Stone Carvings at the Tomb of Wu Fu

Stone Carvings at the Tomb of Wu Fu

The stone carvings at the Tomb of Wu Fu are a cultural tourism attraction.

Introduction The stone carvings at the Tomb of Wu Fu are located in Rentang Village, Xiaoyu Township, Feidong County. Wu Fu fought alongside Zhu Yuanzhang in numerous battles to the south and north, was granted the title of Marquis of Anlu for his military achievements, posthumously honored as Duke of Qian, and given an imperial burial site. The tomb faces Taihu Lake and is backed by a high ridge. Along the spirit way, there is a set of freestanding round sculptures arranged in north-south opposition. From east to west, they consist of a pair each of stone statues (Wengzhong), lions, sheep, horses, and ornamental columns (Huabiao), all carved from single blocks of granite. The stone statues are 2.4 meters tall, standing upright with swords, exuding solemnity and dignity. The craftsmanship combines openwork and relief carving, balancing simplicity and intricacy. The horses have small ears, long manes, and lotus petal patterns carved in relief on their backs, with hollowed undersides; the left side features a carver depicted wearing a round-top hat, a long black robe, and cloth cloud shoes. Both the carver and the horse are carved from a single massive stone. To the west of the spirit way lies a turtle-shaped stele base, with the inscription originally authored by Grand Secretary Liu Sangwu, though the stele itself has been lost. It is a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit.

Anhui Province, Hefei City