Guanyinyan Cliff Inscriptions

Guanyinyan Cliff Inscriptions

The Guanyinyan Cliff Inscriptions are a protected cultural heritage site of Guangdong Province.

Qing Dynasty–Republic of China, Yingde Guanyinyan Cliff Inscriptions Guanyinyan is a natural limestone karst cave located by the Beijiang River, about twenty li north of Yingde City. It earned its name from the statue of Guanyin (the Goddess of Mercy) enshrined inside. The cave is over 40 meters high, more than 30 meters wide, and 125 meters deep. The stone walls feature 63 cliff inscriptions, among which 19 are either illegible or damaged, 11 are undated, 31 date to the Qing Dynasty, and 2 to the Republic of China. Historical records indicate that the earliest known poem describing Guanyinyan was “Moyu’er · A Visit to Guanyinyan” by Ma Lun of the Song Dynasty. The earliest dated inscription currently discovered is from the 15th year of the Shunzhi era (1658) by Zhou, while the latest is an undated inscription from the 22nd year of the Republic of China (1933) bearing only the two characters “Yanran” (meaning “just like”). The largest inscription measures 4.65 meters in length and 1.60 meters in width, while the smallest is 0.29 meters long and 0.20 meters wide. Most of the Guanyinyan Cliff Inscriptions consist of numbered carvings, along with commemorative texts and poems. Notable inscriptions include those by prominent figures such as Prince Pingnan Shang Kexi and Li Diaoyuan.

On July 17, 2002, it was included in the fourth batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Guangdong Province.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Guangdong Province