說它是古橋(qiao),因它始建(jian)于北宋(song)(song)真宗咸平二年(999),比復置揭(jie)陽縣(xian)還早141年。“化(hua)龍橋(qiao)”相傳有(you)(you)(you)黑鯉在此(ci)化(hua)龍而(er)得名。《潮州府(fu)志》首卷有(you)(you)(you):“化(hua)龍橋(qiao),相傳有(you)(you)(you)魚于此(ci)化(hua)龍,故名。”清乾隆年間(jian)修(xiu)的(de)《揭(jie)陽縣(xian)志》也載:“化(hua)龍橋(qiao),在漁(yu)湖官鋪(pu)之左。宋(song)(song)咸平二年,鄉民陳翁建(jian)。長四丈,廣(guang)一丈。都民有(you)(you)(you)利風水(shui)者,筑路于此(ci),行者迂之,控之府(fu),治其罪。嘉靖戊子年,鄉民共修(xiu)橋(qiao)岸,尋潰(kui)。萬歷辛(xin)亥年,知(zhi)縣(xian)潘應(ying)龍重建(jian)。相傳有(you)(you)(you)黑鯉化(hua)龍于此(ci),故名。”
從府(fu)(fu)縣志(zhi)書看到(dao):化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)之(zhi)得名(ming)(ming),皆因(yin)有(you)(you)(you)魚(yu)(yu)在此(ci)(ci)化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)而(er)得名(ming)(ming)的(de),但鯉(li)與龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)是(shi)(shi)(shi)兩種(zhong)性質不同的(de)水(shui)族,怎會變化(hua)(hua)?其實(shi),鯉(li)化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long),是(shi)(shi)(shi)人(ren)們(men)一(yi)(yi)種(zhong)有(you)(you)(you)象征意義(yi)的(de)傳(chuan)(chuan)說(shuo)(shuo),這傳(chuan)(chuan)說(shuo)(shuo)起(qi)于《山海經》,至(zhi)《三(san)秦記》便(bian)形成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)了(le)(le)“鯉(li)魚(yu)(yu)躍(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)”這句表達人(ren)們(men)美好(hao)愿(yuan)望的(de)吉(ji)利語。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men),是(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)(yi)個(ge)峽口,在山西省(sheng)河(he)津(jin)西北,黃(huang)(huang)河(he)流(liu)經這里(li),兩岸(an)峭(qiao)壁(bi)(bi)對(dui)(dui)峙,形成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)闕門(men),河(he)廣又由上而(er)下(xia),水(shui)勢(shi)直瀉,是(shi)(shi)(shi)黃(huang)(huang)河(he)三(san)門(men)峽之(zhi)一(yi)(yi)。每年春夏季節,都有(you)(you)(you)許(xu)多(duo)大(da)魚(yu)(yu),以黃(huang)(huang)河(he)鯉(li)為(wei)(wei)多(duo),不遠萬里(li)逆流(liu)至(zhi)此(ci)(ci),爭(zheng)(zheng)先(xian)(xian)恐后(hou)(hou)(hou)向龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)峽口跳躍(yue)(yue),能躍(yue)(yue)上的(de)便(bian)可(ke)化(hua)(hua)為(wei)(wei)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)。其實(shi)不然(ran),這只(zhi)是(shi)(shi)(shi)魚(yu)(yu)類(lei)要到(dao)上游產卵(luan)之(zhi)故(gu)。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)以上的(de)河(he)道,支(zhi)流(liu)都是(shi)(shi)(shi)水(shui)淺流(liu)緩,水(shui)草(cao)叢生(sheng)(sheng),水(shui)溫(wen)適(shi)宜(yi),適(shi)合魚(yu)(yu)類(lei)產卵(luan)子,孵(fu)(fu)育(yu)后(hou)(hou)(hou)代(dai)(dai)。等到(dao)魚(yu)(yu)卵(luan)孵(fu)(fu)化(hua)(hua)育(yu)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)小(xiao)魚(yu)(yu)之(zhi)后(hou)(hou)(hou),才又乘流(liu)來(lai)(lai)到(dao)廣闊的(de)江河(he),這是(shi)(shi)(shi)魚(yu)(yu)類(lei)生(sheng)(sheng)活的(de)規律,所以,它們(men)的(de)拼死(si)跳躍(yue)(yue),并非(fei)為(wei)(wei)了(le)(le)化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long),而(er)是(shi)(shi)(shi)為(wei)(wei)了(le)(le)孵(fu)(fu)育(yu)后(hou)(hou)(hou)代(dai)(dai)。故(gu)“鯉(li)躍(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)”只(zhi)是(shi)(shi)(shi)人(ren)們(men)一(yi)(yi)種(zhong)美好(hao)的(de)愿(yuan)望。封(feng)建(jian)(jian)社會,憑(ping)科考(kao)取士,使許(xu)多(duo)讀(du)書人(ren)一(yi)(yi)朝考(kao)中便(bian)可(ke)飛黃(huang)(huang)騰(teng)達,就(jiu)如鯉(li)躍(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)一(yi)(yi)樣脫胎換(huan)骨。故(gu)而(er)人(ren)們(men)用(yong)“鯉(li)躍(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)”來(lai)(lai)激(ji)勵讀(du)書人(ren)。