Beizhuangzi Han Tomb Stone Carvings Museum

Beizhuangzi Han Tomb Stone Carvings Museum

The Beizhuangzi Han Tomb Stone Carvings Museum is a cultural heritage site protected by Hebei Province.

Dingzhou has a forest of stone tablets, also known as the Dingzhou Stone Carvings Museum. There is also a Han Dynasty tomb here, which dates back more than 1,700 years. The Han tomb is located within the stone tablet garden. Or rather, a stone tablet garden was built around the Han tomb. Walking into the garden of the stone tablet museum, dozens of tall cypress trees block out the sunlight. Right at the entrance is a small three-bay exhibition room, where the displayed items introduce the history of the Zhongshan Kingdom of the Western and Eastern Han Dynasties that established its capital in Dingzhou, as well as some cultural relics unearthed from the tombs of the Zhongshan Kings of Han. In 1982, it was listed as a key cultural relic protection unit of Hebei Province.

In front of the tomb, there is an exhibition room that leads to an underground tomb passage. In front of the exhibition room stand two relocated stone steles: one is the “Record Stele of the Memorial Temple of Su Wenzhonggong,” and the other is the “Inscription on the Temple of Duke Han of the Wei Kingdom.” The total length of the tomb is 24 meters, and it is 10 meters wide, constructed of bricks. Though not particularly spacious, it includes a front, middle, and rear chamber, along with left and right wing rooms. A small number of burial objects are displayed inside the tomb. This Han tomb, originally rumored to be the “Tomb of King Jing” or the “Tomb of Murong,” was confirmed through excavation in 1995 to be the burial site of a late Eastern Han noble who held the title of “Marquis.” It is said that this marquis tomb is the first well-preserved and open-to-the-public Eastern Han brick-chamber tomb in China.

In the northeast corner of the yard, there are over 200 stone tablets collected and gathered by the Dingzhou cultural relics department. These were scattered in temples and among the people, dating from the Northern Qi to the Ming, Qing, and Republican periods. The collection includes inscribed tablets, epitaphs, Buddhist pagodas, and stone statues. Among them are some highly valuable pieces, such as the Northern Qi “Pengcheng Temple Stele,” the Tang Dynasty Wang Wei’s “Yin-Yang Bamboo Stele,” the Song Dynasty Han Wei Temple Painting Record Stele, the Qing Dynasty Qianlong Imperial Stele, the Stone Bamboo Stele, and the “Wang Hu Wooden Stele” inscribed by Feng Yuxiang. All are treasures among stone tablets and outstanding works of stone carving art, possessing significant historical and artistic value in both archaeology and calligraphy.

488 inscribed stone tablets excavated from the “Beizhuangzi Han Tomb” have been relocated and inlaid onto the walls here. The stones, marked with the names of locations, commanderies, and even artisans, cover more than ten commanderies across six provinces. These inscribed tablets from the years 79–88 AD serve as precious materials for studying the transition from seal script to clerical script. Walking in the moss-covered courtyard, surrounded by tranquility, the verdant pines and cypresses and the blooming flowers and trees create a serene setting in the stone tablet garden — an ideal place for visitors to reflect on the past.

Transportation Guide

Location: Gulu Street, Dingzhou City, Hebei Province

Getting There: Take bus No. 1 or 2 from Dingzhou Railway Station to Dashijie Station

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Cultural Relics Protection Units of Hebei Province