Jinshan Cliff Inscriptions

Jinshan Cliff Inscriptions

The Jinshan Cliff Inscriptions are a cultural relic protection unit of Chaozhou City.

The Jinshan Cliff Inscriptions are located to the north of the ancient city of Chaozhou in Chaozhou City. Also known as Jincheng Mountain, “it stands 40 zhang high and spans four li in circumference,” resembling an inverted cauldron and serving as the backdrop to the ancient city, bordering the Han River to the northeast. The mountain features numerous large rocks, making it an ideal site for cliff inscriptions. There are over 100 cliff inscriptions from various historical periods including the Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties, and even the Republican era. By the time of the 1984 cultural relics survey, only 30 remained. These inscriptions are rich in content and of high historical value. Among them are the inscription “First among Mountains” by Mi Fu, the great calligrapher of the Song Dynasty; the "Jincheng Mountain Record" by Wang Han, the military governor who developed Jinshan during the Dazhong Xiangfu era (1008–1016); the "Zheng Shen City-Building Record" by Zheng Shen, the prefect who fortified the city of Chaozhou during the Zhihe era (1054–1056); and important historical records such as the "Lin Shiyou Chronicle" by Wang Yongwen of the Yuan Dynasty documenting the quelling of military unrest, which hold significant historical value and help fill gaps in written history. In addition, there are landscape inscriptions such as Zhu Xi’s calligraphy “Zhuowo” (Humble Abode), the Yuan Dynasty’s “Qinghui Tongqu” (Shared Joy in Clear Radiance), and the Ming Dynasty’s “Fengtai Bipoli” (Phoenix Terrace Standing Tall), along with inscriptions commemorating imperial examinations and poems. The Jinshan Cliff Inscriptions serve not only as precious historical material for Chaozhou but also as a grand showcase of calligraphy within the Jinshan scenic area.

In 1987, the Chaozhou Municipal People's Government designated them as a cultural relic protection unit.