Abstract
AbstractAn Eastern Han stele with an unusual relief decoration and 367 character memorial inscription tells us much about the south-west of China in early imperial times. Unearthed in 2004 from the banks of the Yangtze River and dated to 173ce, the stele was dedicated to Quren county magistrate Jing Yun who died 70 years earlier in 103ce. The paper provides a full translation, annotation, and analysis of the stele's commemorative text, which borrows from the content and language of one of China's oldest anthologies of poems, theChuci, and places it in its historical context. It also examines the iconography at the head of the stele which reflects beliefs in transcendence and the pursuit of immortality prevalent at the time and demonstrates its close relation to the inscription. Overall, the paper suggests that the decoration and text together exhibit a regional heritage that is distinct to the south-west, its memorial culture, and poetic and religious traditions.
Highlights
In March 2004, archaeologists working prior to the flooding of the Three Gorges region on the Yangtze River in Jianmin village 建民村, Yunyang county 雲陽縣 in Chongqing Municipality, unearthed a stele dated to 173 CE and dedicated to Quren county 胊忍縣 magistrate Jing Yun 景雲, who died 70 years earlier in 103 CE
Unearthed in 2004 from the banks of the Yangtze River and dated to 173 CE, the stele was dedicated to Quren county magistrate Jing Yun who died 70 years earlier in 103 CE
The paper provides a full translation, annotation, and analysis of the stele’s commemorative text, which borrows from the content and language of one of China’s oldest anthologies of poems, the Chuci, and places it in its historical context
Summary
In March 2004, archaeologists working prior to the flooding of the Three Gorges region on the Yangtze River in Jianmin village 建民村, Yunyang county 雲陽縣 in Chongqing Municipality, unearthed a stele dated to 173 CE and dedicated to Quren county 胊忍縣 magistrate Jing Yun 景雲, who died 70 years earlier in 103 CE. The various decorative elements found on the head of Jing Yun’s stele are not unique to the south-west and, as is the case with the iconography of the half-open door which was readily employed in the tomb art of north China, there is a connection between the images of the xian, the half-open door, and the Vermilion Bird and the Chuci, in particular the poem “Yuanyou”.42. The Songs of Chu, 112, translates this phrase as “missing the ancient river-land ways”, referring to the landscape of Chu. In the context of the stele, it suggests the invisible influence of Jing Yun’s leadership that continues to affect society for years to come and thereby justifies public mourning and seasonal sacrifices. This stele was carved for gentleman Jing by the Quren county magistrate, gentleman Yong from Zitong, whose now-tabooed personal name is Zhi, and his courtesy name is Baiman, in the beginning of the second month of Spring, in the second year of the Xiling reign (173 CE).[101]
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