A Visit to the Ancient Tomb of the Tujia Ethnic Group in the Deep Mountains

2022-01-28 18:21:08 来源：极目新闻

探访深山中的土家古墓

A Visit to the Ancient Tomb of the Tujia Ethnic Group in the Deep Mountains

2022年01月17日

January 17,2022

清代古墓 The ancient tomb of the Qing Dynasty

陵墓石刻 Stone carvings in the mausoleum

极目新闻记者刘俊华

通讯员黄善君

翻译吴友珊叶露棋龚佳玉

JIMUNews

Reporter: Liu Junhua

Correspondent: Huang Shanjun

Translators: Wu Youshan, Ye Luqi, Gong Jiayu

这是一座藏在深山中的土家族古墓，据传建于清朝初年。因为规模过大触犯皇威，建成后被人告密，差点给主人带来杀身之祸。

This ancient Tujia tomb hidden in the deep mountains is said to have been built in the early Qing Dynasty (1636-1912). It is so big that it offended the then imperial power, nearly bringing fatal disaster to the owner when after its completion someone secretly disclosed its size.

如今，这座位于湖北长阳土家族自治县资丘镇杨家桥村二组的“自在宫”陵墓，已成为土家石刻荟萃地。

Located in Group II, Yangjiaqiao Village, Ziqiu Town, Tujia Autonomous County of Changyang in Hubei, the “Zizai Palace”, literally meaning a place of ease, has become a place that holds collections of Tujia stone carvings today.

山村土豪十年自建活人墓

Localtycoons in the village spent ten years building their own tombs

“自在宫”所在的位置，今天来说也是偏远山村：从资丘镇坐渡船过清江后顺着山路盘旋而上，然后再顺着陡峭的山路蜿蜒而下，就到了杨家桥村二组赵白杨家的房屋。

The “Zizai Palace” is considered remote even today. After crossing the Qingjiang River by ferry from Ziqiu Town, we firstly went up the winding mountain road and then later following a meandering path we then went down the steep mountain to reach Zhao Baiyangs house in Group II, Yangjiaqiao Village.

“自在宫”就在他的房屋旁边约10米的地方。建筑高约10米、宽约12米，院墙及房屋由青砖加白灰浆砌成斗墙、黑瓦盖顶。碑文显示是一座夫妻墓，墓主人名为向庭植，整个墓全部用条石砌成，每块条石都是雕刻精细的石刻作品，且都单独成篇，貔貅、麒麟、盘龙、如意，还有若干壁画。

The “Zizai Palace” lies about 10 meters from his house. Constructed with gray bricks and white mortar and roofed with black tiles, the building is about 10 meters high and 12 meters wide. The inscriptions reveal that it was a tomb for a couple whose owner was named Xiang Tingzhi. The entire tomb is made of dressed stones, each of which is a piece of finely carved stone art and a separate side decorated with murals and propitious elements found in traditional Chinese culture such as Pixiu, Kylin, encircling dragon and Ruyi.

赵白杨自称是墓主人的后裔，原来赵家在向家入赘，赵家仍然是向家的血脉。

Zhao Baiyang claims to be a descendant of the tomb owner. This is because the original Zhaos married into the Xiangs, so the offspring of the Zhaos are considered to still belong to the Xiang family.

据赵白杨介绍，这座墓是活人墓，就是人活着的时候，依据自己的喜好、设想，为自己建造的永久归宿。

According to Zhao Baiyang, this is referred to as a tomb for the living, that is, it is a permanent and final home that is built by people while they are still alive. It is built according to ones own preferences and ideas.

“自在宫”碑文记载表明，墓主人向庭植生活在清初。陵墓前后建造了10多年，近千个石刻、篆刻作品完工后组装，为了防止风吹雨打，然后就着陵墓的面积建成了比陵墓大的房子，墓前还有厅，大门落锁保护。

The inscriptions in the “Zizai Palace” show that the tomb owner Xiang Tingzhi lived in the early Qing Dynasty. The mausoleum had been built for more than 10 years, and nearly a thousand stone and seal carving works were assembled after completion. In order to prevent erosion of wind and rain, a house larger than the mausoleum was built right on the area of the mausoleum, with a hall in front of the tomb and a locked door to protect it.

