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 Tomb
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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