Details of the stone lions in the Tang tomb

In Longyao County, there are two famous stone lions in the Tang Dynasty. The stone lion is five feet high, beautifully shaped, plump and majestic, ready to hold its head high and roar at any time. Exquisite carving skills fully show the artistic style of stone carving in Tang Dynasty. The two stone lions were originally located in the Tang Mausoleum in the north of Wang Yin Village, Longyao County. Tang Mausoleum is also called the Bamboo Slips Mausoleum. Not far from the mausoleum, it is Guangye Temple built in the early years of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, and the Great Buddha Hall Monument built in the 13th year of Kaiyuan of the Tang Dynasty (AD 725). This was written by Jin Yang, then the county magistrate of Xiangcheng (Longping).

According to the inscription quoted in the Annals of Zhaozhou in Qin Long, this is the tomb of the eighth ancestor of Tang Dynasty and the seventh ancestor of Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty. In the twentieth year of Zhenguan (AD 646), Emperor Taizong of Li Shimin sent envoys Sun Chang Wuji, xing zhou, Li Kuan, Zhao Zhou and Du Ao to "pay homage to the mausoleum and draw pictures". In the first year of Linde, Tang Gaozong (AD 664), there were "thirty households guarding the mausoleum" around it. In the first year of Yifeng (AD 676), this mausoleum was named "Xuan Di Guangling". Now Guangye Temple, the monument of the Great Buddha Hall and its stone man and horse have been destroyed, except for two stone lions, which are well preserved. The stone lions in Tang tombs are not only important historical relics, but also rare works of art.

That's why those cultural invaders with ulterior motives are salivating. Before War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, Japanese antique dealers bribed the village chief with a huge sum of 2,000 yuan, and stole two stone lions to Neiqiu in an attempt to put them on a train and carry them away. Hearing this, the local people were furious and rushed to Neiqiu to recover the stone lion. At that time, the Longping county government moved Shishi to the city.