說(shuo)它是(shi)古橋(qiao),因它始(shi)建于(yu)(yu)北宋真(zhen)宗咸平二年(nian)(999),比復置揭(jie)陽(yang)縣(xian)還早141年(nian)。“化(hua)龍(long)橋(qiao)”相傳有(you)(you)黑鯉(li)在此化(hua)龍(long)而(er)得名。《潮州府志》首卷(juan)有(you)(you):“化(hua)龍(long)橋(qiao),相傳有(you)(you)魚(yu)于(yu)(yu)此化(hua)龍(long),故名。”清(qing)乾隆年(nian)間修(xiu)的(de)《揭(jie)陽(yang)縣(xian)志》也載:“化(hua)龍(long)橋(qiao),在漁湖官鋪之(zhi)左。宋咸平二年(nian),鄉民(min)陳翁(weng)建。長四丈,廣一(yi)丈。都民(min)有(you)(you)利風水者(zhe),筑(zhu)路于(yu)(yu)此,行(xing)者(zhe)迂(yu)之(zhi),控之(zhi)府,治其罪(zui)。嘉靖(jing)戊(wu)子年(nian),鄉民(min)共修(xiu)橋(qiao)岸,尋潰。萬歷辛亥年(nian),知縣(xian)潘應龍(long)重建。相傳有(you)(you)黑鯉(li)化(hua)龍(long)于(yu)(yu)此,故名。”
從府縣(xian)志書(shu)看(kan)到:化(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)之(zhi)(zhi)得名,皆因有(you)(you)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)在此化(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)而(er)得名的(de)(de),但鯉(li)(li)與龍(long)(long)(long)(long)是(shi)(shi)兩種(zhong)(zhong)性(xing)質不(bu)同(tong)的(de)(de)水(shui)(shui)族,怎會變化(hua)?其實(shi)(shi),鯉(li)(li)化(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long),是(shi)(shi)人(ren)(ren)們一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)種(zhong)(zhong)有(you)(you)象征(zheng)意義的(de)(de)傳說,這(zhe)傳說起于(yu)《山(shan)海經(jing)》,至《三(san)秦記(ji)》便形成(cheng)(cheng)了(le)“鯉(li)(li)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)”這(zhe)句表達人(ren)(ren)們美好愿(yuan)望的(de)(de)吉利語。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men),是(shi)(shi)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)個(ge)峽(xia)口(kou),在山(shan)西省河津西北,黃河流(liu)經(jing)這(zhe)里(li),兩岸峭壁對(dui)峙,形成(cheng)(cheng)闕門(men),河廣又由上(shang)而(er)下,水(shui)(shui)勢(shi)直瀉,是(shi)(shi)黃河三(san)門(men)峽(xia)之(zhi)(zhi)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)。每年春夏季(ji)節(jie),都有(you)(you)許(xu)多(duo)(duo)大魚(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu),以黃河鯉(li)(li)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)多(duo)(duo),不(bu)遠萬里(li)逆流(liu)至此,爭(zheng)先恐后(hou)向龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)峽(xia)口(kou)跳躍(yue)(yue)(yue),能(neng)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)上(shang)的(de)(de)便可化(hua)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)。其實(shi)(shi)不(bu)然(ran),這(zhe)只(zhi)是(shi)(shi)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)類要到上(shang)游產卵之(zhi)(zhi)故(gu)。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)以上(shang)的(de)(de)河道,支流(liu)都是(shi)(shi)水(shui)(shui)淺流(liu)緩(huan),水(shui)(shui)草(cao)叢(cong)生,水(shui)(shui)溫適宜,適合魚(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)類產卵子,孵育后(hou)代(dai)。等(deng)到魚(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)卵孵化(hua)育成(cheng)(cheng)小魚(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)之(zhi)(zhi)后(hou),才又乘流(liu)來到廣闊的(de)(de)江(jiang)河,這(zhe)是(shi)(shi)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)類生活(huo)的(de)(de)規律,所以,它們的(de)(de)拼死跳躍(yue)(yue)(yue),并非為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)了(le)化(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long),而(er)是(shi)(shi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)了(le)孵育后(hou)代(dai)。故(gu)“鯉(li)(li)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)”只(zhi)是(shi)(shi)人(ren)(ren)們一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)種(zhong)(zhong)美好的(de)(de)愿(yuan)望。封建社會,憑科(ke)考取士,使(shi)許(xu)多(duo)(duo)讀書(shu)人(ren)(ren)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)朝考中(zhong)便可飛黃騰達,就如(ru)鯉(li)(li)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)樣脫(tuo)胎換(huan)骨。