說它是(shi)古橋,因(yin)它始建(jian)于(yu)(yu)北宋(song)真宗(zong)咸平(ping)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(999),比復置揭(jie)陽縣還早141年(nian)(nian)(nian)。“化(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)橋”相傳有(you)(you)黑(hei)(hei)鯉在(zai)此(ci)(ci)化(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)而(er)得名(ming)。《潮州府志(zhi)》首卷有(you)(you):“化(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)橋,相傳有(you)(you)魚于(yu)(yu)此(ci)(ci)化(hua)龍(long)(long)(long),故名(ming)。”清乾隆年(nian)(nian)(nian)間修的《揭(jie)陽縣志(zhi)》也載:“化(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)橋,在(zai)漁湖官鋪之(zhi)左(zuo)。宋(song)咸平(ping)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian),鄉(xiang)民(min)陳翁建(jian)。長(chang)四丈(zhang),廣一丈(zhang)。都民(min)有(you)(you)利風水者(zhe),筑(zhu)路(lu)于(yu)(yu)此(ci)(ci),行(xing)者(zhe)迂之(zhi),控(kong)之(zhi)府,治其罪。嘉靖戊子年(nian)(nian)(nian),鄉(xiang)民(min)共修橋岸,尋(xun)潰。萬歷辛亥年(nian)(nian)(nian),知縣潘(pan)應龍(long)(long)(long)重建(jian)。相傳有(you)(you)黑(hei)(hei)鯉化(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)于(yu)(yu)此(ci)(ci),故名(ming)。”
從(cong)府縣志書看到:化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)橋之(zhi)(zhi)得(de)(de)名(ming)(ming),皆(jie)因有(you)(you)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)在(zai)此(ci)化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)而(er)得(de)(de)名(ming)(ming)的(de),但鯉(li)與(yu)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)是(shi)(shi)(shi)兩種(zhong)(zhong)性質不(bu)同的(de)水(shui)(shui)族,怎會變化(hua)(hua)?其實,鯉(li)化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long),是(shi)(shi)(shi)人們(men)一(yi)種(zhong)(zhong)有(you)(you)象征意義的(de)傳說(shuo),這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)傳說(shuo)起(qi)(qi)于(yu)(yu)《山(shan)海經》,至(zhi)《三秦記(ji)》便(bian)(bian)形成(cheng)(cheng)了(le)(le)(le)“鯉(li)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)”這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)句(ju)表達(da)人們(men)美好愿望(wang)的(de)吉利(li)語。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men),是(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)個峽(xia)口,在(zai)山(shan)西(xi)省(sheng)河(he)(he)津(jin)西(xi)北,黃河(he)(he)流(liu)(liu)經這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)里(li),兩岸峭壁對峙,形成(cheng)(cheng)闕門(men)(men)(men),河(he)(he)廣(guang)又由(you)上而(er)下,水(shui)(shui)勢(shi)直(zhi)瀉,是(shi)(shi)(shi)黃河(he)(he)三門(men)(men)(men)峽(xia)之(zhi)(zhi)一(yi)。每(mei)年(nian)春夏(xia)季(ji)節,都有(you)(you)許(xu)(xu)(xu)多(duo)(duo)大(da)(da)魚(yu)(yu)(yu),以(yi)(yi)(yi)黃河(he)(he)鯉(li)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)多(duo)(duo),不(bu)遠萬里(li)逆流(liu)(liu)至(zhi)此(ci),爭(zheng)先(xian)(xian)恐(kong)后(hou)向龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)峽(xia)口跳躍(yue),能(neng)躍(yue)上的(de)便(bian)(bian)可化(hua)(hua)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)。