Stone Carvings at Chen De’s Tomb

Stone Carvings at Chen De’s Tomb

The stone carvings at Chen De’s Tomb are a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

The stone carvings at Chen De’s Tomb are located in Xichenfu Village, Xicheng Township, Fengyang County.

Chen De was born in 1330, during the first year of the Zhishun era under Emperor Wenzong of the Yuan Dynasty, in Mengjiazhuang, Taiping Township, Haozhou (present-day Fengyang). In 1352, the 12th year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty, he joined Zhu Yuanzhang and fought tirelessly across the south and north to establish the Ming Dynasty. In 1370, the third year of the Hongwu era, he was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Linjiang for his meritorious service. He died in 1378, the 11th year of the Hongwu era, and was buried “on the plains of Lushan in his hometown” (present-day southeast of Xichenfu Village, Xicheng Township). He was posthumously titled Duke of Qiguo and given the posthumous name Dingxiang. His son, Chen Yong (1357–1387), inherited the title of Marquis of Linjiang in 1381, the 14th year of the Hongwu era. In 1387, the 20th year of the Hongwu era, he died in battle while on campaign against Nahachu and was buried in the family cemetery. By the time of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, both tombs were damaged during grave leveling in 1973, but the stone carvings along the spirit way in front of the tombs remained and are now well preserved. The stone carvings are arranged from south to north in the following order: one stone tablet base on the eastern side, one pair each of stone horses with horse handlers, stone tigers, and stone sheep. The tablet base is turtle-shaped, with the central groove on its back where the tablet once sat—though the tablet itself is no longer there. The stone horses and their handlers are carved as a single piece; the tigers are mostly buried below the neck; and the sheep are depicted kneeling and lying down. All of these carvings were sculpted from single pieces of bluestone, featuring simple yet classic designs, exquisite craftsmanship, vivid and lifelike expressions, and high artistic value.

Protective boundary: The center point of the central axis of the spirit way, extending 33 meters east to the cement road, 30 meters south to the northern edge of the expressway, 28 meters west to the back wall of a residential house, and 30 meters north from the original tomb site.

Construction control zone: A 100-meter buffer zone extending outward in all directions—east, south, west, and north—beyond the protective boundary.