There are more than twenty attendant tombs of different sizes
located around the Maoling Mausoleum. According to historical
records, most of these tombs were of generals, concubines,
relatives of royal families and others who had rendered service
during the reign of Emperor Wu Di and the Western Han Dynasty.
Among the larger ones are the tombs of Huo Qubing, Wei Qing, Jin
Redi (Hun nationality), Huo Guang, Madam Li, Shangguan Jie,
Shangguan An and Madam Jing.
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Today, no building ruins for these tombs have been found near
the tomb of Emperor Wu Di and attendant tombs. However, some tomb
steles still exist there. They were erected by Bi Yuan (1730-1797),
governor of Shaanxi Province of the Qing Dynasty. Also, tourists
both from China and abroad are attracted by a number of well-known
stone carvings around the tomb of Huo Qubing. These stone carvings
were done during the Western Han Dynasty, and are early valuable
examples of well preserved carving heritage.
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There are sixteen carved pieces, nine of which had stood in
front of the tomb before 1949. The remaining seven (including two
huge stones engraved with characters) were unearthed near the tomb
in 1957. The ruins of both Maoling and the Huo Qubing tomb are
historical monuments and cultural relics under state protection.
Buildings have been constructed to protect the carved stones in
front of the Huo Qubing tomb.
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Located 1,000 meters northeast of Maoling Mausoleum, Huo
Qubing's tomb is a cone-shaped soil and rock mound, adjacent to the
Maoling Museum, and surrounded by a scenic environment.
Tomb of General Huo Qubing
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Huo Qubing came from Pingyang (now called Linfeng in Shanxi
Province) and was the son of Wei Qing's elder sister (Wei was a
famous general of Emperor Wu Di). Born in the first year of the
reign of Emperor Wu Di (140 BC), Huo Qubing was a young military
expert during the Western Hah Dynasty, who was commanding troops by
the age of eighteen. He led his troops beyond the Great Wall six
times to fight the Xiongnu (Hun) who had been infringing on Han
Dynasty territory repeatedly, finally defeating the Hun aggressors.
Huo had such brilliant achievements in the wars against the Hun
that Emperor Wu Di wanted to grant him high position, with a
handsome salary and a lofty official residence. However, Huo
refused and said "the Hun have not been wiped out thoroughly, so
how can I settle down to start a family." This showed that he was a
patriotic general who did not seek ease and comfort, but placed
state concerns before his own.
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Paralleling the achievements of Wei Qing, his uncle, Huo Qubing
made great efforts to implement Emperor Wu Di's foreign policy,
opening up the Gansu Corridor and promoting economic and cultural
exchanges between China and Central Asian countries. Emperor Wu Di
appointed him the minister of war, a cavalry general and the
highest military prince, so that Huo enjoyed as great a reputation
as Wei Qing. Huo Qubing was only 24 when he died of illness in the
6th year of Yuan Shou reign (117 BC) of Emperor Wu Di (Wu Di
changed reign names periodically during his 53 year rule). The
History of the Han Dynasty records that "Huo Qubing died
in the 6th year of the Yuan Shou reign." Emperor Wu Di paid a
condolence call. Warriors of conquered northern states were ordered
to line up in mourning. Han soldiers took part in the funeral
procession from Chang'an to Maoling. The mound of Huo Qubing's tomb
looked like the Qilian Mountain." The book added that "by the
Maoling mausoleum, large rocks were piled on the tomb mound and
stone figures and horses stood before the mound." In deep grief,
Emperor Wu Di ordered that Huo Qubing be buried beside his own tomb
with a grand funeral rite. On that day, those who had surrendered
to Huo during his life were ordered to dress in suits of black
armor and line the road from Chang'an to the Maoling mausoleum for
the funeral procession.
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To show off Huo's success in fighting the Hun at Hexi (western
Gansu) and to commemorate the outstanding achievements of his life,
Emperor Wu Di directed that natural rocks and stones be piled to
cover the surface of Huo Qubing's tomb. The tomb mass symbolized
Qilian Mountain to memorialize Huo's brilliant service in battle on
the mountain. In addition, various kinds of large-size carved stone
animals were placed in front of and on the tomb mound of General
Huo Qubing.
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Despite records indicating that large-size carved stone figures
originated during the Qin Dynasty, the earliest ones found by modem
scholars were created during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD
24). These carved stones would have appeared not long after Huo
Qubing's death about two thousand years ago. The carvings were
created by craftsmen employed by local authorities, and two of the
unearthed carved stones were engraved to denote the "Loft Minister
of Work" government office and "carved by Su Boya, Leling in
Pingyuan."
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It was a formidable project to carve stone figures from
pegmatite, which was as hard as marble. These stones were not found
in the local area, but were probably transported from the Qinling
Ranges. Iron and steel tools were used to carve the stone figures,
indicating an advanced smelting technology for the Han Dynasty.
"Horse treads on the Hun" is a stone carving, most known
and impressive of those found in front of Huo Qubing's tomb. It
calls up images of the young general galloping across fields in
battle with slave-owning Hun aggressors. Majestically, the horse is
holding its head proudly erect, symbolizing the heroic posture of
General Huo Qubing and his brave army, while under the horse's feet
is the figure of an old and useless Hun slave owner, defeated and
in the throes of death. At 168 centimeters high and 190 centimeters
long, the horse is heroically and vividly life like. The horse
carving is well proportioned, with a simple and pithy style. The
slave owner, on the other hand, is roughly fashioned, making it
dear what is primary and what is secondary in the work.
