Stone Carvings at the Tomb of Emperor Wen of Chen, Chen Qian

Stone Carvings at the Tomb of Emperor Wen of Chen, Chen Qian

The stone carvings at the Tomb of Emperor Wen of Chen, Chen Qian, are protected as a Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics site.

Stone Carvings at the Tomb of Emperor Wen of Chen, Chen Qian

Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit, First and Second Batches, Announced in Revised Form in March 1982. The stone carvings at the Tomb of Emperor Wen of Chen, Chen Qian, date back to the Southern Dynasties (566 AD), located at Shizichong, Ganjiaxiang, Nanjing. In 1988, they were included as part of the “Stone Carvings of Southern Dynasties Tombs in Nanjing” and designated as part of the Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Located southeast of Ganjiaxiang in the northeastern suburbs, near Shizichong. Chen Qian (522–566), courtesy name Zihua, was the nephew of Emperor Wu of Chen, Chen Baxian. He ascended the throne in June 559 during the third year of the Yongding era, taking the title Emperor Wen, and ruled for seven years. He passed away in the fourth month of the first year of the Tiankang era (566) in summer, and was buried here in June. His posthumous title was “Emperor Wen,” and his temple name “Shizu.” The tomb faces southeast with a slight eastern orientation, and its mound has been leveled. Only one pair of stone creatures—a qilin and a tianlu—remain in front of the tomb, standing opposite each other with a distance of 24.45 meters between them, and about 200 meters from the tomb. The one on the east is the tianlu, measuring 2.60 meters in length and 2.75 meters in height. It is a male creature with two horns; its neck and waist are broken. The one on the west is the qilin, measuring 3.10 meters in length, 1.45 meters in chest width, and 2.85 meters in height. It is a male creature with one horn and two wings, and is relatively intact. Both beasts have wide-open eyes, open mouths, and tongues curled upward, appearing fierce and aggressive, with claws raised as if ready to pounce. Their chins have hanging whiskers, their ears are shaped like shaved bamboo, their foreheads are engraved with spiral patterns, and their wings and crests are adorned with scale patterns highlighted by feather motifs. Their bodies are covered with floral and cloud motifs. The craftsmanship is highly skilled, and both the design and execution represent the pinnacle of Southern Dynasties stone carving art. This pair is considered the most dynamic and exquisitely crafted among the existing stone beasts at Southern Dynasties imperial tombs in the Nanjing area. The stone carvings were discovered during a survey in 1935. In December 1977, during restoration work, the two creatures were unearthed, elevated and placed on pedestals, and damaged parts were repaired. In 1988, they were listed as part of the National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

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Source: Nanjing Cultural Heritage Information Network

Further Reading:

· First and Second Batches of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units