Cliff Carvings on Sima Mountain

　　   The cliff carvings on Sima Mountain are situated in Hong'an County and date back to the Ming Dynasty. They consist of ink inscriptions by local figures including Geng Dingxiang and Zhou Sijiu. Geng Dingxiang became a Jinshi (imperial scholar) in the 35th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, rose to the position of Minister of Revenue, and returned to his hometown in his later years. Zhou Sijiu was also a Jinshi of the Jiajing era and served as Prefect of Qiongzhou. There are four inscriptions in total, namely “Riding the Wind and Lashing the Thunder,” “Resting on Stone and Nesting in Clouds,” “Roaring Lion,” and “Heavenly Horse Galloping Across the Sky.” The carvings feature tightly structured characters, smooth lines, and vigorous strokes, demonstrating high artistic value in calligraphy. (Fifth Batch)

　　   Source: Hubei Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau