The Dapeng Mountain cliff inscriptions consist of the cliff inscriptions in the Buddhist Trace Cave and the portrait stone carvings in the Qindu’an Nunnery.
The cliff inscriptions in the Buddhist Trace Cave are located on the east wall of the Buddhist Trace Cave on the south side of Mofanggang in Dapeng Mountain. There are three in total, with 189 characters. They were inscribed by Qian Yu from Wulin and Chen Bangyan from Jinping in the second year of Longxing in the Song Dynasty, Tang Zhongwen, the county magistrate in the ninth year of Chunxi, and Qin Zongyou, a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations and a compiler in the Imperial Academy in the year Bingzi of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty. The calligraphy of the stone inscriptions is clear and vigorous, and the charm is smooth, fully demonstrating the elegance of ancient calligraphy art. According to legend, the ‘Buddhist trace’ was discovered by the monk Dahui in the Tang Dynasty when he built a hut and practiced in the cave, hence the name. Huang Zongxi, a thinker in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, also visited the Buddhist Trace Cave.
The portrait stone carvings in the Qindu’an Nunnery are located on the cliff a hundred meters southeast of the Buddhist Trace Cave. The stone carvings face east, with a vertical height of 1.2 meters and a horizontal width of 3.5 meters. They are composed of a square shrine and characters and stone carvings on the left and right. The carvings include figures, waves, ships, mythical beasts, etc.Dapeng Mountain, with its long and storied history, is home to powerful and simple carvings that are believed to have been crafted during the Yuan Dynasty. The eastern end of the cliff features an independent rock, which, following its natural contours, has been sculpted into the shape of a lion, seamlessly integrating with the portrait stone carvings.
This mountain is steeped in legend, with tales suggesting that it was the departure point for Xu Fu, an alchemist from the Qin Dynasty, as he embarked on his eastward voyage. Over the centuries, it has served as a retreat for Buddhist luminaries and a destination for scholars and literati.
The two sets of stone inscriptions at Dapeng Mountain are rich in historical information, showcasing the allure of ancient stone carving art. They are invaluable as historical documents for the study of Xu Fu’s culture, the religious history of eastern Zhejiang, and local customs, possessing both historical and artistic significance.
On August 4, 1986, the People’s Government of Cixi County designated the Dapeng Mountain cliff inscriptions as a county-level cultural relic protection unit. In January 2011, this status was elevated to a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit. Despite some minor weathering, the inscriptions are well-preserved and continue to stand as an important part of the Xu Fu Cultural Park, which is funded and developed by the Youngor Group.
Visitors to the park should note that the specific opening hours and business status of the site may vary and are subject to the conditions on any given day.
