說它是(shi)古橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),因它始建于(yu)(yu)北宋真宗咸(xian)平(ping)(ping)二年(nian)(nian)(999),比復(fu)置揭(jie)陽縣還早141年(nian)(nian)。“化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”相傳有黑鯉在(zai)此(ci)化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)而得名。《潮州府志》首卷有:“化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),相傳有魚于(yu)(yu)此(ci)化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long),故名。”清(qing)乾(qian)隆年(nian)(nian)間修的《揭(jie)陽縣志》也載(zai):“化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),在(zai)漁湖官鋪之(zhi)左。宋咸(xian)平(ping)(ping)二年(nian)(nian),鄉民(min)(min)陳翁建。長(chang)四丈(zhang)(zhang),廣一丈(zhang)(zhang)。都(dou)民(min)(min)有利風(feng)水者,筑路(lu)于(yu)(yu)此(ci),行者迂之(zhi),控之(zhi)府,治(zhi)其罪。嘉靖戊子年(nian)(nian),鄉民(min)(min)共修橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)岸,尋(xun)潰。萬歷辛亥年(nian)(nian),知縣潘應龍(long)(long)(long)重(zhong)建。相傳有黑鯉化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)于(yu)(yu)此(ci),故名。”
從(cong)府縣(xian)志書(shu)看到(dao):化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)得(de)名(ming)(ming),皆因有(you)(you)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)在(zai)此化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)而(er)(er)得(de)名(ming)(ming)的(de),但(dan)鯉(li)與龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)是(shi)兩種性(xing)質不同(tong)的(de)水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)族,怎會(hui)(hui)變化(hua)(hua)(hua)?其實(shi),鯉(li)化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long),是(shi)人們一(yi)(yi)(yi)種有(you)(you)象征(zheng)意義的(de)傳(chuan)(chuan)說,這(zhe)傳(chuan)(chuan)說起(qi)于《山海經(jing)》,至(zhi)《三秦記(ji)》便(bian)形成(cheng)(cheng)了(le)“鯉(li)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)”這(zhe)句(ju)表達(da)人們美好愿望的(de)吉利語。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men),是(shi)一(yi)(yi)(yi)個峽口(kou)(kou),在(zai)山西省(sheng)河(he)(he)津西北(bei),黃(huang)(huang)河(he)(he)流(liu)(liu)經(jing)這(zhe)里,兩岸峭(qiao)壁對峙,形成(cheng)(cheng)闕門(men)(men),河(he)(he)廣(guang)(guang)又(you)由上(shang)(shang)而(er)(er)下,水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)勢直瀉(xie),是(shi)黃(huang)(huang)河(he)(he)三門(men)(men)峽之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)一(yi)(yi)(yi)。每(mei)年春夏季節,都有(you)(you)許(xu)多(duo)(duo)大(da)(da)(da)魚(yu)(yu)(yu),以黃(huang)(huang)河(he)(he)鯉(li)為(wei)多(duo)(duo),不遠萬里逆流(liu)(liu)至(zhi)此,爭先恐后(hou)向龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)峽口(kou)(kou)跳躍(yue),能躍(yue)上(shang)(shang)的(de)便(bian)可(ke)化(hua)(hua)(hua)為(wei)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)。其實(shi)不然,這(zhe)只是(shi)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)類(lei)(lei)要到(dao)上(shang)(shang)游產卵之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)故(gu)(gu)。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)以上(shang)(shang)的(de)河(he)(he)道,支流(liu)(liu)都是(shi)水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)淺流(liu)(liu)緩,水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)草叢生,水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)溫適(shi)宜,適(shi)合魚(yu)(yu)(yu)類(lei)(lei)產卵子,孵(fu)育后(hou)代(dai)。等到(dao)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)卵孵(fu)化(hua)(hua)(hua)育成(cheng)(cheng)小(xiao)(xiao)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)后(hou),才(cai)又(you)乘(cheng)流(liu)(liu)來到(dao)廣(guang)(guang)闊的(de)江河(he)(he),這(zhe)是(shi)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)類(lei)(lei)生活的(de)規律(lv),所以,它(ta)(ta)們的(de)拼死(si)跳躍(yue),并非為(wei)了(le)化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long),而(er)(er)是(shi)為(wei)了(le)孵(fu)育后(hou)代(dai)。故(gu)(gu)“鯉(li)躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)”只是(shi)人們一(yi)(yi)(yi)種美好的(de)愿望。封建社(she)會(hui)(hui),憑科考(kao)取(qu)士,使許(xu)多(duo)(duo)讀書(shu)人一(yi)(yi)(yi)朝(chao)考(kao)中便(bian)可(ke)飛黃(huang)(huang)騰(teng)達(da),就如(ru)鯉(li)躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)一(yi)(yi)(yi)樣脫胎(tai)換骨(gu)。