揭陽(yang)學宮(gong)大(da)門(men)外照壁(bi)(bi)有(you)(you)(you)鯉(li)躍(yue)(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)浮雕,更明顯地是(shi)(shi)(shi)借傳(chuan)(chuan)說(shuo)(shuo)來(lai)(lai)對(dui)(dui)讀(du)書人(ren)的(de)勉勵。由此(ci)(ci),化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)一(yi)(yi)事,并非(fei)真實(shi)。府(fu)(fu)志(zhi)、縣志(zhi)雖有(you)(you)(you)記載,但也只(zhi)上傳(chuan)(chuan)說(shuo)(shuo)而(er)已。漁(yu)湖(hu)的(de)先(xian)(xian)輩們(men),為(wei)(wei)這座(zuo)橋(qiao)起(qi)名(ming)(ming)化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long),也是(shi)(shi)(shi)借此(ci)(ci)激(ji)勵后(hou)(hou)(hou)代(dai)(dai)。后(hou)(hou)(hou)來(lai)(lai)果然(ran)有(you)(you)(you)了(le)(le)效(xiao)應,從宋至(zhi)清,數(shu)百(bai)年的(de)科考(kao),漁(yu)湖(hu)人(ren)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)“龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)”者(zhe)比別處(chu)為(wei)(wei)多(duo),為(wei)(wei)地方增添了(le)(le)光(guang)彩。還有(you)(you)(you)一(yi)(yi)個(ge)問(wen)題(ti),漁(yu)湖(hu)地方,有(you)(you)(you)許(xu)多(duo)座(zuo)橋(qiao),為(wei)(wei)何唯獨此(ci)(ci)橋(qiao)稱“化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)”呢?據分析,這個(ge)地方,古時(shi)可(ke)能有(you)(you)(you)些特殊的(de)地理條(tiao)(tiao)件,它地處(chu)大(da)江之(zhi)濱,是(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)(yi)條(tiao)(tiao)大(da)支(zhi)流(liu),入(ru)口后(hou)(hou)(hou)有(you)(you)(you)許(xu)多(duo)小(xiao)溪(xi)(xi)分流(liu),潮水(shui)漲落,這里(li)定有(you)(you)(you)洶涌(yong)激(ji)蕩(dang)之(zhi)勢(shi)。每年春夏之(zhi)交,大(da)雨滂(pang)沱,廣闊田(tian)野之(zhi)水(shui),涌(yong)入(ru)溝渠(qu),匯入(ru)小(xiao)溪(xi)(xi),沖(chong)進榕江,當時(shi)水(shui)猛之(zhi)處(chu),便(bian)有(you)(you)(you)許(xu)多(duo)魚(yu)(yu)類(lei),爭(zheng)(zheng)著涌(yong)入(ru)河(he)口,爭(zheng)(zheng)先(xian)(xian)跳躍(yue)(yue),形成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)躍(yue)(yue)鯉(li)之(zhi)勢(shi)。魚(yu)(yu)類(lei)爭(zheng)(zheng)入(ru)溪(xi)(xi)港,躍(yue)(yue)上田(tian)間,目(mu)的(de)是(shi)(shi)(shi)水(shui)暖雜(za)草(cao)叢生(sheng)(sheng),宜(yi)于小(xiao)魚(yu)(yu)孵(fu)(fu)化(hua)(hua)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)長(chang),繁育(yu)后(hou)(hou)(hou)代(dai)(dai)。宋時(shi)漁(yu)湖(hu)陳翁建(jian)(jian)橋(qiao)時(shi),見有(you)(you)(you)鯉(li)魚(yu)(yu)爭(zheng)(zheng)躍(yue)(yue)現象,為(wei)(wei)激(ji)勵后(hou)(hou)(hou)代(dai)(dai)乃(nai)取名(ming)(ming)“化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)”。
化龍橋的(de)(de)歷(li)代(dai)變遷史,以及它(ta)的(de)(de)具體位置,揭陽縣(xian)的(de)(de)一些(xie)史乘(cheng)也(ye)各有(you)(you)記(ji)述(shu)。清代(dai)咸(xian)豐庚(geng)申年(1860)。有(you)(you)在城人(ren)(ren)陳(chen)啟(qi)敬(jing)首出巨資修(xiu)建此橋,民(min)國七年(1918),因地震,石(shi)欄桿(gan)多處損壞,橋下水(shui)(shui)深(shen)且猛,過路行人(ren)(ren)有(you)(you)落(luo)水(shui)(shui)而亡者,也(ye)有(you)(you)人(ren)(ren)來此自殺(sha),曾被(bei)人(ren)(ren)稱(cheng)“化冥(ming)橋”。后有(you)(you)廣美(mei)村人(ren)(ren)時任縣(xian)督學局長,動員其父黃就科,將準(zhun)備慶祝80大(da)壽之資用,捐出修(xiu)橋。民(min)國十六年(1935),港口(kou)村慶德善堂又發起修(xiu)橋募捐,歸僑林森盛捐資最多,才把化龍橋修(xiu)成一座(zuo)堅固、美(mei)觀、安全的(de)(de)大(da)石(shi)橋。
化龍(long)橋的所在(zai),據縣志說,在(zai)官鋪之(zhi)左,官鋪就(jiu)是驛站。舊時,漁(yu)湖(hu)都(dou)有一官道,路經化龍(long)橋,右邊有一鋪上村,就(jiu)是當年官鋪的所在(zai)地(di)。從位置測(ce)定,現在(zai)的漁(yu)湖(hu)橋,就(jiu)是當年的化龍(long)橋。在(zai)光緒(xu)年間,便漸(jian)有人(ren)(ren)把化龍(long)橋稱(cheng)為(wei)漁(yu)湖(hu)橋了。而真正改為(wei)漁(yu)湖(hu)橋的是1972至1979年間,漁(yu)湖(hu)人(ren)(ren)民公社遷來于此(ci),成為(wei)行政中心,因此(ci)便都(dou)稱(cheng)為(wei)漁(yu)湖(hu)橋,化龍(long)橋這(zhe)一原(yuan)名,幾乎被人(ren)(ren)遺忘了。