Red Stone Canyon - Hongshi
From the west of Zhenbeitai, passing through Yima City, you arrive at Yuxi River. Yuxi River originates from the Dao Tu Sea, and the Dao Tu Sea is not a large lake, it is like a brilliant pearl embedded in the northern frontier.
Yuxi River passes through Gushu, and the Great Wall, arriving at Hongshi Canyon. This is the boundary between the ancient nomadic tribes and the Han people. In the 23rd year of the Ming Chengde reign (1487), the inscriptions of the carvings of the Gongyin Temple recorded: 'Ten miles north of Yulin City, there is a mountain named Hongshi Canyon, its soil is barren and open, located at the junction of the barbarian territory.' This shows that this is an ancient border, an ancient battlefield.
During the Northern Song Dynasty, Li Jiqian heard of Xianzun Ancestral Tomb at this place, 'Jiao Ku and Long Wo', later he raised an army against the Song, became the King of Western Xia, and decisively defeated the Song army of twenty thousand at Yongle City (the area along the banks of the Upper Salt River in Yulin), 'Poor Wuding Riverbank Bones, Still in the Dream Room'. The Song Emperor was shocked and cried, and was forced to negotiate with Western Xia. This place became a key military outpost for Western Xia troops for a time.
During the Ming Dynasty, in the tenth year of Chengde reign (1475), it was only then that 'old boundaries' such as the Qin and Sui Great Walls were repaired to become the Ming Great Wall, and the Zhenbeitai was built. It was still a border fortress.
Hongshi Canyon is located at the edge of the fire watch, the cliffs are built with layers and intricate carvings, the most famous is Hongshan Temple. Entering the temple, there is 'Heaven Gate' that can be climbed to the top of the canyon, and 'Earth Gate' that can be connected to the valley. There is 'Treasure Tower', also known as 'Lingyun Tower', ancient and antique, magnificent and imposing, with a broad view and quiet wilderness, it is a place where writers and scholars gather and drink and compose poems. It is said that more than forty poems were recorded in the 'Yuelin Township Chronicle' of the Jingtai reign, many of which praised Hongshi Canyon and Treasure Tower. For example, Mr. Ma Xilong, a Yulin scholar during the Jingtai reign of the Ming Dynasty, wrote: 'Two rocks stand guard against the sky, one water separates red stone open. Mountain color is misty, staying the evening fog, river sound rushes and thunder------' During the revolutionary war period, this place also became a secret meeting place, Liu Jidan and Liu Lan Tao, etc. revolutionary patriots also held meetings or held conferences here.
It is particularly interesting that there is a small ancient irrigation channel below, which flows through several stone cave temples. It is still used for irrigation today. This place is also called 'Ju, Dian, Dong, Shen' - 'Two talents manage their beauty', a combination of canal, temple and gods. The ancient laborers were ingenious and created this ingenious design.
Passing through Puduo Bridge, you arrive at Wuyea, the stone caves are not many, but the carved cliffs are larger. This is what people have been looking for. Walking through the canyon, gazing at the cliffs, one by one carvings and cliffs, it not only shows the art of calligraphy, but it is also important that it records the history of the Yulin border defense, reflecting the inevitable trend of unity between the Mongolian and Han ethnic groups.
During the Jingtai reign of the Ming Dynasty, every officer stationed here would make carvings, either to record victories, or to report good news, or to make solemn oaths, or to express feelings, or to express their aspirations. For example, in the ninth year of Wanli reign, Governor Wang Ruhui carved 'Dragon coiled, Tiger seized' ; in the fourteenth year of Wanli reign, Governor Li Chunliang carved 'Long Great Wall' ; in the forty-fourth year of Wanli reign, Governor Liu Minquan carved 'Hua Yi Tian Zan' etc.
During this period, in the twenty-first year of Wanli reign, Governor Zheng Ruhui, who was still not satisfied, in order to show off the splendor of Hongshi Canyon and the strong military strength of the Ming army stationed here, specially renamed Hongshi Canyon 'Hongshi Canyon' and carved on the cliff: 'Let me be as I want'.
During this period, in the twenty-onest year of Wanli reign, Governor Zheng Ruhui carved 'Dragon coiled, Tiger seized'.
During the Anti-Japanese War, 'Fight the Marauding Bands' and the inscription of Northeast Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Commander Ma Zhan'ao 'Recover the Rivers and Mountains' were also engraved. From different angles, it reflects the historical and practical nature of the Hongshi Canyon stone carvings, from true cursive, and scripts, powerful and vigorous, reflects the inheritance and development of cultural history, truly worthy of being 'Stone Monument Forest', a treasure for Long Great Wall calligraphy and art, adding another beautiful stroke to Hongshi Canyon, and enhancing the reputation of Yulin.
Having said all this, I compose a poem:
"The wind and clouds meet at the border, Hongshi Canyon waters flow. Caves and temples carve cliffs, carvings and cliffs are ancient gardens. Exploring peaks and valleys, raising and lowering words, recalling and reflecting. Yuelin's great defense for three kingdoms, prosperous times, unified the heavens.
Nine Mouth 2020-3-25
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2020-3-25