故(gu)(gu)而(er)(er)人們用“鯉(li)躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)”來激勵(li)讀書(shu)人。揭(jie)陽(yang)學宮(gong)大(da)(da)(da)門(men)(men)外照壁有(you)(you)鯉(li)躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)浮雕,更(geng)明顯地(di)是(shi)借傳(chuan)(chuan)說來對讀書(shu)人的(de)勉勵(li)。由此,化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)一(yi)(yi)(yi)事(shi),并非真實(shi)。府志、縣(xian)志雖有(you)(you)記(ji)載(zai),但(dan)也只上(shang)(shang)傳(chuan)(chuan)說而(er)(er)已。漁(yu)湖(hu)(hu)的(de)先輩們,為(wei)這(zhe)座橋(qiao)(qiao)起(qi)名(ming)(ming)化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long),也是(shi)借此激勵(li)后(hou)代(dai)。后(hou)來果然有(you)(you)了(le)效應,從(cong)宋(song)至(zhi)清,數(shu)百年的(de)科考(kao),漁(yu)湖(hu)(hu)人成(cheng)(cheng)“龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)”者比別處為(wei)多(duo)(duo),為(wei)地(di)方(fang)增(zeng)添了(le)光彩(cai)。還有(you)(you)一(yi)(yi)(yi)個問題(ti),漁(yu)湖(hu)(hu)地(di)方(fang),有(you)(you)許(xu)多(duo)(duo)座橋(qiao)(qiao),為(wei)何(he)唯獨此橋(qiao)(qiao)稱“化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)”呢?據分析,這(zhe)個地(di)方(fang),古時可(ke)能有(you)(you)些特(te)殊的(de)地(di)理條件,它(ta)(ta)地(di)處大(da)(da)(da)江之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)濱,是(shi)一(yi)(yi)(yi)條大(da)(da)(da)支流(liu)(liu),入(ru)口(kou)(kou)后(hou)有(you)(you)許(xu)多(duo)(duo)小(xiao)(xiao)溪(xi)分流(liu)(liu),潮水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)漲落,這(zhe)里定有(you)(you)洶(xiong)涌激蕩之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)勢。每(mei)年春夏之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)交,大(da)(da)(da)雨滂沱,廣(guang)(guang)闊田野之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui),涌入(ru)溝渠,匯入(ru)小(xiao)(xiao)溪(xi),沖進(jin)榕江,當(dang)時水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)猛之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)處,便(bian)有(you)(you)許(xu)多(duo)(duo)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)類(lei)(lei),爭著涌入(ru)河(he)(he)口(kou)(kou),爭先跳躍(yue),形成(cheng)(cheng)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)躍(yue)鯉(li)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)勢。魚(yu)(yu)(yu)類(lei)(lei)爭入(ru)溪(xi)港,躍(yue)上(shang)(shang)田間,目的(de)是(shi)水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)暖雜草叢生,宜于小(xiao)(xiao)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)孵(fu)化(hua)(hua)(hua)成(cheng)(cheng)長,繁(fan)育后(hou)代(dai)。宋(song)時漁(yu)湖(hu)(hu)陳翁建橋(qiao)(qiao)時,見有(you)(you)鯉(li)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)爭躍(yue)現象,為(wei)激勵(li)后(hou)代(dai)乃(nai)取(qu)名(ming)(ming)“化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)”。
化(hua)龍橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)歷代變遷史,以及它的(de)具體位置,揭陽縣的(de)一些史乘(cheng)也各有記述(shu)。清代咸豐庚(geng)申年(1860)。有在城人(ren)陳啟敬首(shou)出巨資(zi)(zi)(zi)修(xiu)(xiu)建此橋(qiao)(qiao),民國七年(1918),因地震,石欄(lan)桿多處損壞,橋(qiao)(qiao)下水(shui)深且猛,過路行人(ren)有落水(shui)而亡者,也有人(ren)來此自(zi)殺,曾被人(ren)稱“化(hua)冥橋(qiao)(qiao)”。后有廣美村(cun)人(ren)時(shi)任縣督學局(ju)長,動員其父(fu)黃就科(ke),將(jiang)準(zhun)備慶(qing)祝80大(da)壽之資(zi)(zi)(zi)用(yong),捐出修(xiu)(xiu)橋(qiao)(qiao)。民國十六(liu)年(1935),港口村(cun)慶(qing)德善(shan)堂又發起修(xiu)(xiu)橋(qiao)(qiao)募捐,歸僑林森盛捐資(zi)(zi)(zi)最多,才把化(hua)龍橋(qiao)(qiao)修(xiu)(xiu)成一座(zuo)堅(jian)固、美觀、安(an)全的(de)大(da)石橋(qiao)(qiao)。
化龍橋的所(suo)在(zai)(zai),據縣(xian)志說,在(zai)(zai)官(guan)鋪之(zhi)左(zuo),官(guan)鋪就(jiu)是(shi)驛站。舊時,漁(yu)(yu)(yu)湖(hu)都(dou)有一(yi)(yi)官(guan)道,路經化龍橋,右邊有一(yi)(yi)鋪上村,就(jiu)是(shi)當(dang)年官(guan)鋪的所(suo)在(zai)(zai)地。從位置(zhi)測(ce)定(ding),現在(zai)(zai)的漁(yu)(yu)(yu)湖(hu)橋,就(jiu)是(shi)當(dang)年的化龍橋。在(zai)(zai)光緒(xu)年間,便漸(jian)有人(ren)把化龍橋稱(cheng)為漁(yu)(yu)(yu)湖(hu)橋了。而真正改(gai)為漁(yu)(yu)(yu)湖(hu)橋的是(shi)1972至1979年間,漁(yu)(yu)(yu)湖(hu)人(ren)民公社遷來于(yu)此(ci),成為行政(zheng)中心,因此(ci)便都(dou)稱(cheng)為漁(yu)(yu)(yu)湖(hu)橋,化龍橋這一(yi)(yi)原名,幾乎被人(ren)遺忘了。