The Most Complete Moye (Cliff) Stone Carvings of China: 'Xi Xia Song,' Recording the Difficulties of Opening the Sichuan Road
Spending time at home and watching the world, focusing on: Road lamp photography, sharing beautiful scenery from travels every day. In Xia County, Gansu Province, there's a very steep and beautiful gorge called Yuqiao Gorge. Inside Yuqiao Gorge, there's a cliffside stone carving from the Han Dynasty called 'Xi Xia Song,' a historical and cultural treasure that has stunned people worldwide and is considered 'the first Han Dynasty cursive script.' Numerous tourists come to admire the charm of this thousand-year-old stone carving. Today, let's follow my lens to Yuqiao Gorge to take a look.
In China's calligraphy world, there's the saying of 'Han Three Songs,' referring to the three Han Dynasty cliffside inscription monuments that still exist today: 'Shimen Song,' 'Jingge Song,' and 'Xi Xia Song.' The establishment of these three songs is inseparable from the Sichuan Road. 'Shimen Song' is located on the Bosha Road along the Han River, while 'Xi Xia Song' and 'Jingge Song' are located on the Galing Road along the Jialing River.
1800 years ago, the Wudu Magistrate Li Xi promoted the convenience of people's lives by opening the old road of the West River. 'Xi Xia Song,' located in Yuqiao Gorge, was one of the key transportation routes for the Han Dynasty Wudu County to the northern stronghold of Tianwei. Now, Yuqiao Gorge has murmuring streams, lush forests, and a beautiful interplay of mountains and water, and it has become a nationally renowned tourist destination.
Many tourists come to seek the original 'Xi Xia Song' and are also stunned by the picturesque scenery along the way. Look at the towering cliffs, the beautiful green bamboo forests, and the rushing river—it's a very moving scene.
There's a spectacular area in Yuqiao Gorge called Huanglongtan. When the moon is full, the moonlight reflects on the water, creating a beautiful interplay of light and color. The 'Xi Xia Song' pavilion is directly above Huanglongtan. The complete text of 'Xi Xia Song' consists of 385 characters and is still very clear. The brushstrokes are powerful and vigorous, considered 'the first Han Dynasty cursive script.' Due to the efforts of many people over the centuries, the original work has become dark and glossy. Because it is a national key protected cultural relic, photography is prohibited.
Looking at this masterpiece of Han Dynasty cursive script, many calligraphy enthusiasts are overjoyed. It's the most precious cultural legacy left to us by the ancients, and we should cherish it. If you have time to travel to Gansu, don't miss 'Xi Xia Song.' Follow: Road lamp photography, let's see the world together.
