說它是(shi)古橋(qiao),因它始(shi)建(jian)于北宋真宗咸平(ping)二年(999),比復(fu)置揭(jie)陽(yang)縣(xian)還早141年。“化(hua)龍(long)(long)橋(qiao)”相傳(chuan)有黑(hei)鯉(li)在(zai)此(ci)化(hua)龍(long)(long)而得名(ming)。《潮州(zhou)府志(zhi)》首卷有:“化(hua)龍(long)(long)橋(qiao),相傳(chuan)有魚于此(ci)化(hua)龍(long)(long),故(gu)(gu)名(ming)。”清乾隆年間修(xiu)的(de)《揭(jie)陽(yang)縣(xian)志(zhi)》也載:“化(hua)龍(long)(long)橋(qiao),在(zai)漁湖官(guan)鋪之左。宋咸平(ping)二年,鄉民(min)陳翁建(jian)。長(chang)四丈,廣一丈。都民(min)有利風水者,筑路于此(ci),行者迂(yu)之,控之府,治(zhi)其罪。嘉靖(jing)戊子年,鄉民(min)共修(xiu)橋(qiao)岸,尋潰(kui)。萬(wan)歷辛(xin)亥年,知縣(xian)潘(pan)應龍(long)(long)重建(jian)。相傳(chuan)有黑(hei)鯉(li)化(hua)龍(long)(long)于此(ci),故(gu)(gu)名(ming)。”
從府縣(xian)志書(shu)看到:化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)之(zhi)(zhi)得(de)名(ming)(ming),皆因有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)魚(yu)(yu)在此(ci)化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)而(er)得(de)名(ming)(ming)的(de)(de),但(dan)鯉(li)(li)(li)與龍(long)(long)(long)是(shi)兩種(zhong)(zhong)性(xing)質不同的(de)(de)水(shui)(shui)族(zu),怎會(hui)變化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)?其實,鯉(li)(li)(li)化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long),是(shi)人們(men)(men)一(yi)(yi)種(zhong)(zhong)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)象征意義的(de)(de)傳(chuan)說(shuo),這(zhe)(zhe)傳(chuan)說(shuo)起于《山海(hai)經》,至(zhi)(zhi)《三(san)秦(qin)記》便形(xing)成了(le)(le)(le)“鯉(li)(li)(li)魚(yu)(yu)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)”這(zhe)(zhe)句表達人們(men)(men)美好愿(yuan)望的(de)(de)吉利語。龍(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men),是(shi)一(yi)(yi)個峽(xia)口(kou),在山西(xi)省河(he)津(jin)西(xi)北,黃(huang)河(he)流(liu)經這(zhe)(zhe)里,兩岸峭(qiao)壁(bi)對峙,形(xing)成闕(que)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men),河(he)廣又由(you)(you)上(shang)而(er)下,水(shui)(shui)勢(shi)直(zhi)瀉,是(shi)黃(huang)河(he)三(san)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)峽(xia)之(zhi)(zhi)一(yi)(yi)。每年(nian)春夏季節,都有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)許多(duo)大(da)魚(yu)(yu),以(yi)黃(huang)河(he)鯉(li)(li)(li)為(wei)(wei)(wei)多(duo),不遠萬里逆流(liu)至(zhi)(zhi)此(ci),爭(zheng)先(xian)恐后(hou)(hou)(hou)向龍(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)峽(xia)口(kou)跳(tiao)躍(yue)(yue)(yue),能躍(yue)(yue)(yue)上(shang)的(de)(de)便可化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)為(wei)(wei)(wei)龍(long)(long)(long)。其實不然,這(zhe)(zhe)只是(shi)魚(yu)(yu)類要到上(shang)游產卵(luan)之(zhi)(zhi)故。龍(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)以(yi)上(shang)的(de)(de)河(he)道,支(zhi)流(liu)都是(shi)水(shui)(shui)淺流(liu)緩,水(shui)(shui)草(cao)叢生,水(shui)(shui)溫適宜(yi),適合(he)魚(yu)(yu)類產卵(luan)子,孵育后(hou)(hou)(hou)代。等(deng)到魚(yu)(yu)卵(luan)孵化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)育成小魚(yu)(yu)之(zhi)(zhi)后(hou)(hou)(hou),才(cai)又乘(cheng)流(liu)來到廣闊的(de)(de)江河(he),這(zhe)(zhe)是(shi)魚(yu)(yu)類生活的(de)(de)規律,所以(yi),它們(men)(men)的(de)(de)拼死跳(tiao)躍(yue)(yue)(yue),并(bing)非為(wei)(wei)(wei)了(le)(le)(le)化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long),而(er)是(shi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)了(le)(le)(le)孵育后(hou)(hou)(hou)代。故“鯉(li)(li)(li)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)”只是(shi)人們(men)(men)一(yi)(yi)種(zhong)(zhong)美好的(de)(de)愿(yuan)望。封建(jian)社(she)會(hui),憑科(ke)考(kao)取(qu)士,使許多(duo)讀(du)書(shu)人一(yi)(yi)朝考(kao)中便可飛黃(huang)騰達,就如鯉(li)(li)(li)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)一(yi)(yi)樣(yang)脫胎換(huan)骨。故而(er)人們(men)(men)用“鯉(li)(li)(li)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)”來激勵(li)讀(du)書(shu)人。揭陽學宮大(da)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)外照壁(bi)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)鯉(li)(li)(li)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)浮(fu)雕,更明顯(xian)地(di)(di)是(shi)借傳(chuan)說(shuo)來對讀(du)書(shu)人的(de)(de)勉勵(li)。