Stone Carvings at Sixi Hall

Stone Carvings at Sixi Hall

The stone carvings at Sixi Hall are a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

The stone carvings at Sixi Hall are located within Sixi Hall at No. 37 Nanzhong Road, Chengnan Subdistrict, Chaoyang District, Shantou City. Originally built in the fourth year of the Jiatai era during the Southern Song Dynasty (1204), the hall currently preserves 38 stone carvings dating from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the Republican period. These include two Ming Dynasty stone plaques, four Ming and Qing steles, 26 inscriptions from the Ming, Qing, and Republican periods, one Ming Dynasty stone imperial edict pavilion, one Song Dynasty stone basin, two Ming Dynasty stone basins, one Ming Dynasty stone horse trough, and one Qing Dynasty martial arts training stone. The stone carvings of Sixi Hall are renowned across southern Guangdong, featuring a perfect integration of calligraphic art, painting techniques, and stone carving craftsmanship. They represent a concentrated collection of diverse stone carving types in Guangdong Province, with rich content and significant historical and cultural value.

Although they have endured hundreds of years of natural wear, the stone carvings at Sixi Hall remain remarkably well-preserved. The calligraphy features a variety of styles—seal, clerical, running, regular, and cursive scripts—all executed with vitality and masterful skill. The carved patterns cover a wide range of themes, with vivid and lifelike designs, fine craftsmanship, and distinct layering. The techniques employed are rarely seen in modern times, giving the carvings both high artistic and cultural-historical value, particularly those from the Qing Dynasty. Many of the inscribed stone donations were created by renowned calligraphers and painters throughout history. For example, the 1493 Ming Dynasty Hongzhi-era stele inscription “Record of the Xiao Family Ancestral Hall,” written by Cixi County’s Jiang Sen, then magistrate of Chaoyang, features graceful and elegant script that continues to attract calligraphy enthusiasts for practice. In 1903, Qing Dynasty scholar-official Fan Jiaju inscribed the gate plaque inscriptions “Nanfang” (Southern Fragrance) and “Beihui” (Northern Elegance) for Sixi Hall. These combine seal and clerical script elements while forming a unique style of their own, possessing high artistic value. As a prominent educator of the Qing Dynasty, Fan had considerable social influence, prompting multiple schools to replicate these works to inspire students’ diligence. Other notable contributions include stone carvings and inscriptions by Ming Dynasty’s Xiao Yucheng, Qing Dynasty calligraphers Lin Boqian, Wu Zuoxi, Weng Tonghe, Deng Shiru, Xie Yuhan, garden architecture master Xiao Meixian, as well as inscriptions from early Republican figures such as Li Pingxian and Zhou Bangdao. These attract countless enthusiasts of calligraphy, painting, and stone carving to visit and appreciate.

In 2012, the People's Government of Guangdong Province designated them as part of the seventh batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Chengnan Subdistrict: Chengnan Subdistrict is located in Chaoyang District, Shantou City, Guangdong Province. It governs the following:

440513003001 111 Xingong Neighborhood Committee

440513003002 111 Wuxiang Neighborhood Committee

440513003003 111 Xinhua Neighborhood Committee

440513003004 111 Longjing Neighborhood Committee

440513003005 112 Houshuangyuan Neighborhood Committee

440513003006 111 Koumei Neighborhood Committee

440513003…… More details about Chengnan Subdistrict++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units