Statue Stele of Nanliangshe

Statue Stele of Nanliangshe

The Statue Stele of Nanliangshe is a cultural relic protected at the Hebei Province level.

The Northern Wei Dynasty Gabled Roof Robe Statue Stele in Nanliangshe, Xingtai County, Xingtai City, was built during the Northern Wei period. It stands 1.75 meters tall, 0.9 meters wide, and 0.24 meters thick, featuring 33 carved figures. In 1982, it was designated as a key cultural relic protection unit of Hebei Province by the provincial government.

The front of the stele features a two-tiered group of statues centered around a hall-roof structure, with a total of 33 Buddha and deity carvings on the body of the stele. All the figures display distinct postures and expressions, including seated figures, those bowing in greeting, chanting scriptures, in leisurely poses, and flying apsaras, among others. The carving techniques include three-dimensional forms, relief carvings, and line drawings, showcasing exquisite, delicate, and rich sculptural artistry.

The middle and lower part of the reverse side of the stele bears an inscription in the style of Wei stele script, consisting of approximately four to five hundred characters. Due to heavy erosion, much of the text is illegible, but some characters remain clear and identifiable. Among them are phrases such as: “The great-great-grandson of the former Minister of Rites of Yangzhou (Envoy) … only that … Tan He … upper lineage … Long Hong and others, whose families spanned the State of Zhao, possessed gentle dispositions and profound insight, … holding the waters of wisdom to cleanse the heart, and wearing the winds of compassion to cleanse the mind. Understanding that the Way is not of one kind, and cutting off all reason must … … established the meditation chamber of Jiajian, and also led a hundred … people to create one stone statue … …”. The statue reflects the social trend of revering Buddhism and performing meritorious deeds during the Northern Dynasties.

The person who erected the stele was the eminent monk Tan He of the Northern Wei period (who shared the same generation as Tan Yao, a contemporary Buddhist leader who oversaw the carving of the grottoes at Wuzhou Mountain in Datong), and it was created after Emperor Wencheng of the Northern Wei revived Buddhism. According to the inscription, Tan He’s sixth-generation paternal ancestor had served as the Minister of Rites and Governor of Yangzhou during the Western Jin Dynasty. His family had been officials for generations and was a prominent household residing in the Xing territory of the State of Zhao. Tan He was born with “a gentle disposition and profound insight, holding the waters of wisdom to cleanse the heart, and wearing the winds of compassion to cleanse the mind.” He devoutly revered Buddhism, built a meditation chamber, and led people in creating the stone Buddha statue.

Below the main body of the inscription, there is a list of benefactors who contributed to the creation of the stone statue, with Monk Tan He ranked first. The inscription recording the creation of the statue is written in bold, simple, and weighty script, yet also features dynamic and dramatic variations, representing a typical and mature form of Wei stele script.

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Key Cultural Relic Protection Units of Hebei Province