說它是古橋(qiao),因它始建于北宋(song)真(zhen)宗咸平(ping)二年(999),比(bi)復置(zhi)揭(jie)陽縣還(huan)早141年。“化龍(long)橋(qiao)”相(xiang)傳(chuan)有(you)(you)黑(hei)(hei)鯉在此化龍(long)而得名(ming)。《潮(chao)州(zhou)府志(zhi)》首卷有(you)(you):“化龍(long)橋(qiao),相(xiang)傳(chuan)有(you)(you)魚于此化龍(long),故名(ming)。”清乾隆年間修(xiu)的《揭(jie)陽縣志(zhi)》也載:“化龍(long)橋(qiao),在漁湖官(guan)鋪(pu)之(zhi)左。宋(song)咸平(ping)二年,鄉民陳翁建。長四(si)丈(zhang),廣一丈(zhang)。都民有(you)(you)利風水者,筑路(lu)于此,行者迂之(zhi),控之(zhi)府,治其(qi)罪。嘉靖戊(wu)子年,鄉民共(gong)修(xiu)橋(qiao)岸,尋潰。萬歷辛亥(hai)年,知(zhi)縣潘應龍(long)重建。相(xiang)傳(chuan)有(you)(you)黑(hei)(hei)鯉化龍(long)于此,故名(ming)。”
從府(fu)縣(xian)志(zhi)書看到:化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)得(de)名(ming),皆因有(you)(you)魚在此(ci)(ci)化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)而(er)得(de)名(ming)的(de)(de)(de),但(dan)鯉(li)與(yu)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)兩(liang)種性質不(bu)(bu)同的(de)(de)(de)水(shui)(shui)族,怎(zen)會變化(hua)(hua)?其實(shi),鯉(li)化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long),是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)人(ren)(ren)們一種有(you)(you)象征意(yi)義的(de)(de)(de)傳(chuan)(chuan)說(shuo)(shuo),這傳(chuan)(chuan)說(shuo)(shuo)起于《山海經(jing)》,至《三秦記(ji)》便(bian)(bian)形(xing)成(cheng)了(le)“鯉(li)魚躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)”這句(ju)表(biao)達人(ren)(ren)們美好愿望的(de)(de)(de)吉(ji)利語。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men),是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)一個峽(xia)口,在山西省(sheng)河(he)津西北(bei),黃(huang)河(he)流(liu)經(jing)這里,兩(liang)岸峭壁(bi)對峙,形(xing)成(cheng)闕(que)門(men)(men)(men),河(he)廣又(you)由(you)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)而(er)下(xia),水(shui)(shui)勢(shi)(shi)直(zhi)瀉,是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)黃(huang)河(he)三門(men)(men)(men)峽(xia)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)一。每(mei)年春(chun)夏季節,都有(you)(you)許(xu)(xu)多(duo)(duo)大魚,以(yi)黃(huang)河(he)鯉(li)為多(duo)(duo),不(bu)(bu)遠萬里逆流(liu)至此(ci)(ci),爭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)先(xian)恐(kong)后(hou)向龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)峽(xia)口跳(tiao)躍(yue),能(neng)躍(yue)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)的(de)(de)(de)便(bian)(bian)可(ke)化(hua)(hua)為龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)。其實(shi)不(bu)(bu)然(ran),這只(zhi)(zhi)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)魚類(lei)要(yao)到上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)游(you)產卵之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)故。龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)以(yi)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)的(de)(de)(de)河(he)道,支流(liu)都是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)水(shui)(shui)淺流(liu)緩(huan),水(shui)(shui)草(cao)叢生,水(shui)(shui)溫適(shi)宜,適(shi)合魚類(lei)產卵子(zi),孵育(yu)(yu)后(hou)代。等(deng)到魚卵孵化(hua)(hua)育(yu)(yu)成(cheng)小(xiao)(xiao)魚之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)后(hou),才又(you)乘流(liu)來(lai)到廣闊的(de)(de)(de)江河(he),這是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)魚類(lei)生活的(de)(de)(de)規律,所以(yi),它們的(de)(de)(de)拼死跳(tiao)躍(yue),并(bing)非(fei)為了(le)化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long),而(er)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)為了(le)孵育(yu)(yu)后(hou)代。故“鯉(li)躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)”只(zhi)(zhi)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)人(ren)(ren)們一種美好的(de)(de)(de)愿望。封建(jian)社會,憑科(ke)考取士(shi),使許(xu)(xu)多(duo)(duo)讀(du)書人(ren)(ren)一朝(chao)考中(zhong)便(bian)(bian)可(ke)飛黃(huang)騰達,就如鯉(li)躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)一樣脫胎換骨。故而(er)人(ren)(ren)們用“鯉(li)躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)”來(lai)激勵(li)讀(du)書人(ren)(ren)。