The construction of Luoyang Bridge was initiated by Cai Xiang, the great calligrapher of the Song Dynasty who was the governor of Quanzhou at that time. The inscription "The Story of Wan'an Bridge" written by him is a calligraphy treasure and is cherished by calligraphers of all generations. It is now preserved in Cai Zhonghui, Qiaotou Inside the public temple.
"In the autumn of the 35th year of Wanli's reign, there was an earthquake. The bridge collapsed, and the big stone bridge folded into the sea. The old site in the north of the bridge collapsed to the south. Yu Nai quarried stones from the seabed, tied twenty-three toe, repaired thirty-five, and completely Five hundred railings were repaired, two wind towers were added on each side, the beams were folded and the pavilions were renovated."
The founder of Luoyang Bridge, Lu Xi, whose birth and death years are unknown, was born in Lucuo, Fengwei. During the Dazhong Xiangfu reign of Zhenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty (1008-1016), Lu Xi received instruction from his father Lu Ren at Tuling Huyan Temple. Also studying with him was his nephew Cai Xiang. Historical records record that Lu Xi "finished his life as a scholar, devoted his life to righteousness, and helped others and material things." His greatest contribution in life was to preside over the construction of Luoyang Bridge.
In ancient times, Wan'an Crossing was located on the Luoyang River at the junction of Hui'an and Jinjiang in the north of Quanzhou City. It was a must-pass for businessmen traveling from south to north for officials and gentry. Because of the rough waves and rapid current of the Luoyang River, people at that time described the river as "the water is five miles wide and too deep to be addressed" ("Bo Zhai Pian"), and said, "Use four ounces of yarn, tie the stone to the bottom, and sink it into the river." , its depth has not yet been measured.” Since the late Tang Dynasty, Quanzhou has become an important foreign trade port in China. During the Northern Song Dynasty, the port of Quanzhou Bay was lined with sails and boats, hundreds of companies competed for water, and Chinese and foreign merchants gathered here. Wanandu has caused great obstacles to economic and cultural exchanges in Fujian, and bridge construction has become a very urgent task. In April of the fifth year of Emperor You's reign (1053) in the Northern Song Dynasty, Lu Xi and others took the lead in preparing for the construction. It was completed at the end of December of the fourth year of Jiayou's reign (January 16, 1060). It took more than six years and cost 14 million yuan. , all this money was raised from donations by Lu Xi and others, without touching the national treasury. More importantly, Cai Xiang, Lu Xi and others brainstormed to scientifically solve the problems of bridge construction and foundation consolidation. They first threw a large number of large stones at the bottom of the river along the center line of the bridge to form a short stone embankment across the bottom of the river as the base of the bridge pier. Then they built the bridge pier with a row of horizontal and a row of straight stones. It has two pointed ends and a large middle, like a boat. It can withstand the interactive impact of the river current in the upper reaches and the tide in the lower reaches. The junction of the uppermost row is carved with concave tenons, and pig iron is placed on top to connect the row of stones. The middle parts of both ends of the pier are slightly bent outwards, and the top two layers of stone strips are projected to the left and right to widen the pier surface and reduce the span of the stone beams. The creation of this kind of stone foundation was a major breakthrough in the history of bridge construction. It is called raft foundation in modern times. His scientific and technological innovation methods such as planting oysters and slowing down the water flow to help solidify the foundation are also praised by people. Most of the stone bridges built in the Song Dynasty in southern Fujian imitated this method.
After the completion of the Luoyang Bridge, "to cross the sea and go by boat, it is easy to be in danger and safe, and the people are not disadvantaged." The Luoyang River, which has always been regarded as a dangerous road by pedestrians, is naturally a flying bridge. North and south are open. Pedestrians pass through the waves as if they were walking on a royal road. It has greatly promoted the development of Fujian's politics, economy and culture. When the bridge was built, Cai Xiang, who was the prefect of Quanzhou, "had a good time and had a good time with it". In Cai Xiang's famous biography "Wan'an Bridge" written by Cai Xiang at home and abroad, the first person to record his work was impressively: It's Lu Xi. Later generations were grateful for the virtues of Lu Xi and other heroes who built the bridge, and once built a marble monument in the Cai Xiang Temple south of Luoyang Bridge, with the names of Lu Xi and others engraved on it.
Lu Xi did not enter an official career, but he was enthusiastic about social welfare undertakings, benefiting the local area and benefiting future generations, and his reputation will last forever.