Eagle Beak Rock

　　 Eagle Beak Rock is situated in the North Tianxin Scenic Area of Wuyi Mountain, Fujian. Walking westward from Ancient Cliff Dwellings for several hundred meters, you can see a massive rock shaped like an eagle. This is a monolithic boulder with a bare summit; its eastern end juts forward, sharply curved like a beak, resembling an eagle spreading its wings and ready to soar through the sky. Especially striking is the hooked "beak," atop which grows an ancient juniper, adding a sense of magic and grace to the formation — an awe-inspiring sight. For this reason, it is also known as the most peculiar rocky peak in Wuyi Mountain.

　　 Eagle Beak Rock is a massive, monolithic stone with a barren summit. Its eastern end extends sharply forward, curved like a bird’s beak. Remarkably, on the hook-shaped “beak” grows an ancient juniper with gnarled branches, lending the formation an air of elegance and vitality. From the summit, sheer cliffs drop smoothly, glossy and pale reddish-white, while the gently arched ridges are dark, with faint cracks resembling plump feathers. Standing beside Zhangtang Stream and looking up at Eagle Beak Rock, you’ll see it standing proudly atop the peak, tilting its head toward the blue sky, as if poised to take flight and soar into the heavens — a majestic and breathtaking spectacle.

　　 Legend has it that Eagle Beak Rock was once a malignant eagle in Wuyi Mountain. The story goes that one day, when the Queen Mother of the West was feeding her newborn golden boy during a visit to Wuyi Mountain, the evil eagle swooped down from the sky and snatched one of the child’s breasts. Enraged, the Queen Mother turned the eagle into stone, leaving behind scenic spots such as the Twin Breast Peaks, the Monk Carrying the Nun, and the Boy Worshiping Guanyin. At the foot of Eagle Beak Rock lies a triangular fallen rock by the roadside, resembling the eagle’s lower jaw — said to be the part struck down by lightning. Perhaps it is the debris that fell from the “beak.”

　　 Beneath the belly of this soaring eagle lies a stone chamber, formed by Eagle Beak Rock and several adjacent stones stacked together. Triangular in shape, the cave is six meters deep and about four meters wide. Inside, there are simple stone beds, tables, and chairs, as well as diagrams of the Eight Trigrams and celestial constellations. The entrance of the cave faces the sea and is bright, bathed in gentle breezes, offering views of the magnificent landscape and natural beauty, perfect for losing oneself in awe. Inside, the cave is dark and nestled within the mountain, yet it serves as an ideal spot for study, reflection, and self-cultivation. In his youth, the Eastern Hills sage Huang Daozhou, who later became the Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall in the Ming Dynasty, immersed himself in diligent study in this very cave and gave himself the name “Mr. Stone Studio.” On the left wing of the giant eagle are carved the characters “Stone Studio,” alongside a few lines: “The master’s righteousness shines through the ages; the cave is desolate, with only ruins remaining. Fish leap and kites fly, all reflecting the great way. These two characters are inscribed to pass on wisdom to future generations.” These words were written in the fourth year of the Republic of China (1915) by Xu Shiying, the imperial inspector, during his visit to Dongmenyu. They suggest that Huang Daozhou’s moral integrity had reached the highest realm, illuminating all things under heaven. It is the highest praise for his scholarship and character. Huang Daozhou was the most erudite scholar of the Ming Dynasty, excelling in the I Ching, Neo-Confucianism, astronomy, and calligraphy, leading the intellectual scene of the late Ming era. The Ming geographer Xu Xiake praised him: “Among all men, only Shi Studio [Huang Daozhou] stands out — his calligraphy was first among court scholars, his writings first in the dynasty, his character first in the land, and his learning directly inherited from Zhou and Confucius, making him the greatest of all time.” Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty commended him as “truly the most virtuous man under heaven.” And yet, it was under such humble conditions that Huang Daozhou acquired profound knowledge and cultivated unyielding integrity, eventually soaring like an eagle through the skies — a testament to how hard it was for ancient scholars to achieve greatness. Behind Eagle Beak Rock lies a huge stone inscribed with four bold, powerful regular script characters: “Haibin Zoulu” (Coastal Land of Confucian Culture). Written with vigorous strokes and an upright spirit, these characters were jointly inscribed in the 11th year of the Guangxu reign (1886) by Wu Fang of Ningxiang (Ningxiang County, Hunan Province), Cheng Xinzhi of Chuxi (Hubei Province), and Zhang Tingzhen of Yuzhang (Jiangxi Province) during their visit to Dongmenyu. Inspired by Huang Daozhou’s scholarship and integrity, they composed this phrase to signify that Dongshan was a place of flourishing culture and education, comparable to the homeland of Confucius and Mencius. When studying in the Eagle Beak Rock cave, Huang Daozhou once remarked, “Even the boatmen of my hometown can compose fine prose.” Though Dongshan is tucked away in a remote corner of the southeast, it has long been a place of rich culture and scholarly tradition — and the words “Haibin Zoulu” are the highest praise for it.