Dongqian Lake Tomb Complex

Dongqian Lake Tomb Complex

The Dongqian Lake Tomb Complex is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

1. The Dongqian Lake Stone Carvings are located along the Guojiazhishitiantong Highway on the north shore of Dongqian Lake in Yin County, Zhejiang Province. They were constructed roughly between 1118 during the Northern Song Dynasty's Zhenghe 8th year and 1584 during the Ming Dynasty's Wanli 12th year. The site mainly consists of ground stone carvings along the spirit ways of the tombs of the Shi family, an eminent clan of the Southern Song Dynasty, and the tomb of Crown Prince Yu Youding from the Ming Dynasty.

The Southern Song Dynasty Shi family tomb spirit way stone carvings represent a refined art form integrating ancient philosophy, aesthetics, and ecology. These include the spirit way of Lady Ye, the wife of Duke Yiguo of the Song Dynasty, and the spirit way of Grand Tutor Shi Zhao, Duke Yueguo. The spirit ways range in length from 50 meters to several hundred meters and remain relatively well-preserved. The carvings feature balanced proportions, smooth lines, and vivid expressions.

Among the Yuan and Ming Dynasty tomb spirit ways in the stone carving complex, the highlight is the 200-meter-long, 25-meter-wide spirit way of Yu Youding, who served as Grand Tutor and Crown Prince’s Tutor. The entire stone carving ensemble is grand in scale and exquisitely carved, making it a rare find among surviving Ming Dynasty tombs in China.

The Southern Song Dynasty tomb spirit way stone carvings within the Dongqian Lake Stone Carving Complex are the largest, most numerous, and finest preserved of their kind from that period in China. They help fill gaps in the history of Chinese art, archaeology, and sculpture during the Southern Song Dynasty. The Yuan and Ming sections also serve as important physical resources for studying imperial ranks, attire, carving styles, and tomb customs of those eras.

2. In March 2013, the Yanziwo Tomb Spirit Way Stone Carvings, Yu Tiandeng Tomb Spirit Way Stone Carvings, Jinzhong Family Tomb Complex, and Jinzi Mountain Stone Archway Cluster were incorporated into the Dongqian Lake Stone Carvings and jointly announced as part of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units, renamed as the Dongqian Lake Tomb Complex.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units