揭(jie)陽學宮(gong)大門(men)(men)(men)外(wai)照壁(bi)有(you)(you)鯉(li)躍(yue)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)浮雕,更(geng)明顯(xian)地(di)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)借(jie)傳(chuan)(chuan)說(shuo)(shuo)來(lai)對讀(du)書人(ren)(ren)的(de)(de)(de)勉勵(li)。由(you)此(ci)(ci),化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)一事,并(bing)非(fei)真(zhen)實(shi)。府(fu)志(zhi)、縣(xian)志(zhi)雖有(you)(you)記(ji)載,但(dan)也只(zhi)(zhi)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)傳(chuan)(chuan)說(shuo)(shuo)而(er)已。漁(yu)湖的(de)(de)(de)先(xian)輩們,為這座(zuo)橋(qiao)(qiao)起名(ming)化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long),也是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)借(jie)此(ci)(ci)激勵(li)后(hou)代。后(hou)來(lai)果然(ran)有(you)(you)了(le)效(xiao)應,從宋(song)至清,數百年的(de)(de)(de)科(ke)考,漁(yu)湖人(ren)(ren)成(cheng)“龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)”者比別處為多(duo)(duo),為地(di)方(fang)增添了(le)光彩。還有(you)(you)一個問題,漁(yu)湖地(di)方(fang),有(you)(you)許(xu)(xu)多(duo)(duo)座(zuo)橋(qiao)(qiao),為何唯獨此(ci)(ci)橋(qiao)(qiao)稱“化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)”呢?據分析,這個地(di)方(fang),古(gu)時(shi)可(ke)能(neng)有(you)(you)些特殊的(de)(de)(de)地(di)理條件,它地(di)處大江之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)濱,是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)一條大支流(liu),入(ru)口后(hou)有(you)(you)許(xu)(xu)多(duo)(duo)小(xiao)(xiao)溪分流(liu),潮水(shui)(shui)漲(zhang)落,這里定有(you)(you)洶涌激蕩之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)勢(shi)(shi)。每(mei)年春(chun)夏之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)交,大雨滂沱(tuo),廣闊田野之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)水(shui)(shui),涌入(ru)溝渠(qu),匯入(ru)小(xiao)(xiao)溪,沖(chong)進(jin)榕江,當時(shi)水(shui)(shui)猛之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)處,便(bian)(bian)有(you)(you)許(xu)(xu)多(duo)(duo)魚類(lei),爭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)著(zhu)涌入(ru)河(he)口,爭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)先(xian)跳(tiao)躍(yue),形(xing)成(cheng)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)門(men)(men)(men)躍(yue)鯉(li)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)勢(shi)(shi)。魚類(lei)爭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)入(ru)溪港,躍(yue)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)田間,目的(de)(de)(de)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)水(shui)(shui)暖(nuan)雜草(cao)叢生,宜于小(xiao)(xiao)魚孵化(hua)(hua)成(cheng)長,繁育(yu)(yu)后(hou)代。宋(song)時(shi)漁(yu)湖陳翁建(jian)橋(qiao)(qiao)時(shi),見有(you)(you)鯉(li)魚爭(zheng)(zheng)(zheng)躍(yue)現(xian)象,為激勵(li)后(hou)代乃取名(ming)“化(hua)(hua)龍(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)”。
化(hua)龍(long)橋的歷(li)代變遷史,以(yi)及它的具體位置,揭(jie)陽縣(xian)的一些史乘也各(ge)有(you)記述。清代咸豐庚申(shen)年(1860)。有(you)在城人(ren)(ren)陳啟敬首出巨資(zi)修建此橋,民(min)國(guo)七年(1918),因地震,石欄桿(gan)多處損壞,橋下(xia)水深且猛,過路(lu)行人(ren)(ren)有(you)落水而亡(wang)者(zhe),也有(you)人(ren)(ren)來此自殺,曾被人(ren)(ren)稱“化(hua)冥橋”。后有(you)廣美(mei)村人(ren)(ren)時任縣(xian)督學局(ju)長,動員其父黃就科,將準(zhun)備慶祝(zhu)80大壽之(zhi)資(zi)用,捐出修橋。民(min)國(guo)十六年(1935),港口村慶德善堂又發起修橋募捐,歸僑林森盛捐資(zi)最(zui)多,才把化(hua)龍(long)橋修成一座堅(jian)固、美(mei)觀、安全的大石橋。
化(hua)龍(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)所在(zai),據(ju)縣志說,在(zai)官(guan)鋪(pu)之左,官(guan)鋪(pu)就是驛站。舊時,漁(yu)湖(hu)都(dou)有一官(guan)道,路經化(hua)龍(long)橋(qiao)(qiao),右邊(bian)有一鋪(pu)上村(cun),就是當年(nian)官(guan)鋪(pu)的(de)(de)所在(zai)地。從位置測定,現在(zai)的(de)(de)漁(yu)湖(hu)橋(qiao)(qiao),就是當年(nian)的(de)(de)化(hua)龍(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)。在(zai)光(guang)緒年(nian)間,便(bian)漸(jian)有人(ren)把(ba)化(hua)龍(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)稱(cheng)(cheng)為漁(yu)湖(hu)橋(qiao)(qiao)了(le)。而真正改為漁(yu)湖(hu)橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)是1972至1979年(nian)間,漁(yu)湖(hu)人(ren)民公社遷(qian)來于此,成為行(xing)政中心,因此便(bian)都(dou)稱(cheng)(cheng)為漁(yu)湖(hu)橋(qiao)(qiao),化(hua)龍(long)橋(qiao)(qiao)這一原名,幾乎被人(ren)遺(yi)忘(wang)了(le)。