Statue of Laozi (Laojun Rock Carving)

Statue of Laozi (Laojun Rock Carving)

The Statue of Laozi (Laojun Rock Carving) is a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

The largest surviving stone carving of Laozi from the Song Dynasty in China, located beneath Yuxian Rock in the "Fairyland by the Sea" scenic area of Qingyuan Mountain Scenic Spot. It was designated as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in January 1988.

Laozi was a famous philosopher and thinker of the Spring and Autumn Period in ancient China. Sima Qian recorded in "Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of Laozi, Han Fei, and Others": "Laozi's family name was Li, given name Er, courtesy name Boyang, and posthumous title Dan." His birthplace was "Chu, Ku County, Li Township, Qu Ren Li." Taoism reveres him as its founder and regards the "Tao Te Ching" as its primary scripture. Laozi’s philosophical thoughts hold an important place in China and have had a profound influence.

The statue of Laozi was carved during the Song Dynasty. According to the "Annals of Quanzhou Prefecture": "The stone figure was naturally formed, with only slight carving done by enthusiasts." These few words add to its mysterious allure. The stone statue stands 5.63 meters tall, 6.85 meters thick, and 8.01 meters wide, covering a ground area of 55 square meters. With its left hand resting on its knee and the right hand leaning on a small table, it features drooping ears, flowing beard, fingers that seem able to pluck objects, and piercing eyes. Its unique charm exudes an otherworldly and transcendent aura. The entire statue has a majestic yet amiable expression, radiating brilliance and full of allure, making it a masterpiece of Tang Dynasty stone carving art.

Originally, Laojun Rock was home to a grand complex of Taoist structures, including the Hall of the True Lord and the Hall of the Big Dipper, which were magnificent and admired by scholars and poets throughout the ages. Although the Taoist temple was abandoned during the Ming Dynasty, the statue of Laozi has withstood wind and rain and remains to this day, attracting an increasing number of domestic and international tourists as well as scholars who come to visit and study. Now, Laojun Rock has become a popular tourist destination in Quanzhou, a renowned historical and cultural city. French scholar Diana Li, as an expert from the Foreign Languages Press under China's Ministry of Culture, visited Quanzhou with a foreign expert group and inscribed at Laojun Rock: "This is my second visit to Laojun Rock, but I am just as moved as the last time, because this old man is so deeply integrated with the earth. He seems to know everything and understand everything." Renowned Chinese planning expert Ren Zhenying praised the Laojun Rock statue as: "Laozi is the greatest under heaven."

Location

Qingyuan Mountain Park, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province

Admission

Included in the Qingyuan Mountain Scenic Spot.

Further Reading:

·Third Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level

Qingyuan Mountain

Maitreya Rock

Cien Rock