The Five Rams Stone Sculpture

The Five Rams Stone Sculpture

The Five Rams Stone Sculpture is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangzhou City.

Regarding the legends of the "Five Rams" and the "Five Immortals,"

they have been introduced earlier. "The five rams carrying rice ears, gathered in Chuting," is a mythological story derived from the ancient people of Guangzhou who yearned for a better life. It is indeed a beautiful legend—what could be more wonderful for the ancient Baiyue people than "eternal freedom from famine"? The five immortals gave the people of Guangzhou fine rice seeds, and combined with the region's abundant sunshine, mild climate, and plentiful rainfall, this led to a great harvest, making Guangzhou the most prosperous place in Lingnan. The Five Rams sculpture is located in Yuexiu Park. This sculpture is associated with a beautiful legend: five immortals, dressed in five-colored robes and riding five-colored rams, descended from the South Sea to Guangzhou. Each ram carried rice stalks with six ears in their mouths. The immortals gifted the rice spikes to the local residents and blessed them with eternal freedom from famine. After delivering their message, they ascended into the sky, and the rams turned into stone. As a result, Guangzhou also earned the nicknames "City of Rams" and "City of Spikes." Based on this ancient legend, a Five Rams sculpture was built on Yuexiu Hill in 1959. This Five Rams stone sculpture, including its base, stands 11 meters tall. It was carved from over 130 pieces of granite, with a total volume of about 53 cubic meters. Just the stone used for one ram’s head weighs more than 2 metric tons. The five rams vary in size. The mother ram looks up into the distance, mouth holding a rice spike, as if she is also glancing back with a smile, observing the human world. The other four rams surround her, nestled closely together, either playing, grazing, or suckling. Their poses differ, and the sculpture is exquisitely crafted, full of charm and artistic expression. It is said that when the sculpture was completed, some questioned how a suckling lamb could be among the rams ridden by the five immortals. But the five immortals and their rams are mythical creations. Being divine rams, regardless of size, they naturally embody an otherworldly grace and boundless spiritual presence. The sculptors exercised extraordinary imagination and craftsmanship. For over 40 years, the Five Rams sculpture has been hailed as the emblem of Guangzhou, greatly enhancing the charm of Yuexiu Park. The legend of the Five Rams has also spread far and wide. Visitors from home and abroad are captivated by the imagery, lingering in admiration and taking numerous photos as keepsakes.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Guangzhou Cultural Relic Protection Units

Yuexiu Park

Guangzhou Zhenhai Tower (Guangzhou Museum)

Guangzhou Zhongshan Monument

Guangzhou Ming Dynasty Ancient City Wall

Wu Tingfang’s Tomb

Yuexiu Mountain Water Tower

Site of the Sifang Battery

Tomb of the Shao Wu Emperor and His Ministers from the Ming Dynasty

Ancient Chuting Memorial Archway