Cliff Inscriptions on Yanxi Mountain

Cliff Inscriptions on Yanxi Mountain

The Cliff Inscriptions on Yanxi Mountain are a cultural relic protection unit of Lianzhou City.

The Cliff Inscriptions on Yanxi Mountain are located within Yanxi Mountain in Lianzhou Town, Lianzhou City, a scenic area. Yanxi Mountain derives its name from Han Yu’s essay “Record of Yanxi Pavilion.” Seventeen cliff inscriptions from the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties are preserved here, with the largest number dating back to the Song Dynasty. These include inscriptions by Xiang Zongdao, Lu Cong, Jin Jie, Li Zongyi, Zhang Wen, Tan Cui, Han Jie, and others, all created during the Xining and Yuanfeng periods. The Southern Song anti-Jin general Zhang Jun left an inscription engraved in the 19th year of the Shaoxing era (1149). The inscription reads: “Ziyang’s Zhang Jun, accompanied by his son Zhang Shi, visited Yanxi Pavilion. From Yangshan came Tang Bin, Lu Zong’e, Ouyang Xianke, Ouyang Xiang; from Wuyi □ Xiang; from Xiang, Monk Yuanshen; from Shu, Monks Zongfan and Daqi, who came together. On the day before the Qingming Festival of the Ji Si year in the Imperial Song Dynasty, this was written by Jun.” Zhang Jun, originally from Mianzhu in Chuan Chuan (now Mianzhu, Sichuan), was a successful imperial examination candidate. In 1129 (the third year of Jianyan), he served as the Director of the Privy Council and strongly advocated resisting the Jin invasion. In 1135, he became Prime Minister. Among the generals, he placed great trust in Yue Fei and Han Shizhong. After Qin Hui came to power, he was demoted and exiled to live in Lianzhou. His son, Zhang Shi (courtesy name Jingfu), was a scholar of the Southern Song Dynasty. He accompanied his father to Lianzhou and built a study at the foot of Jinfeng Mountain, where he lectured and composed poetry, including his work “Eight Poems on Lianzhou.” During the Wanli era (1573–1620) of the Ming Dynasty, the jinshi (advanced scholar) and Ministry of Punishments official You Pu inscribed a poem about visiting Yanxi Pavilion, two lines of which—“The literary grace of the Ministry of Personnel towers above the North Star; the waters and rocks of Lianzhou surpass all in the southern corner”—succinctly capture the historical and scenic significance of Yanxi Mountain. The local gentry Yang Zhiquan transcribed these two lines to serve as the couplet for the archway gate of Yanxi Mountain.

In 1981, the Lian County People’s Government designated it as a cultural relic protection unit.

Lianzhou Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Lianzhou City. It is the seat of the municipal government. Established as the Lianzhou Commune in 1958 and upgraded to a town in 1968, it covers an area of 104.8 square kilometers with a population of 97,000. National Highway 107 passes through the town, and the Lian River is navigable. It administers 17 management areas (village committees): Longkou, Xieming, Shazigang, Longzui, Nitán, Mandi, Yuantan, Sangu Tan, Liangjiang, Gaodui, Banling, Jinfeng, ShenShuidong, Chengdong, Chengnan, Chengxi, and Chengbei, along with three subdistrict offices: Beihu, Nanmen, and Dongshan. The town’s township enterprises mainly focus on construction, building materials, light textiles, leather production, and chemicals. Agriculture includes vegetable farming, animal husbandry, fruit cultivation... More detailed information on Lianzhou Town ++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units