Stone carvings at the Tomb of Emperor Ming of Qi, Xiao Luan

Stone carvings at the Tomb of Emperor Ming of Qi, Xiao Luan

The stone carvings at the Tomb of Emperor Ming of Qi, Xiao Luan, are designated as a Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Tomb of Emperor Ming of Qi, Xiao Luan, is located about 0.5 kilometers northeast of Sancheng Lane, Jinglin Township, Danyang City.

The stone carvings at the Tomb of Emperor Ming of Qi, Xiao Luan, are a Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit. Emperor Xiao Luan, son of Emperor Jing of Qi, Xiao Daocheng, succeeded the deposed Emperor Hailing Wang and ascended the throne. He died in the first year of the Yongtai era (498), was posthumously honored as Emperor Ming, with the temple name Gaozong, and was buried in Xing’an Tomb. The tomb faces east and has been leveled. In front of the tomb, a pair of stone beasts still remains—the southern one is a qilin, while the northern beast’s limbs are damaged, with only the rear part remaining, buried in the earth. The qilin is 3.02 meters long, with a remaining height of 2.7 meters, a neck height of 1.35 meters, and a body girth of 2.78 meters. All four legs are missing. Its form features a raised head and drooping tail, a short neck, a single horn (now broken), and a hanging long beard under the chin. The wings are uniquely shaped, composed of four small wings integrated seamlessly with the long hair on the chest, presenting an elegant and highly decorative appearance. The creature’s spine is raised, adorned from head to tail with a row of linked beads, all intricately and exquisitely carved.

Jiangsu Provincial Provincial-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units, First and Second Batches, adjusted and announced in March 1982: Stone carvings at the Tomb of Emperor Ming of Qi, Xiao Luan (Southern Dynasties, 498), located at San Chengxiang, Jinglin, Danyang County, north side. In 1988, as part of the “Danyang Southern Dynasties Tomb Stone Carvings,” it was announced as part of the third batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Stone carvings at the Tomb of Emperor Ming of Qi, Xiao Luan

Xiao Luan (452–498 AD), son of Xiao Daocheng and Lady Jiang. He deposed Xiao Zhaowen and declared himself emperor at the age of 43, reigning for five years (494–498 AD). He died of illness and was buried in Xing’an Tomb. His reign titles were Jianwu and Yongtai. The Tomb of Emperor Ming of Qi is located in present-day Sancheng Lane, Jinglin Township, Danyang City, Jiangsu Province. Xing’an Tomb is the joint burial site of Emperor Ming and Empress Liu. The tomb faces east, and its mound has long been leveled, with only two stone beasts remaining in front. The northern beast is believed to be a tianlu, with only the rear half preserved and buried underground. The southern beast is a qilin, its single horn broken and all four feet missing, but the figure remains very tall, measuring 3.02 meters in length and 2.78 meters in remaining height, with the whole body slightly forming an “S” shape. The decoration is relatively complex, particularly the wings, which are uniquely formed by combining four small wings into one large wing, with additional feather patterns on the abdomen, giving a very intricate appearance. Ingenious though it may be, it inevitably gives a somewhat delicate impression. Xiao Luan lost his father at a young age, and Emperor Gao of Qi, Xiao Daocheng, treated him like his own son. Xiao Daocheng’s eldest son, Crown Prince Wenhuai, died early, leading Xiao Luan to harbor ambitions for the throne. After the death of Emperor Wu, Xiao Zhaoye, son of Crown Prince Wenhuai, succeeded the throne. Xiao Luan used conspiratorial means to depose Zhaoye as King of Yulin and had him killed in the first year of the Longchang era, then installed Zhaoye’s younger brother, Xiao Zhaowen, as emperor. In October of the same year, he deposed Zhaowen as King of Hailing and declared himself emperor. Xiao Luan was inherently suspicious, and his paranoia intensified after seizing the throne. He lived in seclusion, rarely making public appearances, and even when he occasionally traveled, he employed misleading tactics—claiming to go west while heading east, or north while going south, baffling those around him. Fearing others might follow his example to usurp the throne, he executed many descendants of Emperors Gao and Wu. Nearly everyone he deemed a potential threat to the throne was put to death, rapidly intensifying internal conflicts among the ruling class. At this time, Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei launched a southern campaign, leaving the Qi regime trapped in both internal and external crises, soon to be replaced by the Liang Dynasty.

Panoramic view of Xing’an Tomb

Remains of the Tienlu at Xing’an Tomb

Qilin at Xing’an Tomb

Further reading:

· First and Second Batches of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units