Komissarov Sergey , Soloviev Alexandr

Funeral Sculpture

of Medieval China and its influence on the art of Nomadic peoples

(prepared with financial help of Russian Fund for Humanities, project No. 05-01-01190)

Tradition of large-scale stone statues with quiet universal meaning for mounting of graves is widely spread all over the world. For clarification of semantic content of sculptural burial constructions the structure of funeral complexes as well as surrounding landscape characteristics are very essential. The using of funeral sculptures has a long history in China. It began with well-known stone statutes of Huo Qubing Mausoleum (died at 117 BC). Some characteristics of this complex resemble s. c. Scythian-Siberian «animal style» in art.

Replica of the sculpture from Huo Qubing Tomb (Shaanxi Provincial Museum)

Stone bixie at the mausoleum of Xiao Daosheng, father of the Emperor Ming-di, Southern Qi (at Nanjing)

“Spirit Path” to Xiaoling, mausoleum of Zhu Yuanzhang (at Nanjing)

Xiaoling, mausoleum of Zhu Yuanzhang (at Nanjing)

We suppose these Chinese complexes of Medieval Epoch reveal close similarity with funeral-ritual relics of nomadic tribes in Siberia and Central Asia. There are a lot of finds on the territories of Mongolia and Russian Altai region. Here we presented materials investigated and published by our colleagues from Sino-Mongolian joint archaeological expedition and late Dr. Vladimir D. Kubarev.

The group of stone sculptures at memorial complex at Shiveet-Ulan, Mongolia

Turk’s stone sculptures at memorial complex at Shiveet-Ulan, Mongolia

Turks’ sculptures at Ikh-Khanui-Nor, Mongolia

Small stone sculpture in front of Turk’s burial at Jargalthan, Mongolia

Turk’s sculptures of Russian and Mongolian Altai (materials of Dr. V. Kubarev). Part 1.

Turk’s sculptures of Russian and Mongolian Altai (materials of Dr. V. Kubarev). Part 2.

Turk’s sculptures of Russian and Mongolian Altai (materials of Dr. V. Kubarev). Part 3.

Turk’s sculptures of Russian and Mongolian Altai (materials of Dr. V. Kubarev). Part 4.

Turk’s sculptures of Russian and Mongolian Altai (materials of Dr. V. Kubarev). Part 5.

Many stone sculptures were found at Xinjiang. We present here the materials of Dr. Wang Bo from Xinjiang Regional Museum with our special acknowledgments for his great help. We also added some new pictures obtained at the beginning of this month during our visit to Aletai Prefecture of Xinjiang (mostly at Kanas Lake). All these statutes were connected with stone constructions – graves and special places for memorial rituals.

Three stone sculptures of Turk’s period from Zhaosu County, Xinjiang

Turks’ “Kamennaya Baba” from Kuoketale, Emin County, Xinjiang

Stone statute from Aerxiati, Wenquan County, Bortala Prefecture, Xinjiang

Stone figure from Aerxiati, Bortala Prefecture, Xinjiang

Two stone sculptures from Miliqikemuhuer, Wenquan County, Bortala Prefecture

Turk’s stone statute from Aerxiati, Wenquan County, Bortala Prefecture

Stone statute of Turk’s time from Ili River Basin (Xiaohongnahai, Zhaosu County)

Stone sculpture from Aowat, Tacheng (Chuguchak) Prefecture

Stone sculpture of Turk’s period at Aobaer, Hejing County

Stone statute of the Turk’s period at Forest farm at Dahe, Aletai District

Turk’s sculptures from Aletai Prefecture (left – at Hawasayi; right – at Sentasi-1)

Stone sculptures in Burchin, Xinjiang, China

The row of stone sculptures near Kanas Lake

Turk’s stone sculptures near Kanas Lake

Stone sculptures near Kanas Lake in Aletai Prefecture, Xinjiang, China

Stone sculpture and its keeper, Kanas Lake

Stone sculpting in Xinjiang was developing during more than two thousand years. This tradition began from Chemurchek Culture of Bronze Age (second half of 3rd – first half of 2nd millennium BC). Very specific statutes of this culture previously were supposed to be the remains of Turk, but their stylistic and technique of manufacturing differ very much. (Aleksey Kovalev pointed out the similar statutes in the Late Neolithic cultures of France and Swiss and approved them as an origin of Chemurchek Culture).

Stone sculptures of Chemurchek Culture (at Aletai Prefecture, Xinjiang)

Stone statute of Chemurchek Culture from Nanjia, Mulei County

Stone sculptures from Qinghe County (left – from Samute, Chemurchek Culture;

right – Kungaite, Turk;s Period)

• Tradition had its continuation in Scythian period when figurative sculptures were replaced by s. c. Stag Stones that preserved the same function in funeral rituals. And then, on this bases “Kamennaya Babas” of Turk peoples came into being.

Stag stone of Scythian time at Sanhaizi, Qinhe County

Stag stone at Cherbal-kul’, Qinhe County, Xinjiang

Stag stones from Aletai Prefecture (left – at Qiaergeer; right – Tasitesayi)

Stone sculpture from Ili River Basin

(Kongguerba, Zhaosu County)

Stone figure from Toli County, Tacheng (Chuguchak) Prefecture

• On the early stages of its development sculpting tradition of ancient Xinjiang could influence the art of Zhou and Qin dynasties. But in the Medieval Epoch the main direction of influence (at last, in this sphere) changed. Some of Chinese burial customs including its sacral function and connection with social status of the dead was adopted by some “barbarian” tribes.

• During the Early Medieval Epoch “the barbarians” tried to reproduce the visual characteristics of funeral ensembles of their “civilized” neighbors. Monuments of the Ancient Turks in Mongolia give us good examples of this kind, especially the Tomb of Kyul-tegin. We can see there the steles in Chinese style, stone base in the shape of tortoise and so on.

• By the way, we can point out some external influence at other sites of Mongolia and Xinjiang, f.e. stone “lion” from Shiveet-Ulan, or barbed man from Qiaoati (the skill in manufacturing of statutes varies because some of them could be manufactured by Chinese of Sogdian craftsmen captured by nomads). As for Chinese funeral tradition, it was presented in most developed form by famous complex of Shisanling of Ming Dynasty. F. e., Spirit Paths contains also pavilions for rituals including funeral feast.

Stele of Kul Tigin at Husho-Tsaidam, Mongolia

Stone sculpture from Qiaoati, Aletai Prefecture

Stone sculpture of “lion” at memorial complex at Shiveet-Ulan, Mongolia

The plan of Shisanling

This type of temple buildings can be compared with “stone fences” of nomads, while the rows of s. c. Balbals (stone sculptures) reflect the idea of anthropomorphic figures of Spirit Paths but in the form simplified by traditional “barbaric” ideology.