Tablet Cluster at the Li Clan Ancestral Hall in Tangxia

Tablet Cluster at the Li Clan Ancestral Hall in Tangxia

The tablet cluster at the Li Clan Ancestral Hall in Tangxia is a cultural relic protection unit of Rui’an City.

The tablet cluster at the Li Clan Ancestral Hall is located within the ancestral hall in Chengnan Village, Hai’an Town, Tangxia, Rui’an City. It consists of five Ming Dynasty stone tablets—three epitaphs and two portrait tablets—originally relocated from the former Li family cemetery on Shigang Mountain in the northern part of Hai’an.

“Epitaph for the Late Master Jing’an Li” is 1.54 meters tall and 0.79 meters wide, featuring a round header with carved circular cloud patterns on both sides and scrolling floral patterns around the edges. The text was composed by Wang Yingchen, a scholar from Yongjia County, inscribed by Wang Hu, the “Mountain Man of Xijian,” and carved during the Hongzhi era (1488–1505) of the Ming Dynasty.

“Epitaph for the Late Scholar Li Junxuan” is 1.62 meters tall and 0.82 meters wide, also with a round header and carved cloud motifs on the sides, surrounded by scrolling floral designs. The text was written by Zhou Gan, a successful imperial examinee known as “Xuangu of Xijian,” and inscribed by Zhou Ling, an official with the title of “Shangbao Shaqing.” It was carved during the Jiajing era (1522–1566) of the Ming Dynasty.

“Epitaph for the Late Meritorious Official Li Wuben” is 1.62 meters tall and 0.82 meters wide, with a round header and cloud motifs on both sides and around the border. The text was composed by Wang Che, an official from Fujian’s Provincial Administration Commission and Ministry of War, also a native of the region, known as “Dongya of Wang,” and inscribed by Jin Yunhong, another local. It was carved during the Jiajing era (1522–1566) of the Ming Dynasty.

“Portrait Tablet of Master Jing’an Li of the Ming Dynasty” is 1.66 meters tall and 0.82 meters wide, carved during the Hongzhi era (1488–1505) of the Ming Dynasty.

“Portrait Tablet of Meritorious Official Li Wuben of the Ming Dynasty” is 1.67 meters tall and 0.82 meters wide, carved during the Jiajing era (1522–1566) of the Ming Dynasty.

Source: Wenzhou Museum