Image Studies Of LUXIAN Tombs

In Song Dynasty,the strengthening of the imperial power has led to the flattening of the gentry class,which further brought the economy boom of the civilian and the vast appearance of civilian tombs.Lu Xian tombs were the typical tombs among them,together with large volumes.Behind their fabulous images,it reflects the social revolution during the North and South Song Dynasty.To recover the stone image into the tomb space,this research sorts out the six tombs and collection of stone carvings recorded in “Lu Xian Tombs”,and collects materials gathered from the field research.Then through the position and rules of the tone image,the paradigm on image space of the Song Tombs in Song County is constructed.The first floor is the space between the tomb gate and the guards,which only appears the image of the samurai to safeguard the tomb and suppress the evil spirits.Entering the central part of the tomb,there is the courtyard house constructed by the imitation wood architecture.It contains the most abundant images of the space,that is,the fake-door images,servant images,four gods images,etc.,which jointly constructed the heaven of the tomb owner.Finally,by going upwards of the stairs,there is backward niche,the symbol of the owner’s position.This three-dimensional space is progressive,using images to create unlimited visual and imaginative expansion under limited space.Behind the stone carving images of Lu Xian tombs,various transformations of concepts,consisting of funeral focus changes as well as the rise of new ritual activities,have significant impacts on the image.The whole burial customary features reflect new changes differing from the previous dynasty.In addition,multiple influences such as religious beliefs and historical background have also reacted on the images.Lu Xian tombs are the largest civilian tomb groups in Song Dynasty which unearthed thousands of portraits and stone carvings and reflect the spiritual and material aspects of Song Dynasty.The constructors of tombs not only build a heaven for the dead with worship,but also a propitious place for the living.