Xiao Xiu
Encyclopedia
Xiao Xiu styled Prince Anchengkang (475–518),
was a younger half-brother of Emperor Wu
, the first emperor of China's Liang Dynasty
(who had the personal name of Xiao Yan). According to the Liang Shu, he was the 7th son of the Xiao Yan's father Xiao Shunzhi.
Xiao Xiu is said to have been a disciple of the Buddhist monk Daodu (道度, 462–527).
is the most complete set of such statuary surviving from that period.
Xiao Xiu's tomb is located in the Ganjia Lane (甘家巷. Ganjia Xiang) neighborhood in today's Qixia District
north-east of Nanjing
(32°08′38"N 118°55′02"E).
It is thought that the sculptural ensemble of the tomb included a pair of winged lion-like animals (bixie
), four steles supported by stone tortoises
, and a pair of fluted columns. Visited and photographed by Victor Segalen
in 1917, the ensemble of the Tomb of Xiao Xiu (with his name better known under its French transcription, Siao Sieou) soon became well known to Europe's and the world's students of ancient Chinese sculpture. Presently, the site is on the grounds of Gan Jia Xiang Elementary School.
was a younger half-brother of Emperor Wu
Emperor Wu of Liang
Emperor Wu of Liang , personal name Xiao Yan , courtesy name Shuda , nickname Lian'er , was the founding emperor of the Chinese Liang Dynasty...
, the first emperor of China's Liang Dynasty
Liang Dynasty
The Liang Dynasty , also known as the Southern Liang Dynasty , was the third of the Southern dynasties in China and was followed by the Chen Dynasty...
(who had the personal name of Xiao Yan). According to the Liang Shu, he was the 7th son of the Xiao Yan's father Xiao Shunzhi.
Xiao Xiu is said to have been a disciple of the Buddhist monk Daodu (道度, 462–527).
Xiao Xiu's Mausoleum
Xiao Xiu is better remembered not for what he did while alive, but for his tomb, whose assortment of animal sculpturesSpirit way
A spirit way is the ornate road leading to a Chinese tomb of a major dignitary.The term is also sometimes translated as spirit road, spirit path or sacred way....
is the most complete set of such statuary surviving from that period.
Xiao Xiu's tomb is located in the Ganjia Lane (甘家巷. Ganjia Xiang) neighborhood in today's Qixia District
Qixia District
Qixia District , Jiangsu, China a city district of the City of Nanjing directly northeast across the Yangtze River from Nanjing.It has an area of 80 km2 and the population of 400,000.-Natural and historical sights:...
north-east of Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
(32°08′38"N 118°55′02"E).
It is thought that the sculptural ensemble of the tomb included a pair of winged lion-like animals (bixie
Bixie
A Bixie , is a type of lion-like mythological Chinese creature, or chimera. It is considered as an exorcising animal and is usually hornless....
), four steles supported by stone tortoises
Bixi (tortoise)
Bixi , also called guifu or baxia , is a stone tortoise, used as a pedestal for a stele or tablet. Tortoise-mounted stelae have been traditionally used in the funerary complexes of Chinese emperors and other dignitaries. Later, they have also been used to commemorate an important event, such as...
, and a pair of fluted columns. Visited and photographed by Victor Segalen
Victor Segalen
Victor Segalen was a French naval doctor, ethnographer, archeologist, writer, poet, explorer, art-theorist, linguist and literary critic....
in 1917, the ensemble of the Tomb of Xiao Xiu (with his name better known under its French transcription, Siao Sieou) soon became well known to Europe's and the world's students of ancient Chinese sculpture. Presently, the site is on the grounds of Gan Jia Xiang Elementary School.
External links
- 梁安成康王萧秀墓石刻 (Sculptures at the Tomb of Xiao Xiu) (Xiao Xiu's brief biography; description and modern photos of his tomb statuary ensemble)