說(shuo)它是古橋,因它始建(jian)于北宋真宗(zong)咸平二(er)年(999),比復置揭(jie)陽縣(xian)還(huan)早141年。“化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)橋”相(xiang)傳(chuan)有(you)黑(hei)鯉在(zai)此(ci)(ci)化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)而得名(ming)(ming)。《潮(chao)州府志》首(shou)卷有(you):“化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)橋,相(xiang)傳(chuan)有(you)魚于此(ci)(ci)化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long),故(gu)名(ming)(ming)。”清乾(qian)隆年間修的(de)《揭(jie)陽縣(xian)志》也載(zai):“化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)橋,在(zai)漁(yu)湖官鋪之左。宋咸平二(er)年,鄉民陳翁建(jian)。長四丈,廣一(yi)丈。都民有(you)利風水(shui)者,筑(zhu)路于此(ci)(ci),行者迂之,控之府,治(zhi)其罪。嘉靖戊子(zi)年,鄉民共修橋岸,尋潰。萬歷辛亥年,知縣(xian)潘應龍(long)(long)重建(jian)。相(xiang)傳(chuan)有(you)黑(hei)鯉化(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)于此(ci)(ci),故(gu)名(ming)(ming)。”
從府(fu)縣(xian)志(zhi)(zhi)書看到(dao)(dao)(dao):化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)橋之(zhi)(zhi)得(de)名,皆因有(you)魚(yu)在(zai)(zai)此(ci)(ci)化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)而(er)(er)得(de)名的(de)(de)(de)(de),但鯉(li)(li)與龍(long)(long)是(shi)兩種(zhong)性質不同(tong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)水(shui)(shui)族,怎(zen)會變(bian)化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)?其實,鯉(li)(li)化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long),是(shi)人(ren)(ren)們一(yi)(yi)種(zhong)有(you)象征意(yi)義的(de)(de)(de)(de)傳(chuan)說(shuo)(shuo),這(zhe)(zhe)傳(chuan)說(shuo)(shuo)起于(yu)《山海經(jing)》,至《三秦記》便形成(cheng)了“鯉(li)(li)魚(yu)躍(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)(men)”這(zhe)(zhe)句表(biao)達人(ren)(ren)們美好愿(yuan)(yuan)望的(de)(de)(de)(de)吉利語(yu)。龍(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)(men),是(shi)一(yi)(yi)個峽(xia)口,在(zai)(zai)山西省河(he)津西北,黃河(he)流(liu)(liu)(liu)(liu)經(jing)這(zhe)(zhe)里(li),兩岸(an)峭壁對峙,形成(cheng)闕門(men)(men)(men)(men),河(he)廣(guang)又(you)由(you)上(shang)(shang)而(er)(er)下,水(shui)(shui)勢直瀉,是(shi)黃河(he)三門(men)(men)(men)(men)峽(xia)之(zhi)(zhi)一(yi)(yi)。每年(nian)春夏季節,都(dou)有(you)許(xu)多(duo)大(da)魚(yu),以(yi)黃河(he)鯉(li)(li)為(wei)(wei)多(duo),不遠萬里(li)逆流(liu)(liu)(liu)(liu)至此(ci)(ci),爭(zheng)先恐后(hou)(hou)向(xiang)龍(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)(men)峽(xia)口跳躍(yue)(yue),能(neng)躍(yue)(yue)上(shang)(shang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)便可(ke)(ke)化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)為(wei)(wei)龍(long)(long)。