Stone Plinth of Tomb of Sima Jinlong

This stone carving is a part of coffifi n chamber, which is lower pedestal of a stone column. It is unearthed from ancient tomb in Shijiazhai Village, and its owner is Sima Jinlong, Zhenxi General in the Northern Wei Dynasty. Stone Plinth of Tomb of Sima Jinlong consists of three layers from top to bottom. The base is square, with honeysuckle and intertwining lotus pattern cut in relief at four sides. Every unit design sees a dancing child with different actions, which is changing and uniform. The middle layer sees high relief of dragon crossing the sea, which is surrounded by dancers with different postures. The top layer sees a blooming lotus. This artwork boasts brilliant shape, and makes clever use of round carving, openwork carving, line engraving and other carving techniques.

This musician is active and takes unconstrained actions. The pipa player holds pipa, with one kneel on the ground and one leg bending. He is immensely proud when plucking the string.

Honeysuckle pattern

Honeysuckle is also called as Lonicera japonica, which is a plant named after the feature of no perishment in winter. Since the late Eastern Han Dynasty, honeysuckle pattern was widely used insilk weaving and carving, which flourished in the Wei and Jin Dynasties and the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

Round carving, openwork carving, line engraving

Round carving, openwork carving and line engraving are all carving techniques. Round carving refers to carving at all aspects and all parts so that artworks have no background to be appreciated from various angles. Openwork carving refers to engraving relief board hollow so that backside scenery can be seen from openwork place through obverse side of artworks. Line engraving refers to out lining the scenery with brush on the material, and then engraving concavoconvex lines along the ink with sharp knife instead of brush.

Sculptures of the Wei and Jin Dynasties and the Northern and Southern Dynasties

The Wei and Jin Dynasties and the Northern and Southern Dynasties witnessed the golden age of traditional sculptures. Due to interactions between various ethnic groups, sculpture style diversified in this period. Buddhismthemed artworks dominated in terms of quantity. As for the creation, “charm” was highlighted, while drawing and realism were reinforced.

Building sculptures

Building sculptures refertolocal decorations or building components which are used to beautify main parts of buildings. Round carving, openwork carving, line engraving and other carving techniques are often adopted on the building surface so as to create a variety of art images. Ancient building sculptures form respective systems and show strong ethnic features. They are widely used in screen wall facing the gate of a house, marble pillar, plinth, architrave, caisson, tile, etc.

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