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Tomb of Huo Qubing

 

Tomb of Huo Qubing, the famous general of the Han dynasty, earlier Travellers of the Silk Road nearby the Maoling MausoleumTomb of Huo Qubing is the most unique secondary tomb located about 1.5 kilometers northeast of Maoling Mausoleum. Huo Qubing was a brave and skillful general of Emperor Wudi and led his troops to fight the invading Xiongnu across the Qilian Mountain. He died at the age of 24. Emperor Wudi gave orders to build his tomb in the shape of Qilian Mountain where where the general had achieced his first victory and to erect sixteen remarkable stone figures of beasts and demons in front of hi tomb to commemorate his deeds.

The stone carvings in front of his tomb were exquisitely done in bold style. As the mountain range is marked by rugged rocks that resemble wild beasts, so Huo's tumulus was strewn with grotesque rocks; furthermore, masons building the tomb sculptured many stone statues of animals-- leaping and squatting horses, resting tigers, kneeling elephants, piglets and fish, bears and other wild beasts preying on sheep,and two strange human figures, perhaps demons or gods, one of which is wrestling a bear... Of the sculptures, the most renowned is "Galloping over the Xiongnu", showing a 168 cm high and 190 cm long horse trampled on a dying, yet still defying, Hun, a work of art aptly summing up the achievements of the young general in his meteoric career. The groups of statues are the earliest giant-sized stone sculptures known to stand in front of an ancient tomb in China.

Near his tomb, there is a small museum. There are a number of bronze articles, including money, agricultural implements and a magnificent rhinoceros, though the latter is now in the Shaanxi Museum and only a reproduction is on display. There are also some examples of the decorated building materials for which both the Qin and Han were famous.

 


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