其實不然(ran),這(zhe)(zhe)只是(shi)魚(yu)類(lei)(lei)要到(dao)(dao)(dao)上(shang)(shang)游產卵(luan)之(zhi)(zhi)故。龍(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)(men)以(yi)上(shang)(shang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)河(he)道,支(zhi)流(liu)(liu)(liu)(liu)都(dou)是(shi)水(shui)(shui)淺流(liu)(liu)(liu)(liu)緩,水(shui)(shui)草叢生,水(shui)(shui)溫適宜,適合(he)魚(yu)類(lei)(lei)產卵(luan)子(zi),孵(fu)育(yu)后(hou)(hou)代。等到(dao)(dao)(dao)魚(yu)卵(luan)孵(fu)化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)育(yu)成(cheng)小(xiao)魚(yu)之(zhi)(zhi)后(hou)(hou),才(cai)又(you)乘流(liu)(liu)(liu)(liu)來(lai)到(dao)(dao)(dao)廣(guang)闊(kuo)的(de)(de)(de)(de)江河(he),這(zhe)(zhe)是(shi)魚(yu)類(lei)(lei)生活(huo)的(de)(de)(de)(de)規律,所以(yi),它們的(de)(de)(de)(de)拼死跳躍(yue)(yue),并(bing)非為(wei)(wei)了化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long),而(er)(er)是(shi)為(wei)(wei)了孵(fu)育(yu)后(hou)(hou)代。故“鯉(li)(li)躍(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)(men)”只是(shi)人(ren)(ren)們一(yi)(yi)種(zhong)美好的(de)(de)(de)(de)愿(yuan)(yuan)望。封(feng)建社(she)會,憑科考(kao)取士,使(shi)許(xu)多(duo)讀書人(ren)(ren)一(yi)(yi)朝考(kao)中便可(ke)(ke)飛黃騰達,就如(ru)鯉(li)(li)躍(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)(men)一(yi)(yi)樣脫胎換(huan)骨。故而(er)(er)人(ren)(ren)們用“鯉(li)(li)躍(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)(men)”來(lai)激勵(li)讀書人(ren)(ren)。揭陽學宮大(da)門(men)(men)(men)(men)外(wai)照壁有(you)鯉(li)(li)躍(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)(men)浮雕(diao),更明(ming)顯地是(shi)借傳(chuan)說(shuo)(shuo)來(lai)對讀書人(ren)(ren)的(de)(de)(de)(de)勉(mian)勵(li)。由(you)此(ci)(ci),化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)橋化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)一(yi)(yi)事(shi),并(bing)非真實。府(fu)志(zhi)(zhi)、縣(xian)志(zhi)(zhi)雖(sui)有(you)記載,但也只上(shang)(shang)傳(chuan)說(shuo)(shuo)而(er)(er)已。漁(yu)湖的(de)(de)(de)(de)先輩們,為(wei)(wei)這(zhe)(zhe)座(zuo)橋起名化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long),也是(shi)借此(ci)(ci)激勵(li)后(hou)(hou)代。后(hou)(hou)來(lai)果然(ran)有(you)了效應,從宋至清,數百年(nian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)科考(kao),漁(yu)湖人(ren)(ren)成(cheng)“龍(long)(long)”者比別(bie)處(chu)為(wei)(wei)多(duo),為(wei)(wei)地方(fang)增(zeng)添(tian)了光彩。還(huan)有(you)一(yi)(yi)個問(wen)題,漁(yu)湖地方(fang),有(you)許(xu)多(duo)座(zuo)橋,為(wei)(wei)何唯獨此(ci)(ci)橋稱(cheng)“化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)”呢?