Xiaotang Mountain Han Shrine
Encyclopedia
The Xiaotang Mountain Han Shrine also known as the Guo Family Ancestral Hall
is a funerary stone shrine from the early Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD) situated on slopes of the Yellow River
valley in the western part of Shandong
Province, China. It is the only known offering shrine from this period known to be still standing in its original form
been identified with as the Guo Family shrine by some studies
13th of the Confucian
Twenty-four paragons filial piety
upper nobility and feudal lords since
the Warring States Period
(475-221 BC). Erecting such shrines as
well as monumental towers became popular during the times of the Han Dynasty
(207 BC-220 AD) and in particular in the era of the
Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD). The Xiaotang Mountain Han Shrine dates
to the early Eastern Han Dynasty, but the exact date remains
unknown. Historical inscriptions that were added
to the shrine suggest that it dates back before the year 129 AD (the
4th year of the reign of the Eastern Han Emperor Shun of Han
), to
which the earliest inscription on the shrine is dated
year when Emperor Huan of Han
of the Eastern Han changed his era
name to "Yongkang" . The shrine is mentioned in the
"Commentary to the River Classic
" (Shui Jing Zhu) by the
Northern Wei Dynasty scholar Li Daoyuan
(died 527 AD). The shrine is also recorded in the
"Catalogue of Inscriptions on Stone and Bone" by Zhao Mingcheng
, a
scholar-official and epigraphist
in the Song Dynasty
(960-1279 AD) also known for being the husband to poetess Li Qingzhao
. The shrine was among the first 180 sites to be included in the list of national heritage sites on April 3, 1961.
topped by a single-eaved and hanging hill-shaped roof. It that stands 4.14 metres (13.6 ft) long,
2.5 metres (8.2 ft) wide, and 2.64 metres (8.7 ft) tall. The walls are made from black stones and
are 20 centimetres (7.9 in) thick. An
86 centimetres (33.9 in)-tall octogonal stone pillar has been placed in the
center of the shrine. The shrine is decorated with sunken images cut away from a surface as
well as bas-relief images. The stone walls and the
triangular stone girders are engraved with depictions of legendary
tales, historic events, time keeping and astrology, royal audiences,
travel, guest receptions, war campaigns, hunting, cooking, and
recreation. Other architectural
components of the shrine carry simpler decorations with motives such
as lowered curtains and water chestnut. An inscription of particular culural history and calligraphic
value is the "Odes to Moving Filial Piety" (Gan Xiao Song) written by
King of Longdong in the Northern Qi
Dynasty (550-577 AD) and
engraved on the outside gable of the shrine.
Ju , the 13th of the 24
Paragons of Filial Piety. Guo Ju is said
to have lived during the time of the Han Dynasty. He prepared to bury
his own infant son during a period of food shortage in order to
preserve enough food to save his aging mother. When he dug the grave
for his son, he found a treasure (inscribed as a gift to him) that
allowed him to save his entire family.
The Xiaotang Mountain Han Shrine is located on Xiaotang Mountain
. Other names of the
mountain are "Guishan" and "Wushan" . The mountain is located
south of the village of Xiaolipu , in Changqing District
under the administration
of Jinan
City. It slightly more than 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) southeast
of the city center of Jinan
. It is located about 500 metres (1,640.4 ft)
to the east of the Yellow River
and about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of
road G220.
Ancestral hall
An ancestral hall or lineage temple is a site of ancestor worship in Chinese culture. Ancestral halls are closely linked to Confucian culture and the emphasis that it places on filial piety....
is a funerary stone shrine from the early Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD) situated on slopes of the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
valley in the western part of Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
Province, China. It is the only known offering shrine from this period known to be still standing in its original form
been identified with as the Guo Family shrine by some studies
13th of the Confucian
Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
Twenty-four paragons filial piety
Filial piety
In Confucian ideals, filial piety is one of the virtues to be held above all else: a respect for the parents and ancestors. The Confucian classic Xiao Jing or Classic of Xiào, thought to be written around 470 BCE, has historically been the authoritative source on the Confucian tenet of xiào /...
History
Funerary shrines have been built on top of the tombs of members of theupper nobility and feudal lords since
the Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
(475-221 BC). Erecting such shrines as
well as monumental towers became popular during the times of the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
(207 BC-220 AD) and in particular in the era of the
Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD). The Xiaotang Mountain Han Shrine dates
to the early Eastern Han Dynasty, but the exact date remains
unknown. Historical inscriptions that were added
to the shrine suggest that it dates back before the year 129 AD (the
4th year of the reign of the Eastern Han Emperor Shun of Han
Emperor Shun of Han
Emperor Shun of Han, trad. ch. 漢順帝;, sim. ch. 漢顺帝, py. hàn shùn dì, wg. Han Shun-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty and the seventh emperor of the Eastern Han period...
