Stone Carvings at the Pei Ancestral Temple

　　Located in the northeastern part of Wenxi County, Shanxi Province, about 25 kilometers from the county town, at the north side of Liyuan Railway Station. The ancient name of Liyuan Town was Mulan Town, which is said to be the place where the ancient heroine Hua Mulan fought against invaders at the Iron Barrier Pass. The Pei Family Ancestral Temple was built here. The Pei clan has produced many talented and renowned individuals. Pei Xiu created the "Six Principles of Cartography," Pei Songzhi annotated the "Records of the Three Kingdoms"; Pei Du suppressed regional warlords and restored centralized imperial authority in the Tang Dynasty. The temple was built in the third year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty (629 AD), and although it has suffered damage from wars and fires throughout the dynasties, it has been repaired over time. Today, dozens of ancient steles remain, many of which are valuable in terms of historical data and calligraphy art. The "Pei Hong Stele" from the Northern Zhou Dynasty features steady calligraphy,

　　the "Pei Guangting Stele" written by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang showcases bold brushwork and elegant script; the "Pei Jingmin Inscription" by Yin Lingming combines elements resembling Yan Zhenqing’s style with hints of Liu Gongquan’s touch, presenting a dignified and vigorous form with forceful strokes;

　　the genealogical prefaces from the Jin Dynasty's Dading era to the Qing Dynasty feature robust calligraphy and refined engraving, representing the essence of the clan’s cultural relics.