Xujing Xiaowojie Group Introduction
The Xujing Xiao Wa Stele Group is located at the southern foot of Nanpan Mountain, south of Jincheng, Kinmen, and south of the Wentai Pagoda. It is a collection of stone inscriptions created by scholars and military officials from the Ming and Qing dynasties who carved poetry and prose on massive rocks. The earliest inscriptions date back to the 14th year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1547), when Yu Dayou, the Qianhu of Kinmen, carved the four characters "Xujing Xiao Wa," with "Xujing" being his alternate name. This inscription also became the origin of the name for the stele group. Subsequently, his disciple Yang Hongju built the "Xiao Wa Pavilion" in front of the stone and inscribed poems in memory of it. Other inscriptions include "Daguang" by Zhu Jie from the Qing Dynasty, "Ru Hua" by Lü Ruilin, and poems composed by various scholars, whose inscriptions are scattered throughout the area, showcasing a variety of styles and embodying both artistic calligraphy and historical significance. The Xiao Wa Pavilion was damaged during the 1954 Battle of Kuningtou and was rebuilt by the Kinmen County Government in 2001. The overall stele group presents a grand atmosphere, not only demonstrating the cultural heritage of Kinmen but also standing as an important landscape that witnesses the historical development of Kinmen.