其實不(bu)然(ran),這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)只是(shi)(shi)(shi)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)類要到上游(you)產卵(luan)之(zhi)(zhi)故。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)以(yi)(yi)(yi)上的(de)河(he)(he)道(dao),支流(liu)(liu)都是(shi)(shi)(shi)水(shui)(shui)淺流(liu)(liu)緩(huan),水(shui)(shui)草叢(cong)生(sheng),水(shui)(shui)溫適宜(yi),適合(he)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)類產卵(luan)子,孵(fu)育(yu)后(hou)代(dai)。等到魚(yu)(yu)(yu)卵(luan)孵(fu)化(hua)(hua)育(yu)成(cheng)(cheng)小(xiao)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)之(zhi)(zhi)后(hou),才(cai)又乘流(liu)(liu)來(lai)到廣(guang)闊(kuo)的(de)江(jiang)河(he)(he),這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)是(shi)(shi)(shi)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)類生(sheng)活的(de)規律(lv),所以(yi)(yi)(yi),它們(men)的(de)拼死(si)跳躍(yue),并(bing)非為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)了(le)(le)(le)化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long),而(er)是(shi)(shi)(shi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)了(le)(le)(le)孵(fu)育(yu)后(hou)代(dai)。故“鯉(li)躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)”只是(shi)(shi)(shi)人們(men)一(yi)種(zhong)(zhong)美好的(de)愿望(wang)。封建社(she)會,憑(ping)科考(kao)取士,使許(xu)(xu)(xu)多(duo)(duo)讀書人一(yi)朝考(kao)中便(bian)(bian)可飛黃騰達(da),就(jiu)如鯉(li)躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)一(yi)樣脫胎換骨。故而(er)人們(men)用“鯉(li)躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)”來(lai)激(ji)勵讀書人。揭陽學宮(gong)大(da)(da)門(men)(men)(men)外照壁有(you)(you)鯉(li)躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)浮(fu)雕(diao),更明顯地是(shi)(shi)(shi)借(jie)傳說(shuo)來(lai)對讀書人的(de)勉勵。由(you)此(ci),化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)橋化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)一(yi)事,并(bing)非真實。府志、縣志雖有(you)(you)記(ji)載,但也(ye)只上傳說(shuo)而(er)已。漁湖(hu)的(de)先(xian)(xian)輩們(men),為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)座橋起(qi)(qi)名(ming)(ming)化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long),也(ye)是(shi)(shi)(shi)借(jie)此(ci)激(ji)勵后(hou)代(dai)。后(hou)來(lai)果然(ran)有(you)(you)了(le)(le)(le)效應,從(cong)宋至(zhi)清(qing),數百(bai)年(nian)的(de)科考(kao),漁湖(hu)人成(cheng)(cheng)“龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)”者比別(bie)處為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)多(duo)(duo),為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)地方(fang)增添了(le)(le)(le)光彩。還有(you)(you)一(yi)個問題,漁湖(hu)地方(fang),有(you)(you)許(xu)(xu)(xu)多(duo)(duo)座橋,為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)何(he)唯(wei)獨此(ci)橋稱“化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)”呢?