說它是古橋(qiao),因它始建(jian)(jian)于(yu)北宋(song)真(zhen)宗(zong)咸平(ping)二年(999),比復置揭陽縣(xian)還早(zao)141年。“化龍橋(qiao)”相(xiang)傳(chuan)有黑鯉在此(ci)化龍而(er)得名。《潮州府志》首卷有:“化龍橋(qiao),相(xiang)傳(chuan)有魚于(yu)此(ci)化龍,故(gu)名。”清(qing)乾隆年間修的《揭陽縣(xian)志》也(ye)載:“化龍橋(qiao),在漁湖官鋪之左。宋(song)咸平(ping)二年,鄉(xiang)民(min)(min)陳翁建(jian)(jian)。長四丈,廣一(yi)丈。都民(min)(min)有利風水者,筑路于(yu)此(ci),行者迂之,控之府,治其罪。嘉靖戊子(zi)年,鄉(xiang)民(min)(min)共修橋(qiao)岸(an),尋潰。萬歷辛亥年,知縣(xian)潘應龍重建(jian)(jian)。相(xiang)傳(chuan)有黑鯉化龍于(yu)此(ci),故(gu)名。”
從府(fu)縣(xian)志(zhi)書看到(dao):化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)橋之(zhi)(zhi)得名(ming)(ming),皆(jie)因(yin)有(you)(you)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)在此(ci)(ci)化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)而(er)得名(ming)(ming)的(de)(de)(de),但(dan)鯉與(yu)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)是(shi)(shi)兩種(zhong)性質不(bu)同的(de)(de)(de)水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)族,怎會變化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)?其實(shi),鯉化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long),是(shi)(shi)人們(men)一(yi)(yi)種(zhong)有(you)(you)象征意義的(de)(de)(de)傳說(shuo)(shuo),這傳說(shuo)(shuo)起于《山(shan)海(hai)經》,至(zhi)(zhi)《三秦記(ji)》便(bian)(bian)(bian)形成了(le)(le)(le)“鯉魚(yu)(yu)(yu)躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)”這句(ju)表達(da)人們(men)美好愿望(wang)的(de)(de)(de)吉利語(yu)。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men),是(shi)(shi)一(yi)(yi)個(ge)峽口,在山(shan)西(xi)省河(he)(he)(he)津西(xi)北,黃河(he)(he)(he)流(liu)經這里(li)(li),兩岸峭壁(bi)對峙,形成闕門(men),河(he)(he)(he)廣又由(you)上(shang)(shang)而(er)下,水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)勢(shi)直瀉,是(shi)(shi)黃河(he)(he)(he)三門(men)峽之(zhi)(zhi)一(yi)(yi)。每年(nian)春夏季節,都有(you)(you)許多(duo)大魚(yu)(yu)(yu),以(yi)黃河(he)(he)(he)鯉為(wei)(wei)多(duo),不(bu)遠萬里(li)(li)逆流(liu)至(zhi)(zhi)此(ci)(ci),爭(zheng)(zheng)先(xian)(xian)恐后(hou)(hou)向龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)峽口跳(tiao)躍(yue),能躍(yue)上(shang)(shang)的(de)(de)(de)便(bian)(bian)(bian)可(ke)化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)為(wei)(wei)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)。其實(shi)不(bu)然,這只是(shi)(shi)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)類要到(dao)上(shang)(shang)游產卵(luan)(luan)之(zhi)(zhi)故。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)以(yi)上(shang)(shang)的(de)(de)(de)河(he)(he)(he)道,支流(liu)都是(shi)(shi)水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)淺流(liu)緩(huan),水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)草叢生,水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)溫適宜(yi),適合魚(yu)(yu)(yu)類產卵(luan)(luan)子,孵(fu)育(yu)(yu)后(hou)(hou)代。等到(dao)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)卵(luan)(luan)孵(fu)化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)育(yu)(yu)成小(xiao)(xiao)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)之(zhi)(zhi)后(hou)(hou),才又乘流(liu)來(lai)到(dao)廣闊的(de)(de)(de)江河(he)(he)(he),這是(shi)(shi)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)類生活的(de)(de)(de)規律,所以(yi),它(ta)們(men)的(de)(de)(de)拼死跳(tiao)躍(yue),并非為(wei)(wei)了(le)(le)(le)化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long),而(er)是(shi)(shi)為(wei)(wei)了(le)(le)(le)孵(fu)育(yu)(yu)后(hou)(hou)代。故“鯉躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)”只是(shi)(shi)人們(men)一(yi)(yi)種(zhong)美好的(de)(de)(de)愿望(wang)。封建社(she)會,憑(ping)科(ke)考(kao)(kao)取士,使許多(duo)讀書人一(yi)(yi)朝考(kao)(kao)中便(bian)(bian)(bian)可(ke)飛黃騰達(da),就(jiu)如鯉躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)一(yi)(yi)樣脫(tuo)胎換(huan)骨。故而(er)人們(men)用“鯉躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)”來(lai)激(ji)勵讀書人。