Han Dynasty Stone Reliefs Tomb in Deng Temple

Han Dynasty Stone Reliefs Tomb in Deng Temple

The Deng Temple Han Dynasty Stone Reliefs Tomb is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

The Deng Temple Stone Reliefs Tomb is a Han Dynasty stone relief tomb dating back to the Eastern Han period. In 1998, a rescue excavation was carried out, unearthing 35 relatively precious stone reliefs and a small number of burial objects. This tomb is a large, multi-chambered, stone-built stone relief tomb from the Eastern Han period that has been formally excavated and cleared in the northwestern part of Shandong Province.

The tomb faces south with a slight western orientation of 11 degrees. The two burial chambers are arranged side by side from east to west, spaced 3.8 meters apart. In front of each burial chamber is a nearly square “front hall.” On the left and right sides of each “front hall” are side chambers, and the two halls are connected via these side chambers. In front of the “front halls” are passageways (甬道), each consisting of a pair of south-facing double doors, with the eastern door of the eastern passageway open. Both passageways are sealed with blocking stones at their entrances. This forms a central “中”-shaped structure with the “front halls” at the center, passageways in the front, burial chambers at the back, and side chambers on the sides. Moreover, the two “front halls” are interconnected through side chambers, creating a structure of two parallel “中中” forms. The passageways, side chambers, front halls, and burial chambers all feature flat-beamed (盝顶) ceilings. The front halls have crossbeams on all four sides supporting the flat-beam ceilings, while the other sections are supported by stone walls.

Tomb Structure

The entire tomb is built of stone. Excluding the base stones, a total of 178 stones were used, among which 73 stones bear patterns. These patterned stones are distributed across the flat-beam ceilings, the doors of the front passageways, the east, west, south, and north lintel stones, the east and west panels of the side chambers, the north barrier wall of the tomb, the crossbeams of the front halls, the pillars under the beams, the corner stones of the north wall, as well as the foundation stones of the four surrounding walls. Of these, 35 stones contain carved images, totaling 36 scenes (one lintel stone has patterns on both sides). The carvings depict a rich variety of subjects, including historical stories, myths and legends, daily life, birds and mythical beasts, and processions of chariots and horses. The craftsmanship is exquisite and the techniques diverse, vividly reflecting the social realities and ideological consciousness of the Eastern Han period. It serves as a valuable physical resource for studying Han Dynasty history, possessing significant historical, cultural, and artistic value.

The remaining 38 stones feature simple decorative patterns such as diamond shapes and linked arcs on foundational stones.

Han Dynasty Stone Reliefs

Han Dynasty stone reliefs are decorative stone carvings and murals carved on the walls of tombs and ancestral halls during the Han Dynasty. Their content encompasses various aspects such as myths and legends, systems and regulations, and local customs.

Artistically, they inherit the simple style of Warring States period paintings and pave the way for the artistic elegance of the Wei and Jin periods, laying the foundational rules and standards of Chinese painting.

On December 7, 2006, the Deng Temple Han Dynasty Stone Reliefs Tomb was designated as part of the third batch of provincial-level cultural relic protection units by the People's Government of Shandong Province.

Dengmiao Village: Dengmiao Village…… More information about Dengmiao Village++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units in Shandong