據分(fen)析,這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)個地方(fang),古(gu)時(shi)(shi)可能(neng)有(you)(you)些特殊的(de)地理條(tiao)件,它地處大(da)(da)江(jiang)之(zhi)(zhi)濱,是(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)條(tiao)大(da)(da)支流(liu)(liu),入(ru)口后(hou)有(you)(you)許(xu)(xu)(xu)多(duo)(duo)小(xiao)溪分(fen)流(liu)(liu),潮水(shui)(shui)漲落(luo),這(zhe)(zhe)(zhe)里(li)定有(you)(you)洶涌激(ji)蕩(dang)之(zhi)(zhi)勢(shi)。每(mei)年(nian)春夏(xia)之(zhi)(zhi)交,大(da)(da)雨滂(pang)沱,廣(guang)闊(kuo)田野(ye)之(zhi)(zhi)水(shui)(shui),涌入(ru)溝渠,匯入(ru)小(xiao)溪,沖(chong)進榕(rong)江(jiang),當(dang)時(shi)(shi)水(shui)(shui)猛之(zhi)(zhi)處,便(bian)(bian)有(you)(you)許(xu)(xu)(xu)多(duo)(duo)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)類,爭(zheng)著(zhu)涌入(ru)河(he)(he)口,爭(zheng)先(xian)(xian)跳躍(yue),形成(cheng)(cheng)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)躍(yue)鯉(li)之(zhi)(zhi)勢(shi)。魚(yu)(yu)(yu)類爭(zheng)入(ru)溪港,躍(yue)上田間,目(mu)的(de)是(shi)(shi)(shi)水(shui)(shui)暖雜草叢(cong)生(sheng),宜(yi)于(yu)(yu)小(xiao)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)孵(fu)化(hua)(hua)成(cheng)(cheng)長,繁育(yu)后(hou)代(dai)。宋時(shi)(shi)漁湖(hu)陳翁建橋時(shi)(shi),見有(you)(you)鯉(li)魚(yu)(yu)(yu)爭(zheng)躍(yue)現象,為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)激(ji)勵后(hou)代(dai)乃(nai)取名(ming)(ming)“化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)橋”。
化龍橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)歷(li)代(dai)變遷史(shi),以及(ji)它的(de)具體位(wei)置(zhi),揭(jie)陽(yang)縣(xian)的(de)一些史(shi)乘也各有(you)(you)記(ji)述(shu)。清代(dai)咸豐庚申年(1860)。有(you)(you)在城人(ren)陳(chen)啟敬首出巨資修建(jian)此橋(qiao)(qiao),民國七年(1918),因地震,石欄桿多處損(sun)壞(huai),橋(qiao)(qiao)下水深且(qie)猛(meng),過路行人(ren)有(you)(you)落(luo)水而(er)亡(wang)者(zhe),也有(you)(you)人(ren)來此自殺,曾被人(ren)稱“化冥橋(qiao)(qiao)”。后有(you)(you)廣(guang)美村人(ren)時任縣(xian)督學局(ju)長,動(dong)員其父(fu)黃(huang)就(jiu)科(ke),將準備慶(qing)祝80大壽(shou)之(zhi)資用,捐(juan)(juan)出修橋(qiao)(qiao)。民國十六(liu)年(1935),港口村慶(qing)德善堂又發起(qi)修橋(qiao)(qiao)募捐(juan)(juan),歸僑林森盛捐(juan)(juan)資最多,才把化龍橋(qiao)(qiao)修成一座堅(jian)固、美觀、安全的(de)大石橋(qiao)(qiao)。
化龍(long)橋的(de)所在(zai)(zai),據(ju)縣志說,在(zai)(zai)官(guan)(guan)鋪(pu)之左,官(guan)(guan)鋪(pu)就是(shi)驛站(zhan)。舊時(shi),漁(yu)(yu)湖(hu)都(dou)有(you)(you)一官(guan)(guan)道(dao),路經化龍(long)橋,右邊有(you)(you)一鋪(pu)上村(cun),就是(shi)當(dang)年(nian)官(guan)(guan)鋪(pu)的(de)所在(zai)(zai)地。從位置測定,現在(zai)(zai)的(de)漁(yu)(yu)湖(hu)橋,就是(shi)當(dang)年(nian)的(de)化龍(long)橋。在(zai)(zai)光(guang)緒年(nian)間,便漸有(you)(you)人把化龍(long)橋稱為(wei)漁(yu)(yu)湖(hu)橋了。而真(zhen)正改為(wei)漁(yu)(yu)湖(hu)橋的(de)是(shi)1972至1979年(nian)間,漁(yu)(yu)湖(hu)人民公社遷(qian)來于(yu)此,成為(wei)行政(zheng)中心,因此便都(dou)稱為(wei)漁(yu)(yu)湖(hu)橋,化龍(long)橋這一原名(ming),幾乎被人遺(yi)忘了。