揭陽學(xue)宮(gong)大門(men)外(wai)照(zhao)壁(bi)有(you)(you)鯉躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)浮雕,更明顯地(di)(di)是(shi)(shi)借(jie)(jie)傳說(shuo)(shuo)來(lai)對讀書人的(de)(de)(de)勉勵。由(you)此(ci)(ci),化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)橋化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)一(yi)(yi)事,并非真實(shi)。府(fu)志(zhi)、縣(xian)志(zhi)雖(sui)有(you)(you)記(ji)載,但(dan)也(ye)只上(shang)(shang)傳說(shuo)(shuo)而(er)已(yi)。漁(yu)湖的(de)(de)(de)先(xian)(xian)輩們(men),為(wei)(wei)這座(zuo)橋起名(ming)(ming)化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long),也(ye)是(shi)(shi)借(jie)(jie)此(ci)(ci)激(ji)勵后(hou)(hou)代。后(hou)(hou)來(lai)果然有(you)(you)了(le)(le)(le)效應,從宋(song)至(zhi)(zhi)清,數百年(nian)的(de)(de)(de)科(ke)考(kao)(kao),漁(yu)湖人成“龍(long)(long)(long)(long)”者比別處(chu)為(wei)(wei)多(duo),為(wei)(wei)地(di)(di)方增添了(le)(le)(le)光彩。還有(you)(you)一(yi)(yi)個(ge)問題,漁(yu)湖地(di)(di)方,有(you)(you)許多(duo)座(zuo)橋,為(wei)(wei)何(he)唯獨此(ci)(ci)橋稱(cheng)“化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)”呢?據分(fen)析,這個(ge)地(di)(di)方,古時(shi)可(ke)能有(you)(you)些(xie)特(te)殊的(de)(de)(de)地(di)(di)理(li)條件(jian),它(ta)地(di)(di)處(chu)大江之(zhi)(zhi)濱,是(shi)(shi)一(yi)(yi)條大支流(liu),入(ru)(ru)口后(hou)(hou)有(you)(you)許多(duo)小(xiao)(xiao)溪(xi)分(fen)流(liu),潮水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)漲落,這里(li)(li)定有(you)(you)洶涌激(ji)蕩(dang)之(zhi)(zhi)勢(shi)。每年(nian)春夏之(zhi)(zhi)交,大雨滂(pang)沱(tuo),廣闊田野之(zhi)(zhi)水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui),涌入(ru)(ru)溝渠(qu),匯入(ru)(ru)小(xiao)(xiao)溪(xi),沖進(jin)榕(rong)江,當時(shi)水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)猛之(zhi)(zhi)處(chu),便(bian)(bian)(bian)有(you)(you)許多(duo)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)類,爭(zheng)(zheng)著涌入(ru)(ru)河(he)(he)(he)口,爭(zheng)(zheng)先(xian)(xian)跳(tiao)躍(yue),形成龍(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)躍(yue)鯉之(zhi)(zhi)勢(shi)。魚(yu)(yu)(yu)類爭(zheng)(zheng)入(ru)(ru)溪(xi)港(gang),躍(yue)上(shang)(shang)田間(jian),目的(de)(de)(de)是(shi)(shi)水(shui)(shui)(shui)(shui)暖雜(za)草叢生,宜(yi)于小(xiao)(xiao)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)孵(fu)化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)成長,繁育(yu)(yu)后(hou)(hou)代。宋(song)時(shi)漁(yu)湖陳翁建橋時(shi),見有(you)(you)鯉魚(yu)(yu)(yu)爭(zheng)(zheng)躍(yue)現象,為(wei)(wei)激(ji)勵后(hou)(hou)代乃取名(ming)(ming)“化(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)橋”。
化(hua)龍橋(qiao)的(de)歷代變(bian)遷史(shi),以及它的(de)具體位(wei)置,揭陽縣(xian)的(de)一(yi)些(xie)史(shi)乘(cheng)也(ye)各有(you)記述。清代咸豐庚申年(nian)(nian)(1860)。有(you)在城人陳啟敬首出(chu)巨資(zi)修(xiu)建此(ci)橋(qiao),民國七年(nian)(nian)(1918),因地震,石欄桿多(duo)處損壞,橋(qiao)下(xia)水(shui)深(shen)且猛,過(guo)路行人有(you)落(luo)水(shui)而亡者,也(ye)有(you)人來此(ci)自殺,曾(ceng)被(bei)人稱(cheng)“化(hua)冥橋(qiao)”。后有(you)廣美村人時任縣(xian)督學(xue)局(ju)長,動員其(qi)父黃就(jiu)科(ke),將準(zhun)備慶祝80大壽之資(zi)用,捐出(chu)修(xiu)橋(qiao)。民國十(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(1935),港口村慶德善堂又發(fa)起修(xiu)橋(qiao)募捐,歸僑林森盛捐資(zi)最多(duo),才把(ba)化(hua)龍橋(qiao)修(xiu)成一(yi)座堅固、美觀、安全(quan)的(de)大石橋(qiao)。
化(hua)龍(long)(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)的所(suo)在(zai),據縣志說,在(zai)官鋪之左,官鋪就是(shi)(shi)驛站。舊時,漁(yu)(yu)湖(hu)都有一(yi)官道(dao),路經(jing)化(hua)龍(long)(long)橋(qiao)(qiao),右邊有一(yi)鋪上(shang)村(cun),就是(shi)(shi)當年官鋪的所(suo)在(zai)地。從位置測(ce)定,現(xian)在(zai)的漁(yu)(yu)湖(hu)橋(qiao)(qiao),就是(shi)(shi)當年的化(hua)龍(long)(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)。在(zai)光緒年間(jian),便漸有人把化(hua)龍(long)(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)稱為漁(yu)(yu)湖(hu)橋(qiao)(qiao)了。而(er)真正改為漁(yu)(yu)湖(hu)橋(qiao)(qiao)的是(shi)(shi)1972至1979年間(jian),漁(yu)(yu)湖(hu)人民公社(she)遷來于此,成為行政中心,因此便都稱為漁(yu)(yu)湖(hu)橋(qiao)(qiao),化(hua)龍(long)(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)這一(yi)原名,幾乎被人遺忘了。