說(shuo)它是古橋,因它始建于(yu)(yu)北宋(song)真宗咸(xian)平(ping)(ping)二年(999),比復置揭(jie)陽(yang)縣還早(zao)141年。“化(hua)龍(long)橋”相傳(chuan)有(you)(you)(you)黑鯉在(zai)此(ci)(ci)化(hua)龍(long)而得名。《潮州府志(zhi)》首卷有(you)(you)(you):“化(hua)龍(long)橋,相傳(chuan)有(you)(you)(you)魚于(yu)(yu)此(ci)(ci)化(hua)龍(long),故名。”清乾隆(long)年間修的《揭(jie)陽(yang)縣志(zhi)》也載:“化(hua)龍(long)橋,在(zai)漁(yu)湖(hu)官(guan)鋪之(zhi)(zhi)左。宋(song)咸(xian)平(ping)(ping)二年,鄉(xiang)民(min)陳翁(weng)建。長四丈,廣一(yi)丈。都民(min)有(you)(you)(you)利風水者,筑路于(yu)(yu)此(ci)(ci),行者迂之(zhi)(zhi),控之(zhi)(zhi)府,治(zhi)其(qi)罪。嘉靖戊子年,鄉(xiang)民(min)共(gong)修橋岸,尋潰。萬歷辛亥(hai)年,知縣潘應龍(long)重建。相傳(chuan)有(you)(you)(you)黑鯉化(hua)龍(long)于(yu)(yu)此(ci)(ci),故名。”
從(cong)府縣志書看(kan)到(dao):化龍(long)(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)之(zhi)(zhi)得名(ming),皆(jie)因有(you)魚在此化龍(long)(long)(long)(long)而得名(ming)的(de)(de)(de),但鯉(li)(li)與(yu)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)是(shi)(shi)(shi)兩種性質不同的(de)(de)(de)水(shui)(shui)族,怎會變化?其實,鯉(li)(li)化龍(long)(long)(long)(long),是(shi)(shi)(shi)人們一(yi)(yi)種有(you)象征意義(yi)的(de)(de)(de)傳(chuan)(chuan)說(shuo),這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)傳(chuan)(chuan)說(shuo)起(qi)于《山海經》,至《三秦記》便(bian)形(xing)成(cheng)了(le)(le)(le)“鯉(li)(li)魚躍(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)”這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)句表達(da)人們美(mei)好愿望的(de)(de)(de)吉(ji)利語。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men),是(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)(yi)個(ge)峽口(kou),在山西(xi)省河(he)(he)(he)(he)津西(xi)北,黃(huang)河(he)(he)(he)(he)流(liu)(liu)經這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)里,兩岸峭(qiao)壁對峙,形(xing)成(cheng)闕門(men)(men),河(he)(he)(he)(he)廣又由(you)上而下,水(shui)(shui)勢(shi)直(zhi)瀉,是(shi)(shi)(shi)黃(huang)河(he)(he)(he)(he)三門(men)(men)峽之(zhi)(zhi)一(yi)(yi)。每年(nian)春(chun)夏(xia)季節,都(dou)有(you)許(xu)多(duo)大(da)(da)(da)魚,以(yi)黃(huang)河(he)(he)(he)(he)鯉(li)(li)為(wei)多(duo),不遠萬里逆流(liu)(liu)至此,爭(zheng)(zheng)先恐后(hou)向龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)峽口(kou)跳(tiao)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue),能(neng)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)上的(de)(de)(de)便(bian)可(ke)化為(wei)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)。其實不然,這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)只(zhi)是(shi)(shi)(shi)魚類要到(dao)上游產卵之(zhi)(zhi)故。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)以(yi)上的(de)(de)(de)河(he)(he)(he)(he)道,支(zhi)流(liu)(liu)都(dou)是(shi)(shi)(shi)水(shui)(shui)淺流(liu)(liu)緩,水(shui)(shui)草叢(cong)生(sheng),水(shui)(shui)溫(wen)適宜,適合魚類產卵子,孵育后(hou)代(dai)(dai)。等到(dao)魚卵孵化育成(cheng)小(xiao)魚之(zhi)(zhi)后(hou),才(cai)又乘流(liu)(liu)來到(dao)廣闊(kuo)的(de)(de)(de)江河(he)(he)(he)(he),這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)是(shi)(shi)(shi)魚類生(sheng)活的(de)(de)(de)規律(lv),所以(yi),它們的(de)(de)(de)拼死(si)跳(tiao)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue),并非(fei)為(wei)了(le)(le)(le)化龍(long)(long)(long)(long),而是(shi)(shi)(shi)為(wei)了(le)(le)(le)孵育后(hou)代(dai)(dai)。故“鯉(li)(li)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)”只(zhi)是(shi)(shi)(shi)人們一(yi)(yi)種美(mei)好的(de)(de)(de)愿望。封(feng)建社會,憑科(ke)(ke)考取(qu)士,使許(xu)多(duo)讀書人一(yi)(yi)朝考中(zhong)便(bian)可(ke)飛黃(huang)騰達(da),就如鯉(li)(li)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)一(yi)(yi)樣脫胎換骨。故而人們用“鯉(li)(li)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)”來激(ji)(ji)勵(li)讀書人。揭陽學(xue)宮大(da)(da)(da)門(men)(men)外(wai)照壁有(you)鯉(li)(li)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)浮雕,更明(ming)顯地(di)(di)是(shi)(shi)(shi)借(jie)傳(chuan)(chuan)說(shuo)來對讀書人的(de)(de)(de)勉勵(li)。由(you)此,化龍(long)(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)化龍(long)(long)(long)(long)一(yi)(yi)事,并非(fei)真實。