故(gu)而(er)人(ren)(ren)們用(yong)“鯉(li)(li)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)”來激勵讀書(shu)人(ren)(ren)。揭陽學宮大門(men)外照壁有(you)(you)鯉(li)(li)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)浮雕(diao),更明顯(xian)地(di)是(shi)(shi)借(jie)傳說來對(dui)讀書(shu)人(ren)(ren)的(de)(de)勉勵。由此,化(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)化(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)事,并非真實(shi)(shi)。府志、縣(xian)志雖有(you)(you)記(ji)載,但也(ye)只(zhi)上(shang)傳說而(er)已。漁(yu)湖的(de)(de)先輩(bei)們,為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)這(zhe)座橋(qiao)起名化(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long),也(ye)是(shi)(shi)借(jie)此激勵后(hou)代(dai)。后(hou)來果然(ran)有(you)(you)了(le)效應,從宋至清,數百年的(de)(de)科(ke)考,漁(yu)湖人(ren)(ren)成(cheng)(cheng)“龍(long)(long)(long)(long)”者比(bi)別處(chu)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)多(duo)(duo),為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)地(di)方(fang)增添了(le)光彩。還有(you)(you)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)個(ge)問題,漁(yu)湖地(di)方(fang),有(you)(you)許(xu)多(duo)(duo)座橋(qiao),為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)何唯獨(du)此橋(qiao)稱“化(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)”呢?據分(fen)析,這(zhe)個(ge)地(di)方(fang),古時可能(neng)有(you)(you)些特殊的(de)(de)地(di)理條(tiao)件,它地(di)處(chu)大江(jiang)之(zhi)(zhi)濱,是(shi)(shi)一(yi)(yi)(yi)(yi)條(tiao)大支流(liu),入(ru)口(kou)后(hou)有(you)(you)許(xu)多(duo)(duo)小溪分(fen)流(liu),潮水(shui)(shui)漲落,這(zhe)里(li)定有(you)(you)洶涌激蕩之(zhi)(zhi)勢(shi)。每年春夏之(zhi)(zhi)交,大雨滂沱(tuo),廣闊田野之(zhi)(zhi)水(shui)(shui),涌入(ru)溝渠,匯入(ru)小溪,沖進榕江(jiang),當時水(shui)(shui)猛之(zhi)(zhi)處(chu),便有(you)(you)許(xu)多(duo)(duo)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)類,爭(zheng)著(zhu)涌入(ru)河口(kou),爭(zheng)先跳躍(yue)(yue)(yue),形成(cheng)(cheng)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)鯉(li)(li)之(zhi)(zhi)勢(shi)。魚(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)類爭(zheng)入(ru)溪港,躍(yue)(yue)(yue)上(shang)田間,目的(de)(de)是(shi)(shi)水(shui)(shui)暖雜草(cao)叢(cong)生,宜于(yu)小魚(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)孵化(hua)成(cheng)(cheng)長,繁育后(hou)代(dai)。宋時漁(yu)湖陳翁建橋(qiao)時,見有(you)(you)鯉(li)(li)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)爭(zheng)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)現(xian)象,為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)激勵后(hou)代(dai)乃取名“化(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)”。
化(hua)龍橋(qiao)的(de)(de)歷(li)代變遷史,以及它的(de)(de)具體位(wei)置(zhi),揭陽縣的(de)(de)一些(xie)史乘(cheng)也各有(you)(you)(you)記述(shu)。清代咸豐庚申年(1860)。有(you)(you)(you)在(zai)城人(ren)陳啟敬首(shou)出巨資修(xiu)建此橋(qiao),民國七年(1918),因地(di)震(zhen),石欄桿(gan)多處(chu)損壞,橋(qiao)下水深(shen)且猛(meng),過路行人(ren)有(you)(you)(you)落(luo)水而亡者,也有(you)(you)(you)人(ren)來此自殺(sha),曾被人(ren)稱(cheng)“化(hua)冥橋(qiao)”。后有(you)(you)(you)廣(guang)美村人(ren)時任縣督學局長,動員(yuan)其(qi)父黃就科,將準備慶(qing)祝80大壽之(zhi)資用,捐出修(xiu)橋(qiao)。民國十六年(1935),港口(kou)村慶(qing)德善堂(tang)又發起修(xiu)橋(qiao)募捐,歸僑(qiao)林森盛(sheng)捐資最多,才把化(hua)龍橋(qiao)修(xiu)成(cheng)一座(zuo)堅固、美觀(guan)、安全的(de)(de)大石橋(qiao)。
化(hua)(hua)龍橋(qiao)的(de)所(suo)在,據縣志說,在官鋪之(zhi)左,官鋪就(jiu)(jiu)是(shi)驛站(zhan)。舊時,漁(yu)(yu)湖都(dou)有一官道,路(lu)經化(hua)(hua)龍橋(qiao),右邊(bian)有一鋪上村,就(jiu)(jiu)是(shi)當年官鋪的(de)所(suo)在地。從位置測定(ding),現在的(de)漁(yu)(yu)湖橋(qiao),就(jiu)(jiu)是(shi)當年的(de)化(hua)(hua)龍橋(qiao)。在光緒年間,便(bian)漸(jian)有人把(ba)化(hua)(hua)龍橋(qiao)稱(cheng)為(wei)漁(yu)(yu)湖橋(qiao)了。而真正改為(wei)漁(yu)(yu)湖橋(qiao)的(de)是(shi)1972至(zhi)1979年間,漁(yu)(yu)湖人民公社遷(qian)來于此(ci),成為(wei)行政中(zhong)心,因此(ci)便(bian)都(dou)稱(cheng)為(wei)漁(yu)(yu)湖橋(qiao),化(hua)(hua)龍橋(qiao)這(zhe)一原(yuan)名,幾乎(hu)被人遺忘了。