Stone Carvings of Southern Dynasties Tombs in Nanjing

Stone Carvings of Southern Dynasties Tombs in Nanjing

The stone carvings of Southern Dynasties tombs in Nanjing are listed as Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

The stone carvings of Southern Dynasties tombs, artistic treasures that embody the charm of ancient Nanjing as the capital of the Southern Dynasties, number 32 in total across Jiangsu Province, with 19 located in the Nanjing area, distributed in places such as Jiangning and Qixia. These carvings date back to the Liu Song Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties, approximately 1,500 years ago. Among the 19 tomb stone carvings, there are 3 imperial mausoleums and 7 tombs of unknown identity.

Most of these tombs face south, with the stone carvings located about a kilometer away from the mausoleums. They typically include tomb-guarding mythical beasts, stone pillars along the spirit way, and spirit way steles. The tomb-guarding beasts come in three types: the double-horned Tianlu (heavenly deer), the single-horned Qilin (unicorn), and the hornless Pixie (a fierce creature), all of which share similar forms—tall and majestic, with heads held high, mouths open and teeth bared, fierce eyes, wings carved on both sides of the body, and legs arranged in an alternating front-back stance, exuding a solemn and imposing aura. Tianlu and Qilin were reserved exclusively for imperial tombs, while Pixies were used only in front of the tombs of nobles.

The Tianlu and Qilin in front of the Yongning Mausoleum of Emperor Chen Qian of the Chen Dynasty at Shizichong in Qixia District are representative works of imperial tomb beasts. Standing facing each other, their designs are vigorous and agile, with exquisitely refined carving techniques that have moved far beyond the simplicity of the Han Dynasty, giving an impression of uprightness and fullness. In contrast, the Pixie in front of the tomb of Xiao Hong, Prince of Linchuan of the Liang Dynasty, located in Zhangjiaku Village, Xianhe Gate, is bold and concise in style, with masterful carving skills and a harmonious overall and detailed form, displaying a balanced beauty—it is a representative work of Pixies in front of noble tombs. The spirit way stone pillars, also known as huabiao (ornamental columns), are best preserved in the stele of Xiao Zhan, Marquis Wu Ping Zhonghou, at Shiyue Village in Qixia. Few steles were erected during the Southern Dynasties, and countless ones have been lost or destroyed over the centuries, with very few surviving. This particular stele stands uniquely preserved. The stele is 5.61 meters tall in total and consists of three parts: the top, the body, and the tortoise pedestal. The body of the stele is inscribed with over 2,840 characters in regular script, written by the famous calligrapher Bei Yiyuan of the time, making it an extremely rare treasure of calligraphic art.

The stone carvings of Southern Dynasties tombs carry forward the legacy of the Qin and Han dynasties and pave the way for the art of the Sui and Tang dynasties, while also standing in remarkable contrast to the cave art of the Northern Dynasties from the same period. They hold an extremely important position in the history of Chinese stone carving art. These carvings are not only masterpieces of ancient Chinese stone carving but can also be regarded as treasures in the world art collection. In 1988, they were listed as Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level