A stone horse treads on a Hun at the tomb of
General Huo Qubing
In company with other carvings at Huo Qubing's tomb, a theme of
contemporary stone arts of that age is established and
demonstrated.
Galloping horse?Though this stone carving is
also of a horse, the artistic mood is different from that of the
"Horse treads on the Hun." The latter depicts posture of stillness
while the former is of a horse in motion. With its forelegs bent,
its head raised and its chest thrust forward, the horse appears to
be surging forward with body into a jump. Particular care was taken
in the carving of the horse's head. With its eyes open wide, its
nostrils flaring and with teeth bared, the horse seems to jump to
the shouts of men and to its own neighing. The carved figure
utilized the contours of a natural stone, with only a few lines
chiseled to exploit natural contours in some places and with full
carved relief in others, producing a work with pleasing
results.
Stone horse
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Recumbent horse?The posture of this horse is one of
rest, seemingly carefree and content after returning from battle.
The horse lies on the ground, head alertly turned to the left and
right foreleg bent a bit as it looks ahead without relaxing its
will to fight. It appears to be awaiting a master's order. At 114
centimeters high and 260 centimeters long, it is a strong and
sturdy horse. Assembled from several stones, this stone animal was
shaped in full relief with simple, clear strokes. The fact that the
horse is healthy and strong with full, clear musculature is a
tribute to the majesty of the horses which performed brilliantly
during the war of resistance against the Hun.
Bull?At 260 centimeters long and 160
centimeters wide, the bull is in a kneeling and sleeping position
very similar to a real animal. With skilled craftsmanship and
simple and clear strokes, the carvers portray vividly the image of
a docile ox. It looks as if the bull is moving its lips and taking
slight breaths, symbolizing the bull is comfortable and content
after having been fed, providing viewers with cordial and intimate
feelings.
Stone ox
Tiger?Some 200 centimeters long and 84 centimeters
wide, the tiger's head is large and bulky while its tail is rolled
onto its back, as it crouches, apparently awaiting an opportunity
to leap at its prey. Selecting a stone with a shape similar to the
finished tiger, craftsmen made full use of the natural shape of the
stone and carved appropriately. They painstakingly strove for
perfection, administering their chisels deify so that soft, lively
and light stripes give onlooker a feeling of fur.
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The tiger is a beast of prey and legend has it that the beast
can be used to guard tombs to prevent mountain demons from eating
the hearts and livers of the dead. This stone tiger was probably
used to guard the tomb.
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Wild boar?A statue 163 centimeters high and 62
centimeters wide, the wild boar is in a prone position. It has a
curved mouth, small ears and triangular eyes, looking ahead.
Selecting a stone similar to the shape of the wild boar, craftsmen
shaped the stone thoroughly and made the article vividly true to
life.
Stone hog
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Toad?The toad figure was carved from a natural dark
green color stone with numerous veins and streaks, very similar to
a toad at 154.5 centimeters long, 107 centimeters wide and 74
centimeters high. A toad is a small animal belonging to the frog
family. Legend has it that toads lived on the moon, so that the
moon was also called the toad palace and it may mean that the toad
carved here symbolizes an expectation that the soul of the dead
would ascend to heaven.
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Stone fish?This figure is 110.5 centimeters long, 41
entireties wide and 70 centimeters high, carved from a couple of
stones very similar to a fish in shape. A few lines were carved on
one of the ends of the stone, and the figure of the fish is
graceful and interesting.
Sleeping elephant?At 189 centimeters long, 103
centimeters wide and 58 centimeters high, it is a young elephant.
This elephant is lying on its side with its trunk curving back to
lie along its front legs, a posture of docility and innocence. This
statue was fashioned by making use of a natural stone, its surface
is fiat, smooth and gray, giving it a true to life
appearance.
Stone elephant
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Frog?This frog is from a huge stone, 285 centimeters
long, and 215 centimeters wide, shaped with a few simple and rough
lines at the narrow end. The carving is simple and effective.
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Monstrous beast eating a sheep?With short body and
long legs, square head and a pair of horns, and sharp fangs, this
monstrous beast appears fierce and cruel. It has a sheep in its
claws and is eating despite the sheep's resistance. Unfortunately,
the sheep is helpless and doomed. This statue made use of an
irregular stone 274 centimeters long and 220 centimeters wide. By
means of a relief technique, beast and sheep are clearly defined,
though their images are in the same stone.
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Ape and bear?This statue was carved from a huge,
flat elliptical stone. It is 277 centimeters high and 172
centimeters wide. The carved stone depicts a big ape similar to a
gorilla holding a young bear tightly in its arms as if the two are
locked in mortal struggle. With giant body, high forehead and large
eyes, the ape's teeth are bared and it is kneeling on its left
knee. A belt is tied around the ape's waist. The carving is simple
and powerful.
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Stone man?This figure was carved from a stone
similar in shape to a man. It is 222 centimeters in height and 120
centimeters in width. The figure differs from an ordinary man in
that its head is especially large and in a thrower back position
with the eyes open and a grinning face. The outline of the piece is
basically in layers dictated by the original stone, making the
lines simple and powerful.
