Tomb of Lady Xu and Lady Ding, Mothers of Cao

Tomb of Lady Xu and Lady Ding, Mothers of Cao

The Tomb of Lady Xu and Lady Ding, Mothers of Cao, is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Tomb of Lady Xu and Lady Ding, Mothers of Cao, is located in the Magnolia Garden within the South China Botanical Garden in Tianhe District.

The tomb faces northwest and is situated southeast, measuring 13.4 meters in width and 38 meters in depth, covering an area of 509.2 square meters. It is surrounded by woodland. The tomb consists of two burial chambers stacked vertically, built with brick and coated with cement on the exterior, forming a two-tiered protective mound in the shape of a ceremonial chair. The entire structure includes stone pillars (huabiao), a moon pond, upper and lower tombs, and a rear earth shrine, making it a grand-scale burial complex.

The tomb of Lady Xu, the dowager, is located in the upper section. The top of the protective mound features carved stone reliefs of a moon cradled by auspicious clouds, with mythical beasts in relief on the cloud patterns and round-holed square coins on either side. The grave mound is built in a semi-cylindrical shape, with similar auspicious cloud carvings at the top, including grey-plastered images of a phoenix and peonies. At each end of the protective mound stands a granite stone lion. The central part of the wall is inlaid with a bluestone tomb tablet inscribed with: “Tomb of Lady Xu, the Dowager, Mother of Cao, Who Was Posthumously Honored as a First-Rank Noble Lady in the Qing Dynasty.” The inscription above reads: “Dedicated in the Third Year of Xuantong, Xin Hai Season, Auspicious Spring Day,” and below: “Sons who offer sacrifices: Shou, Pei, Yu; Grandsons: Chuan, Mou, Yi, Yu; Great-grandsons: Shao, En, Hui.” On both sides of the tomb tablet are stone-carved couplets. The upper line reads: “Though surrounded by ten thousand homes, dare not compare to Mother Han,” and the lower line: “Leaving behind a fragment of stone, humbly likening it to Ouyang’s memorial.” In front of the tomb tablet is a rectangular offering table.

On either side of the mountain-shaped wing, there is a suspended plaque niche holding a drumstone, facing outward, with carved images of cranes in relief. The base beneath the drumstones also features simple decorative patterns. Next to the drumstones is a crouching stone lion, exquisitely and handsomely carved. About 2 meters in front of the lion are stone drums on either side, beyond which lies the semicircular front edge of the moon pond. Flanking the cement path in front of the moon pond are stone figurines, representing civil and military officials standing on the left and right respectively. Approximately 10 meters ahead stands a single stone pillar (huabiao), unadorned with carvings—originally one of a pair, only one remains. Behind the tomb is a boundary stone for the rear earth shrine, also featuring intricate and elaborate carvings.

The tomb occupants, surnamed Xu and Ding, were married into the Cao family and were both first-rank noble ladies in the late Qing Dynasty.