Cliff Carving on the Passage of the Taiping Army Through the County

Cliff Carving on the Passage of the Taiping Army Through the County

The cliff carving on the passage of the Taiping Army through the county is a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province.

The cliff carving titled "The Passage of the Taiping Army Through Hejiang County" is a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province. It is carved into the cliff face of Liu Family Stockade in Fangniuping, Wenchanggong Village, Suokou, Jiuzhi Town, Hejiang County. The carving measures 1.06 meters in height and 1.16 meters in width, featuring vertical rows of regular script in intaglio, totaling 1,044 characters. It provides a relatively detailed account of the activities of Shi Dakai’s Taiping Army within and around Hejiang County from the eighth day of the fourth lunar month to the twenty-ninth day of the seventh lunar month in the first year of the Tongzhi reign (June 6 to August 24, 1862), making it an important historical source on the Taiping Army’s movements in southern Sichuan and of significant research value. The full text of the carving is as follows:

The cliff carving titled "The Passage of the Taiping Army Through Hejiang County" is a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province. It is carved into the cliff face of Liu Family Stockade in Fangniuping, Wenchanggong Village, Suokou, Jiuzhi Town, Hejiang County. The carving measures 1.06 meters in height and 1.16 meters in width, featuring vertical rows of regular script in intaglio, totaling 1,044 characters. It provides a relatively detailed account of the activities of Shi Dakai’s Taiping Army within and around Hejiang County from the eighth day of the fourth lunar month to the twenty-ninth day of the seventh lunar month in the first year of the Tongzhi reign (June 6 to August 24, 1862), making it an important historical source on the Taiping Army’s movements in southern Sichuan and of significant research value. The full text of the carving is as follows:

In the 28th year of the Daoguang reign (1848), soldiers repeatedly came to Hejiang County, and people had no idea where the bandits were. The county magistrate issued notices for heavy taxation, which continued year after year.

On the night of the 26th day of the fifth lunar month in the 11th year of the Xianfeng reign (1861), a comet appeared in the northwest, shaped like a brush, and remained visible for over a month. Snow fell on the 2nd day of the 12th lunar month and did not stop until the 6th day of the first lunar month in the first year of the Tongzhi reign (1862). In March, white moths flew from east to west.

On the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, we suddenly heard that the bandits had reached Bailuxi in Hejiang County, Majiezi on the opposite bank of the river, and Yuhuangchang in Sanhua Branch.

On the ninth, they arrived at Renhuai Ting, burning Wanglongchang.

On the tenth, they burned Fuxingchang, crossed the river at Shangyuanhou, and reached Fengxikou.

On the eleventh, they burned Dadongchang and caused trouble at Laohewo and Baguajing.

On the twelfth, they moved from Dajingba to Wutongchang and reached Shiren Yanjiao, where they attacked Drummingchang.

On the thirteenth, they breached the Keshiyayà Pass and caused disturbances in Zhongqinggou, Laoyingwo, Xiangbichang, Yanjiaguan, and Tianchi.

On the fourteenth, they reached Yongning County, breached Xuyong Ting, then caused disturbances in Gao and Gong counties, and set up camp in Changning County. Local residents took refuge in Shiren and Shiding cliffs.

On the sixteenth, some troops broke away.

On the twenty-fourth, one group of bandits returned via the original route to Wutongchang and set up camp; another group went from Dingshan to Chewangchang, entered Dongdongjiao, crossed the pontoon bridge over the river, caused disturbances in Shang’anbang, entered Lianghui Shui and Liucun, and set up camp in Lishan and Jiuzhi Dam, joining forces with the bandits at Wutongchang.

On the twenty-fifth, some groups advanced to Shegutan, causing disturbances in Xupengxi, Dazhouyi, Shangma, Niugun, and arrived at Zhandi to join forces with the Changning bandits; another group caused disturbances in Fangniuba and Baihuadongzi, passed through Jiangmen, Malin, Songjiang, and Yong’anyi, and reached Lewo, also joining forces with the Changning bandits.

By the twenty-eighth, some broke away, and the rear guard returned to Drummingchang, breached the Xialanya Pass, caused disturbances in Bajiaoshan and Liangchahé, but the bandit horses could not advance, so they returned to Drummingchang.