由(you)(you)此(ci),化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)一(yi)(yi)事,并(bing)非真實。府志、縣(xian)志雖有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)記載,但(dan)也(ye)只上(shang)傳(chuan)說(shuo)而(er)已。漁(yu)湖(hu)的(de)(de)先(xian)輩們(men)(men),為(wei)(wei)(wei)這(zhe)(zhe)座橋(qiao)起名(ming)(ming)化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long),也(ye)是(shi)借此(ci)激勵(li)后(hou)(hou)(hou)代。后(hou)(hou)(hou)來果然有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)了(le)(le)(le)效應,從宋至(zhi)(zhi)清,數百(bai)年(nian)的(de)(de)科(ke)考(kao),漁(yu)湖(hu)人成“龍(long)(long)(long)”者比別處(chu)(chu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)多(duo),為(wei)(wei)(wei)地(di)(di)方增(zeng)添了(le)(le)(le)光彩。還有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)一(yi)(yi)個問題(ti),漁(yu)湖(hu)地(di)(di)方,有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)許多(duo)座橋(qiao),為(wei)(wei)(wei)何唯獨此(ci)橋(qiao)稱“化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)”呢?據(ju)分析,這(zhe)(zhe)個地(di)(di)方,古時(shi)可能有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)些特殊的(de)(de)地(di)(di)理條件(jian),它地(di)(di)處(chu)(chu)大(da)江之(zhi)(zhi)濱(bin),是(shi)一(yi)(yi)條大(da)支(zhi)流(liu),入(ru)(ru)(ru)口(kou)后(hou)(hou)(hou)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)許多(duo)小溪分流(liu),潮水(shui)(shui)漲落,這(zhe)(zhe)里定有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)洶(xiong)涌(yong)激蕩之(zhi)(zhi)勢(shi)。每年(nian)春夏之(zhi)(zhi)交(jiao),大(da)雨滂沱,廣闊田野(ye)之(zhi)(zhi)水(shui)(shui),涌(yong)入(ru)(ru)(ru)溝渠(qu),匯入(ru)(ru)(ru)小溪,沖進榕江,當(dang)時(shi)水(shui)(shui)猛之(zhi)(zhi)處(chu)(chu),便有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)許多(duo)魚(yu)(yu)類,爭(zheng)著涌(yong)入(ru)(ru)(ru)河(he)口(kou),爭(zheng)先(xian)跳(tiao)躍(yue)(yue)(yue),形(xing)成龍(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)(men)(men)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)鯉(li)(li)(li)之(zhi)(zhi)勢(shi)。魚(yu)(yu)類爭(zheng)入(ru)(ru)(ru)溪港,躍(yue)(yue)(yue)上(shang)田間(jian),目的(de)(de)是(shi)水(shui)(shui)暖雜草(cao)叢生,宜(yi)于小魚(yu)(yu)孵化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)成長,繁育后(hou)(hou)(hou)代。宋時(shi)漁(yu)湖(hu)陳(chen)翁建(jian)橋(qiao)時(shi),見有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)鯉(li)(li)(li)魚(yu)(yu)爭(zheng)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)現象,為(wei)(wei)(wei)激勵(li)后(hou)(hou)(hou)代乃(nai)取(qu)名(ming)(ming)“化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)”。
化龍(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)的歷代變遷史,以及它的具(ju)體(ti)位(wei)置,揭陽(yang)縣(xian)的一些(xie)史乘也(ye)各(ge)有(you)記述。清代咸(xian)豐庚(geng)申年(1860)。有(you)在(zai)城人(ren)陳啟敬(jing)首出巨(ju)資(zi)修建(jian)此(ci)橋(qiao)(qiao),民國(guo)七年(1918),因地震,石(shi)欄桿多處損(sun)壞,橋(qiao)(qiao)下水深且猛,過路行人(ren)有(you)落水而亡者,也(ye)有(you)人(ren)來此(ci)自(zi)殺(sha),曾被人(ren)稱(cheng)“化冥(ming)橋(qiao)(qiao)”。后有(you)廣(guang)美(mei)(mei)村人(ren)時任縣(xian)督(du)學局長,動員(yuan)其父(fu)黃就科,將準備慶祝80大壽之(zhi)資(zi)用(yong),捐出修橋(qiao)(qiao)。民國(guo)十六年(1935),港(gang)口村慶德善堂又發起修橋(qiao)(qiao)募捐,歸僑林森盛(sheng)捐資(zi)最多,才把化龍(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)修成一座堅固、美(mei)(mei)觀、安全(quan)的大石(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)。
化龍(long)橋的(de)所在(zai),據縣志說,在(zai)官(guan)鋪之左,官(guan)鋪就是(shi)驛(yi)站。舊時,漁(yu)湖都(dou)有一官(guan)道,路經化龍(long)橋,右邊有一鋪上(shang)村,就是(shi)當(dang)(dang)年(nian)(nian)官(guan)鋪的(de)所在(zai)地。從位(wei)置測定,現(xian)在(zai)的(de)漁(yu)湖橋,就是(shi)當(dang)(dang)年(nian)(nian)的(de)化龍(long)橋。在(zai)光緒年(nian)(nian)間(jian),便(bian)漸(jian)有人(ren)(ren)把化龍(long)橋稱為漁(yu)湖橋了。而真正(zheng)改為漁(yu)湖橋的(de)是(shi)1972至1979年(nian)(nian)間(jian),漁(yu)湖人(ren)(ren)民公社遷(qian)來于此,成為行政(zheng)中心,因此便(bian)都(dou)稱為漁(yu)湖橋,化龍(long)橋這一原名,幾乎被人(ren)(ren)遺忘了。