi Scenic Area. Among them, there is 1 from the Tang Dynasty, located on the stone wall of the Nirvana Terrace beside Laolong Pool, inscribed with the eight characters “正法眼藏，涅槃妙心” (“The Treasury of the True Dharma Eye, the Wondrous Mind of Nirvana”). This piece is ancient and of significant value, considered a rare Tang Dynasty carving. There is 1 from the Qing Dynasty, 16 from after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and 13 with undetermined dates. Along the path to Feishuitan and around the pool, there are 31 inscriptions. These include 14 from the Qing Dynasty, 9 from the Republic of China, 3 from after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and 5 with undetermined dates. Among them, the inscription from 1916 (the 5th year of the Republic of China) by Li Kaishen is relatively well-known. It reads: “On July 27, the 5th year of the Republic of China, Huanggang’s Li Kaishen, Xinxing’s Li Yaohan, and Dantu’s Lü Hongyuan visited here together and left this inscription.” The inscription is 0.47 meters high and 0.72 meters wide, written in regular script. Li Yaohan, from Xinxing, served as Governor of Guangdong Province in the early years of the Republic of China. Li Kaishen was appointed by Yuan Shikai in 1913 (the 2nd year of the Republic of China) as the Guangdong Inspector-General. In 1917 (the 6th year of the Republic of China), Wu Yuangi inscribed the four characters “苍崖白练” (“Grey Cliffs and White Cascades”), a 0.55-meter-high and 1.90-meter-wide seal script work, primitive and vigorous in style. Wu Yuangi, from Shuikeng Village, Gaoyao County, son of Wu Guidan and uncle of Wu Dayou, was a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations in 1889 (the 15th year of the Guangxu reign), served as an Imperial Secretariat Compiler, and acted as Magistrate of Quzhou, Zhili. After the Republic of China was established, he served as Head of the Gaoyao County Council. The inscription “孙中山游泳处” (“Sun Yat-sen’s Swimming Spot”) on the stone wall at Feishuitan, 0.66 meters high and 2 meters wide, is in running script. It was inscribed in 1980 by Soong Ching-ling to commemorate Sun Yat-sen’s swim here during the summer and autumn of 1923. There are 14 inscriptions along the path from Tianxi to Qingyun Temple, including 6 from the Qing Dynasty, 3 from the Republic of China, and 5 with undetermined dates. These include inscriptions by Kong Guangtao and Wang Zhaoyong from the Qing Dynasty, and Cen Xuelü from the Republic of China.

On July 17, 2002, they were included in the fourth batch of cultural relic protection units of Guangdong Province.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Guangdong Province