The Hundred-Character Longevity Rock Carvings

The Hundred-Character Longevity Rock Carvings

The Hundred-Character Longevity Rock Carvings are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Hundred-Character Longevity Rock Carvings, also known as Fuzi Rock, are located in Baishou Town, Yongfu County, Guilin City, Guangxi, about 70 kilometers from downtown Guilin. They face the ancient city of Yongningzhou across the river and are accessible via the Gui-Liu Expressway and the Gui-Wu Expressway. This area is known for its outstanding people and spiritual energy, with many locals living to be over a hundred years old. The Hundred-Character Longevity Rock is world-renowned for its "Hundred-Character Longevity Chart." In the Jiayou Year of the Shao Ding era during the Song Dynasty, Shi Wei, the magistrate of Gutian County, on the occasion of his birthday celebration, specially wrote a large “longevity” character in clerical script, and invited a hundred long-lived individuals to each contribute a small longevity character. These were then carved by a master craftsman on both sides of the rock wall, forming the "Hundred-Character Longevity Chart." The ingenious design features the large “longevity” character with 100 small “longevity” characters embedded within its strokes—each unique in form and style, none alike. The carving is vigorous and the workmanship exquisite, embodying the evolution of Chinese characters, calligraphy, and carving artistry. The "Hundred-Character Longevity Chart" is carved on the rock wall of Fuzi Rock in Baishou Town. The large clerical script “longevity” character measures 175 cm in length and 148 cm in width, and its rubbings have been treasured in the Palace Museum.

The 100 small longevity characters in the "Hundred-Character Longevity Chart" are all unique, with diverse styles and no two alike. They include regular script, clerical script, seal script, running script, cursive script, oracle bone script, and more, with the script type noted beside each small character. By dynasty, they include Shang Dynasty tripod script, Zhou Dynasty tripod script, Han Dynasty tripod script, etc.; by region (referred to by ancient state names), there are Qi Li, Yan script, Western Xia platform script, etc.; by font type, there are Yi seal script, ancient clerical script, ancient Dou gold script, flying white script, etc.; by calligrapher, there are Cheng Miao, Huai Su, Yu (Shinan) script, Cai (Xiang) script, Xiao Wang (Xianzhi) script, and even the "Goose Exchange Sutra" style of the Sage of Calligraphy, Wang Xizhi. There are also characters shaped like their meanings: tadpole script, star script, fire script, tree script, dragon script, phoenix script, treasure-gathering script, etc. Within the peach-shaped "treasure-gathering script," depictions of coral, ivory, rhinoceros horn, pearls, bear paws, and jade tablets are remarkably lifelike, presenting a dazzling array.

The "Hundred-Character Longevity Chart" also reflects the profound breadth and depth of Chinese culture, serving as evidence of its absorption and integration of minority cultures, foreign cultures, and religious cultures. Elements such as the "Jade Emperor’s Astronomy" and the "Heavenly Seal of God" carry mythological and legendary significance; "Jade Pool Treasure Meaning," "Four Blessings Buddha Scripture," and "Western Sanskrit Scripture" are rich in Buddhist influence; "Western Xia Platform Script" illustrates the blending of Han and minority cultures, while "Flying Chapter Talisman," "Imperial Pole Seal Script," "Qinghuang Jun Scripture," "Mysterious Clerical Script," and "Emperor’s Jade Register" exude the aura of Taoism. The coral, pearls, and ivory within the "treasure-gathering script" faintly trace the historical path of cultural exchange between China and other nations. Among the inscriptions of the "Hundred-Character Longevity Chart" are names of otherwise unknown ancient calligraphers such as Xu Baigong, Xu Jiaozong, Zheng Shangshu, Gao Jiaxian, Jie Furen, and Hua Kui Furen—all of whose works can be regarded as masterpieces. Unfortunately, lost in the vast sea of calligraphy history, their traces are hard to find. Especially among ancient female calligraphers in China, aside from the few names preserved in the "Hundred-Character Longevity Chart," their works are rarely seen elsewhere, either domestically or internationally.

The "Hundred-Character Longevity Chart" was once presented as a gift by the government of the Republic of China to celebrate the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II of England. In 1958, when Zhou Enlai made his first visit to Africa, he also gifted the "Hundred-Character Longevity Chart" as a present from the Chinese government. Other Western dignitaries, including former French President François Mitterrand, have also treasured the "Hundred-Character Longevity Chart" as a fine example of Chinese culture. Its rubbings have been preserved in the Palace Museum, and all versions of the "Hundred-Character Longevity Chart" in the world originate from this one. Today, these small longevity characters and the large longevity character remain clear and visible after a thousand years, making them treasured cliff carvings in southern China.

In May 2013, the Hundred-Character Longevity Rock Carvings were listed in the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Scenic Area Address: Baishou Town, Yongfu County, Guilin City

Transportation: Take a minibus from Yongfu County to Baishou Town, then transfer to a local bus to reach the scenic area

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units