), to
which the earliest inscription on the shrine is dated
year when Emperor Huan of Han
Emperor Huan of Han
Emperor Huan of Han, ch. 漢桓帝, py. hàn húan dì, wg. Han Huan-ti, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He was a great-grandson of Emperor Zhang....
of the Eastern Han changed his era
name to "Yongkang" . The shrine is mentioned in the
"Commentary to the River Classic
Shui Jing Zhu
Shui Jing Zhu is a work on the ancient geography of China. It is an annotated and much expanded version of an older text, the Shui Jing , which has been lost.The annotated version was compiled by Li Daoyuan Shui Jing Zhu is a work on the ancient geography of China. It is an annotated and much...
" (Shui Jing Zhu) by the
Northern Wei Dynasty scholar Li Daoyuan
Li Daoyuan
Li Daoyuan was a Chinese geographer during thetimes of the Northern Wei Dynasty. He is known as the author ofthe Commentary to the River Classic ....
(died 527 AD). The shrine is also recorded in the
"Catalogue of Inscriptions on Stone and Bone" by Zhao Mingcheng
, a
scholar-official and epigraphist
Epigraphy
Epigraphy Epigraphy Epigraphy (from the , literally "on-writing", is the study of inscriptions or epigraphs as writing; that is, the science of identifying the graphemes and of classifying their use as to cultural context and date, elucidating their meaning and assessing what conclusions can be...
in the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
(960-1279 AD) also known for being the husband to poetess Li Qingzhao
Li Qingzhao
Li Qingzhao was a Chinese writer and poet of the Song Dynasty, regarded by many as the premier female poet in the Chinese language.-Biography:She was born Li Qingzhao (Traditional Chinese: 李清照; Simplified Chinese: 李清照, pinyin: Lǐ Qīngzhào; Wade-Giles: Li Ch'ing-chao, pseudonym Yi'an Jushi (易安居士...
. The shrine was among the first 180 sites to be included in the list of national heritage sites on April 3, 1961.
Shrine
The Xiaotang Mountain Han Shrine is a free-standing masonry constructiontopped by a single-eaved and hanging hill-shaped roof. It that stands 4.14 metres (13.6 ft) long,
2.5 metres (8.2 ft) wide, and 2.64 metres (8.7 ft) tall. The walls are made from black stones and
are 20 centimetres (7.9 in) thick. An
86 centimetres (33.9 in)-tall octogonal stone pillar has been placed in the
center of the shrine. The shrine is decorated with sunken images cut away from a surface as
well as bas-relief images. The stone walls and the
triangular stone girders are engraved with depictions of legendary
tales, historic events, time keeping and astrology, royal audiences,
travel, guest receptions, war campaigns, hunting, cooking, and
recreation. Other architectural
components of the shrine carry simpler decorations with motives such
as lowered curtains and water chestnut. An inscription of particular culural history and calligraphic
value is the "Odes to Moving Filial Piety" (Gan Xiao Song) written by
King of Longdong in the Northern Qi
Northern Qi
The Northern Qi Dynasty was one of the Northern dynasties of Chinese history and ruled northern China from 550 to 577.-History:The Chinese state of Northern Qi was the successor state of the Chinese/Xianbei state of Eastern Wei and was founded by Emperor Wenxuan...
Dynasty (550-577 AD) and
engraved on the outside gable of the shrine.
Filial piety
The shrine has been identified with the story of GuoJu , the 13th of the 24
Paragons of Filial Piety. Guo Ju is said
to have lived during the time of the Han Dynasty. He prepared to bury
his own infant son during a period of food shortage in order to
preserve enough food to save his aging mother. When he dug the grave
for his son, he found a treasure (inscribed as a gift to him) that
allowed him to save his entire family.
Location
. Other names of the
mountain are "Guishan" and "Wushan" . The mountain is located
south of the village of Xiaolipu , in Changqing District
Changqing District
Changqing is a district of the Chinese province of Shandong. It is administered by the sub provincial city of Jinan. It has an area of 1,178 km² and has 530,000 inhabitants .- External links :*...
under the administration
of Jinan
Jinan
Jinan is the capital of Shandong province in Eastern China. The area of present-day Jinan has played an important role in the history of the region from the earliest beginnings of civilisation and has evolved into a major national administrative, economic, and transportation hub...
City. It slightly more than 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) southeast
of the city center of Jinan
Jinan
Jinan is the capital of Shandong province in Eastern China. The area of present-day Jinan has played an important role in the history of the region from the earliest beginnings of civilisation and has evolved into a major national administrative, economic, and transportation hub...
. It is located about 500 metres (1,640.4 ft)
to the east of the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
and about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of
road G220.