Stone Inscription with Poem by Zhao Xi at Laojun Mountain

Stone Inscription with Poem by Zhao Xi at Laojun Mountain

The Stone Inscription with Poem by Zhao Xi at Laojun Mountain is a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province.

Since the establishment of Weiyuan County, Laojun Mountain has served as the boundary between Weiyuan and Rongxian. It was the land granted by King Wu of Zhou during the Western Zhou Dynasty to Zhou Ronggong, and is also known as Rongde Mountain. Legend has it that Laozi, the Supreme Old Master, once refined elixirs here, and in the late Tang and Five Dynasties period, the Taoist priest Chen Tuan (who called himself Fuyaozi and was bestowed the title Xiyi Xiansheng by Emperor Taizong of Song) practiced Taoism here, hence it is also called Xiyi Mountain. Since the Tang and Song dynasties, Laojun Mountain has become a sacred site for Taoism and a famous scenic spot. The "Weiyuan County Annals" from the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty referred to it as "Laojun’s Elixir Stove," making it one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Weiyuan. With an elevation of over 800 meters, Laojun Mountain is majestic and magnificent, its cliffs steep and sheer, rising high above the clouds, possessing the rugged beauty of Mount Hua. From the mountain foot to the summit, there is only a narrow, steep, and winding path, requiring both hands and feet to climb. On the southwestern cliff of the mountain, there are four sets of inscribed poems, four niches of Tang and Song dynasty statues, three cliff inscriptions, and three inscribed texts. Among the cliff carvings, the well-preserved and representative ones are the statues of Laozi, the Supreme Old Master, and his attendant guardian warriors. Among them, the combined Buddhist and Taoist niche carving is extremely rare in Sichuan. Among the poems, the most outstanding one is by Zhao Xi, a poet from Rongxian and a Hanlin academician of the late Qing Dynasty: "With but a thought, my past life fell to this world; I drift beyond the mortal realm, returning with the wind. In autumn, I turn into a crane, ageless for three thousand years, standing alone atop Rongzhou’s foremost peak."

Photo by Leng Guowen

Source: County Chronicles Office