而“自在宫”陵墓周围则有一人多高的围墙将整个陵墓围成院落。在墓屋的右侧留有一条宽3米高4米的甬道，赵白杨告诉记者，这是留着抬棺入墓的通道。等墓主人去世入陵后，甬道就被封死了。在赵白杨的稻场外看，“自在宫”是一栋房子而不像墓。

The “Zizai Palace” is surrounded by a wall slightly taller than a man and it encloses the whole tomb thus forming a courtyard. On the right side of the tomb lies a tunnel that is 3 meters in width and 4 meters in height. Zhao Baiyang tells reporters that this passage is used for the transportation of the coffin into the tomb. When the tomb owner passed away and was laid to rest in the tomb, the passage would be permanently sealed. As one gazes from the outside of Zhao Baiyangs rice farmland, the “Zizai Palace” looks more like a house rather than a tomb.

土家陵墓被人告密冒犯皇威

The Tujia mausoleum was accused of offending the imperial power

据碑文记载，向庭植是地方富豪，过继有一子，官至六品。有钱有势，打造这样奢华的陵墓也就不足为奇了。

According to inscriptions, Xiang Tingzhi was a rich local man. His adopted son was a sixth-rank official in the imperial court. With such wealth and power, its no surprise that such a lavish mausoleum was built.

“自在宫”里的石刻全靠石匠精雕细刻而成，极目新闻记者在门柱的石刻上发现了弹着三弦的长阳南曲、土家跳丧鼓等，无论是土家文化，还是宫廷文化，都在这里得以呈现。

The stone carvings in the “Zizai Palace” are all elaborate works from stonemasons. Journalists found in the stone carvings on the gate poles inscriptions of Changyang Nanqu Operawith three-string accompaniment, Tujia drum-beating funeral, and many other inscriptions. Various cultures can be seen displayed here, be it Tujia culture or imperial court culture.

除开陵墓本身是大量的石刻作品组合外，墓的左右及前方都有石栏杆，石栏杆上都是石刻画屏，几十幅作品里雕刻、镂空、立体等各种石刻工艺得以展示。

In addition to the fact that the tomb itself is a combination of multiple stone carvings, stone balustrades can be seen on both sides as well as in front of the tomb, all of which are covered with painted screens made of stone carvings. Various stone carving techniques such as carving, hollowing and three-dimension and many others are finely displayed among the dozens of workpieces.

赵白杨说，20年前，几名武汉的学者来此考察了6天，他们在“自在宫”里绘图、测量、照相、拓印、研究，对这个陵墓的文化价值赞赏有加。

Zhao Baiyang said that 20 years ago, several scholars from Wuhan visited the tomb for six days. After painting, measuring, photographing, stone rubbing and researching in the “Zizai Palace”, by the end they spoke highly of its cultural value.

据称，当初“自在宫”内的门柱上曾经有“二龙戏珠”的雕刻，后被磨平。还有一对虎虎生威的石狮子和九步台阶，后来也被砸坏。原来是有好事者密告到朝廷，说向庭植超标建墓，冒犯皇威。在朝廷派人查处前，得到消息的向家连夜毁掉了惹祸的痕迹，这才躲过一劫。

Earlier, there was said to be a stone carving called “double dragons play with a bead” on the gate pole in the “Zizai Palace” which was rubbed off. A pair of vigorous stone lions and nine-step stairs were also smashed and destroyed. It turns out that a secret informant went to the imperial court, and reported that Xiang Tingzhi had built a tomb that offended the imperial power. Before the imperial court could send people to investigate, the Xiang family got the news and destroyed all traces of the questionable features overnight and hence dodged the bullet.

“自在宫”现已被宜昌市确定为文物重点保护单位，为研究清江流域土家族丧葬习俗提供了宝贵的历史资料。

The “Zizai Palace”is now listed as a key cultural relic and protected site by Yichang City, providing valuable historical data for the study of Tujia funeral customs in the Qingjiang River territory.

This ancient Tujia tomb hidden in the deep mountains is said to have been built in the early Qing Dynasty (1636-1912).