Tomb of Sun Danian (Sun Zixiu's Tomb)

Tomb of Sun Danian (Sun Zixiu's Tomb)

The Tomb of Sun Danian (Sun Zixiu's Tomb) is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

The Tomb of Sun Danian is located on the mountainside of Xiangbi Mountain in Jianlong Village, Liangnong Town. It is a joint burial tomb of Sun Danian and his son Sun Yuxiu. To its east lies Lion Mountain, to its west Tiger Mountain, and it faces He Stream, surrounded by overlapping peaks and enjoying a very beautiful environment. The tomb is integrated with the mountain, with an earthen mound nearly thirty meters high. In front of the tomb stand four stone statues (two civil and two military officials) and two stone sheep and stone horses, and later, two epitaph stones of Sun Danian and Sun Yuxiu were unearthed. The joint tomb of Sun Danian and Sun Yuxiu is the largest ancient tomb discovered so far in Yuyao. It is said that the original tomb path was about two kilometers long, paved with pebbles, wide enough for five horses to walk abreast, and specially included two stone bridges for entering and turning the funeral procession. In front of the tomb are stone steps; beyond the steps is a stele pavilion, the entire structure made of granite, featuring cloud-patterned stone beams and carved flying eaves on the roof, with a brownish-red stone stele in the center inscribed with the life story of Sun Yuxiu. About 6 meters past the stele pavilion are two stone walls, with a small stone tablet in between inscribed with the life story of Sun Danian. Further inside are the stone sheep, stone horses, and stone statues. The stone statues include civil officials inside and military officials outside, slightly larger than life size, intricately carved and lifelike. The civil official wears an official cap, a court robe, and holds a tablet, exuding refined elegance; the military official dons armor, hands on sword, standing beside a saddled stone horse, with a gallant and solemn presence—truly a meticulous work. The tomb gate resembles a surface building, complete with gatehouse, roof ridge, flying eaves, brackets, tiles, pillars, steps, and more, resembling an earthly mansion, and holds high artistic research value.

On October 16, 1987, the tomb was designated as a municipal-level cultural relics protection unit by the People's Government of Yuyao City.

Liangnong Town: 1. Town Overview: Liangnong is a famous historical and cultural town in Zhejiang Province and a central town of both Zhejiang Province and Ningbo City. Located at the foot of Siming Mountain in eastern Zhejiang and south of the Yao River, it is a uniquely distinctive town along the golden tourism route of Hangzhou–Shaoxing–Ningbo–Zhoushan. Liangnong has a long history—it was part of Kuaiji Commandery during the Qin Dynasty. It is said to have originally been named "Liangfeng" after the gathering of the Liang and Feng families, and by the Later Tang Dynasty, it had already become "a bustling town with a concentrated population." Due to its many lanes and streets, the name evolved phonetically into "Liangnong," and it has long been known by the reputations of "Ninth Grotto-Heaven" and "Blessed Land of Grotto-Heavens." The town administers 17 administrative villages and 1 community, covering a total area... More detailed information on Liangnong Town++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units