Stone Carvings of the Ming Dynasty

Location: Yuanshan Community Committee, Gushan Town, Jingjiang City Period: Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty

Brief Introduction Six stone carvings are inlaid into a wall of Gushan Temple. Though the carvings have undergone weathering over time, the patterns on them remain distinct. The top two slabs respectively depict a horse and an ox galloping through water; the middle two feature red-crowned cranes; and the bottom two show two intertwined ruyi scepters.

According to local records, these stone slabs and bricks were unearthed during the construction of the Mahavira Hall last year. The temple authorities embedded the carvings and bricks on the wall behind the Mahavira Hall.

Legend holds that Jingjiang was carried here by a white horse, hence its ancient name "Matuo Sha (Sandland Carried by a Horse)". This set of stone carvings is believed to illustrate the very legend.