Stele of Zhang Renxian

Stele of Zhang Renxian

The Zhang Renxian Stele is a cultural relic protection unit of Hebei Province.

The Zhang Renxian Stele in Wen’an was erected nearly 1,200 years ago by Zhang Zhongwu, the Marquis of Lanling and grandson of Zhang Renxian from the Tang Dynasty. Located 300 meters north of Xianggongzhuang Village, Chengguan Town, Wen’an County, it is known as the Tang Dynasty Stele of Zhang Renxian. According to the inscription on the stele, it was built in the second year of the Dazhong era of the Tang Dynasty (848 AD). The stele is made of white marble and consists of three parts: the top, the main body, and the base. The entire stele stands 4.27 meters tall, with the main body being 1.44 meters wide and 0.53 meters thick. The top is carved with four entwined dragons, their heads drooping along the sides of the stele. The front side bears a celestial seal script inscription reading “Stele on the Sacred Way of the Late Zhang Gong of Qinghe, Minister of Works, of the Great Tang Dynasty.” The front of the main body is covered with a grid pattern, within which 29 lines of clerical script are inscribed in intaglio, with up to 62 characters per line. Due to weathering, some characters have become illegible. The text mainly records the genealogy and official positions of the Zhang Renxian family, and also details the military achievements of his successor, Zhang Zhongwu. Neither the back nor the sides of the stele bear any inscriptions. The base is a carved stone block, square in shape, measuring approximately ???? meters per side. Originally broken into two pieces with a crack at the junction of the main body and the top, the stele was restored, re-erected, and housed in a protective shelter in 1984. The overall carving features exquisite lines and a majestic, powerful style, serving as a typical example of the maturing art of Tang Dynasty stone carving in southern Beijing. It was designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit in 1993.

During the Qing Dynasty, this stele was listed as one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Wen’an, known as “The Tang Stele Emitting Mist.” According to the *Wen’an County Annals · Geographic Records*: “The Tang Stele Emitting Mist refers to the sacred way stele of Zhang Gong, the Tang Dynasty Military Governor Zhang Renxian, located beside Xianggong Village in the northwest of the county. On misty mornings, the silhouette of horses and banners can faintly be seen.”

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Hebei Province