府志、縣志雖有(you)記載,但也(ye)只(zhi)上傳(chuan)(chuan)說(shuo)而已。漁(yu)湖的(de)(de)(de)先輩們,為(wei)這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)座(zuo)橋(qiao)(qiao)起(qi)名(ming)化龍(long)(long)(long)(long),也(ye)是(shi)(shi)(shi)借(jie)此激(ji)(ji)勵(li)后(hou)代(dai)(dai)。后(hou)來果然有(you)了(le)(le)(le)效(xiao)應,從(cong)宋(song)至清,數(shu)百(bai)年(nian)的(de)(de)(de)科(ke)(ke)考,漁(yu)湖人成(cheng)“龍(long)(long)(long)(long)”者(zhe)比別處為(wei)多(duo),為(wei)地(di)(di)方增添了(le)(le)(le)光(guang)彩。還有(you)一(yi)(yi)個(ge)問(wen)題,漁(yu)湖地(di)(di)方,有(you)許(xu)多(duo)座(zuo)橋(qiao)(qiao),為(wei)何(he)唯(wei)獨此橋(qiao)(qiao)稱“化龍(long)(long)(long)(long)”呢?據分(fen)析,這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)個(ge)地(di)(di)方,古時(shi)可(ke)能(neng)有(you)些特殊的(de)(de)(de)地(di)(di)理條件(jian),它地(di)(di)處大(da)(da)(da)江之(zhi)(zhi)濱,是(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)(yi)條大(da)(da)(da)支(zhi)流(liu)(liu),入口(kou)后(hou)有(you)許(xu)多(duo)小(xiao)溪分(fen)流(liu)(liu),潮(chao)水(shui)(shui)漲落,這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)里定有(you)洶涌(yong)激(ji)(ji)蕩之(zhi)(zhi)勢(shi)。每年(nian)春(chun)夏(xia)之(zhi)(zhi)交,大(da)(da)(da)雨(yu)滂沱(tuo),廣闊(kuo)田野之(zhi)(zhi)水(shui)(shui),涌(yong)入溝渠,匯入小(xiao)溪,沖進榕江,當時(shi)水(shui)(shui)猛(meng)之(zhi)(zhi)處,便(bian)有(you)許(xu)多(duo)魚類,爭(zheng)(zheng)著涌(yong)入河(he)(he)(he)(he)口(kou),爭(zheng)(zheng)先跳(tiao)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue),形(xing)成(cheng)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)鯉(li)(li)之(zhi)(zhi)勢(shi)。魚類爭(zheng)(zheng)入溪港,躍(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)上田間(jian),目的(de)(de)(de)是(shi)(shi)(shi)水(shui)(shui)暖(nuan)雜草叢(cong)生(sheng),宜于小(xiao)魚孵化成(cheng)長(chang),繁育后(hou)代(dai)(dai)。宋(song)時(shi)漁(yu)湖陳翁(weng)建橋(qiao)(qiao)時(shi),見(jian)有(you)鯉(li)(li)魚爭(zheng)(zheng)躍(yue)(yue)(yue)(yue)現象,為(wei)激(ji)(ji)勵(li)后(hou)代(dai)(dai)乃取(qu)名(ming)“化龍(long)(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)”。
化龍橋(qiao)的(de)歷代變遷史(shi),以及(ji)它的(de)具體位置,揭陽縣(xian)的(de)一些史(shi)乘也各有(you)(you)(you)記述。清代咸豐庚申年(nian)(1860)。有(you)(you)(you)在城人陳啟敬首(shou)出巨(ju)資修建此橋(qiao),民國七年(nian)(1918),因地震,石欄桿(gan)多(duo)處損(sun)壞,橋(qiao)下(xia)水深且(qie)猛,過路(lu)行人有(you)(you)(you)落水而亡者,也有(you)(you)(you)人來(lai)此自殺,曾被人稱“化冥橋(qiao)”。后有(you)(you)(you)廣美村人時(shi)任縣(xian)督學(xue)局長(chang),動員其父黃就(jiu)科,將準備(bei)慶(qing)祝80大壽之(zhi)資用,捐(juan)出修橋(qiao)。民國十六年(nian)(1935),港口村慶(qing)德善(shan)堂又發起修橋(qiao)募捐(juan),歸僑林森(sen)盛捐(juan)資最(zui)多(duo),才(cai)把化龍橋(qiao)修成一座堅固、美觀、安(an)全的(de)大石橋(qiao)。
化龍(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)所在,據(ju)縣志說,在官鋪(pu)(pu)之左,官鋪(pu)(pu)就(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)是驛站。舊時,漁(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)湖(hu)都(dou)有一(yi)官道,路經化龍(long)橋(qiao)(qiao),右邊有一(yi)鋪(pu)(pu)上村,就(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)是當(dang)年官鋪(pu)(pu)的(de)所在地。從位(wei)置測(ce)定,現在的(de)漁(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)湖(hu)橋(qiao)(qiao),就(jiu)(jiu)(jiu)是當(dang)年的(de)化龍(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)。在光緒(xu)年間(jian),便漸有人把化龍(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)稱(cheng)為(wei)漁(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)湖(hu)橋(qiao)(qiao)了(le)。而真正改為(wei)漁(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)湖(hu)橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)是1972至1979年間(jian),漁(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)湖(hu)人民公社遷來于此,成為(wei)行政中心(xin),因此便都(dou)稱(cheng)為(wei)漁(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)湖(hu)橋(qiao)(qiao),化龍(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)這一(yi)原名,幾乎被(bei)人遺忘了(le)。