A group of more than 20 reporters from the world’s major media organizations visited the Wushi Mausoleums in Jiaxiang county, Shandong province on October 20, to have a look at the precious historical stone carvings discovered in the graveyard of the Emperor Wu’s family in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) period. The stone carvings in the Wushi Mausoleums are located in the town of Zhifang in Jiaxiang county. It is estimated that they were executed during 147-189. In 1961, they were included by the State Council in the first batch of national cultural relics to be protected. They include a pair of lions, statues, 10 inscription tablets and 46 pictorial carvings. Of these, the lion is the earliest stone lion believed to have been rendered in China’s history and the stone statues have been identified by experts as the first statues in the country. Many scenes from the Wushi Mausoleums have become trademark designs of China’s ancient art. Experts say the carvings constitute an epoch-making masterpiece in the history of Chinese architecture, art and sculpture.

Source: Chinadaily