據分(fen)析,這(zhe)(zhe)個地方(fang),古時可(ke)(ke)能(neng)有(you)些(xie)特殊(shu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)地理條件,它地處(chu)大(da)江之(zhi)(zhi)濱,是(shi)一(yi)(yi)條大(da)支(zhi)流(liu)(liu)(liu)(liu),入(ru)(ru)口后(hou)(hou)有(you)許(xu)多(duo)小(xiao)溪(xi)(xi)分(fen)流(liu)(liu)(liu)(liu),潮水(shui)(shui)漲落,這(zhe)(zhe)里(li)定有(you)洶涌激蕩之(zhi)(zhi)勢。每年(nian)春夏之(zhi)(zhi)交,大(da)雨(yu)滂(pang)沱,廣(guang)闊(kuo)田(tian)野(ye)之(zhi)(zhi)水(shui)(shui),涌入(ru)(ru)溝渠,匯入(ru)(ru)小(xiao)溪(xi)(xi),沖進榕江,當時水(shui)(shui)猛之(zhi)(zhi)處(chu),便有(you)許(xu)多(duo)魚(yu)類(lei)(lei),爭(zheng)著涌入(ru)(ru)河(he)口,爭(zheng)先跳躍(yue)(yue),形成(cheng)龍(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)(men)躍(yue)(yue)鯉(li)(li)之(zhi)(zhi)勢。魚(yu)類(lei)(lei)爭(zheng)入(ru)(ru)溪(xi)(xi)港(gang),躍(yue)(yue)上(shang)(shang)田(tian)間,目的(de)(de)(de)(de)是(shi)水(shui)(shui)暖雜草叢生,宜于(yu)小(xiao)魚(yu)孵(fu)化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)成(cheng)長,繁育(yu)后(hou)(hou)代。宋時漁(yu)湖陳翁建橋時,見有(you)鯉(li)(li)魚(yu)爭(zheng)躍(yue)(yue)現象,為(wei)(wei)激勵(li)后(hou)(hou)代乃取名“化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)橋”。
化(hua)龍(long)橋的(de)歷代(dai)變遷史(shi),以及(ji)它的(de)具體位(wei)置,揭陽(yang)縣(xian)的(de)一(yi)些史(shi)乘也(ye)各有(you)(you)記(ji)述。清代(dai)咸豐(feng)庚(geng)申年(1860)。有(you)(you)在城人陳啟敬首(shou)出巨資修(xiu)建此(ci)(ci)橋,民國(guo)七年(1918),因(yin)地震,石欄桿(gan)多(duo)處損壞,橋下水深且猛,過路行(xing)人有(you)(you)落水而亡者,也(ye)有(you)(you)人來此(ci)(ci)自殺,曾被人稱“化(hua)冥(ming)橋”。后有(you)(you)廣美村(cun)人時任縣(xian)督學局長,動(dong)員其(qi)父黃就科,將準備慶祝80大壽之(zhi)資用(yong),捐(juan)(juan)出修(xiu)橋。民國(guo)十六年(1935),港口村(cun)慶德(de)善堂又(you)發(fa)起修(xiu)橋募捐(juan)(juan),歸(gui)僑林森盛捐(juan)(juan)資最多(duo),才(cai)把化(hua)龍(long)橋修(xiu)成一(yi)座堅固、美觀(guan)、安(an)全的(de)大石橋。
化龍橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)所在,據(ju)縣志說,在官(guan)(guan)鋪(pu)(pu)之左,官(guan)(guan)鋪(pu)(pu)就是(shi)驛(yi)站。舊時,漁(yu)湖(hu)都有一(yi)(yi)(yi)官(guan)(guan)道(dao),路經化龍橋(qiao)(qiao),右邊有一(yi)(yi)(yi)鋪(pu)(pu)上村(cun),就是(shi)當年官(guan)(guan)鋪(pu)(pu)的(de)所在地。從位置(zhi)測定,現在的(de)漁(yu)湖(hu)橋(qiao)(qiao),就是(shi)當年的(de)化龍橋(qiao)(qiao)。在光緒(xu)年間,便漸有人把化龍橋(qiao)(qiao)稱為漁(yu)湖(hu)橋(qiao)(qiao)了。而真正改為漁(yu)湖(hu)橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)是(shi)1972至1979年間,漁(yu)湖(hu)人民公社遷來于此,成為行政中(zhong)心,因此便都稱為漁(yu)湖(hu)橋(qiao)(qiao),化龍橋(qiao)(qiao)這一(yi)(yi)(yi)原(yuan)名,幾乎被人遺忘了。