Imperial tomb stone carvings of the Southern Dynasties are stone sculptures located at the front of the tombs of Southern Dynasty emperors. The term ‘spirit way’ refers to the path leading to the tomb, and the stone carvings are set on both sides of this path as tomb markers. These carvings, which have been dominating the tombs of emperors from the Qi and Liang dynasties, include 20 stone beasts, one pair of stone bases, stone pillars, and stone turtles. There are a total of 12 tombs of the Qi and Liang dynasties, distributed in towns such as Jinglin, Jianshan, Huqiao, Picheng, and Qian’ai within the territory of Danyang City. Except for the non-existent stone carvings of Emperor Gao of Qi Xiao Daocheng’s Tai’an Tomb, the stone carvings of the other eleven tombs exist to varying degrees. These carvings, dating back 1400 to 1470 years, are majestic, diverse in form, exquisitely carved, and reflect the grand and elegant style of Southern Dynasty art. They are considered masterpieces in the history of Chinese sculpture. The site is open all year round from 09:00 to 16:00.
Imperial Tomb Stone Carvings of the Southern Dynasties: Emperor Wu of Liang Xiao Yan’s Spirit Way
Imperial tomb stone carvings of the Southern Dynasties are stone sculptures located at the front of [...]