At that time, people fled to places like Hongshima, Lianhuashan, and Liujiaojing. When they finally returned, sudden strong winds occurred frequently, causing panic and many abandoned belongings. In addition, there was a severe drought: it rained heavily on the sixth day of the fifth lunar month, but the drought resumed until it finally rained again on the second night of the seventh lunar month.

On the 25th day of the fifth lunar month, at the hour of you (5–7 p.m.), there was a loud booming sound in the sky.

In the early part of the sixth lunar month, we heard that the bandits were being attacked by troops and turned back.

On the 18th and 19th, they reached Xuyong Ting. The entire county magistrate gathered at Longdongchang, Wutongchang, Yunfengsi, Xinghuashan, Sanjiaotang, Xiangbichang, Qinghua Li, and various militias at Yanjiaguan and Yanwangbian to block and defend.

On the 30th, the pass was breached. Some groups caused disturbances in Shuimei and Dengzi, exited through Tucheng to Fengxikou and crossed the river, passed through Wanglongchang to Majiezi; another group returned via the original route, burning Yanjiaguan and Xiangbichang and reaching Keshiyayà.

On the first day of the seventh lunar month, the bandits split up, causing disturbances in Longtongba, Dashatuo, and Xiaoqiaozhi, exiting Dadongchang, descending to Anju Bang; another group exited from Jiuzhi Mùjiangyan through Fengmenkan, camping at Wutongchang, Baiyanshan, and Wangcao.

On the eighth and ninth, they caused disturbances in Yangshan, causing a major fire. They breached and destroyed the Shidingshan Fortress, where many people died. Government troops camped at Wangzui Zhai and harassed the bandits.

On the twelfth, the bandits split into groups, moving from Dashimu and Dengzi to ancient Lizezhou, following the original route through Yuanhou and Tucheng; one group joined with the Anju Bang bandits, descending to Xianshichang to set up camp.

The military camp moved to Wutongchang. The only safe areas were Sanhuashan, Shiren Yan, Gongpo Nao, and Gulou Shan. It was harvest season, but the crops were more severely damaged by the troops than by the bandits.

It was delayed until the 25th when the camp moved to Fu and Huazhen towns.

On the 25th and 26th, another commander led troops to Xianshi, but the troops were defeated and retreated to camp at Mixichang.

On the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth, the bandits were building a pontoon bridge on the bank of Xianzhan when they were pursued under false Tang army banners by men from the Yao Dam Militia. When the bandits crossed the river, their own efforts to destroy the bridge backfired, causing many to fall into the water or flee in panic—hundreds perished or escaped. The defeated brigands then retreated along their original route through Dingshan and Majiezi, with the troops in pursuit.

Only afterwards was it learned that the long-haired bandits were under the self-proclaimed title of Heavenly Virtue King, Hong Xiuquan, also called the Second King, alias the Wing King, Shi Dakai. In total, there were ninety-three of them who initiated hostilities after forming an alliance in Guangxi Province. Starting in the twenty-eighth year of the Daoguang reign, they rampaged through Henan, Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangnan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Shandong, Jiangsu, Yunnan, and Guizhou. By the third month of the renxu year during the Tongzhi reign, they invaded Sichuan, laying siege to Fuzhou before being repelled by government forces. On the sixteenth and seventeenth, they besieged Qijiang County but were driven back by Tang’s troops. On the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth, they caused chaos in Zhongbaisha, Jiangjin County. On the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, they arrived at Majiezi, across the river from Heyi.

For over ten years, wherever they passed, they burned houses, destroyed property, killed people, and laid sieges—too many atrocities to count. With the bandit turmoil raging ahead and government troops not far behind, who could escape their ravages?

This account is excerpted from records by Zhao Tianming of the county, inscribed on stone for future generations to reflect upon.

This stronghold was first built in the autumn month of the renxu year in the first year of the Tongzhi reign (1862), after the bandit incursions, and completed by late spring of the guihai year (1863). A stone engraving bears the inscription “Tread Danger as if Effortless” (履险如夷), gifted by cousin Yu. It was renovated again in the spring of the yiyu year during the Guangxu reign (1885), and the history of the bandit raids is recorded again here.

Respectfully recorded by the Jin brothers of Pengcheng Commandery.

Respectfully inscribed on the first day of the cyclical month of yiyu (fourth lunar month), in the bingwu year of the Guangxu reign (1885).

Protective zone: Extend 10 meters beyond the distribution area of the stone carvings.

Construction control zone: Extend 20 meters beyond the protective zone.