The Stone Epic of the Han Dynasty: Fan Min Que and the Art of the Southern Frontier

A Monument to the Han Empire's Frontier

1.Located in Liming: Village, Maidong Township, Lushan County, Ya'an City, Sichuan Province, Fan Min Que (Gate Towers of Fan Min) stands as a silent sentinel of the Eastern Han Dynasty, dating back to the 10th year of the Jian'an reign (205 AD). Surrounded by peaceful farmland and backed by rolling green hills, this site is not merely a tomb entrance but a masterpiece of ancient Chinese stone carving and architecture. Lushan County is renowned as the "Hometown of Han Culture," and Fan Min Que is its crown jewel. It was built for Fan Min, the Governor of Ba Commandery (Bajun), a distinguished official known for his integrity and governance in the southwestern frontier. Unlike many historical sites that are mere ruins, the main left tower of Fan Min Que stands tall at approximately 5 meters, having been carefully restored in 1957 using original Han dynasty stones. It serves as a physical textbook of the Han Dynasty's architectural style, burial rites, and the cultural fusion between the Central Plains and the ethnic tribes of the southwest.

The Architecture of Stone and Spirit

2.The structure of Fan Min: Que is a classic example of "Zimu Que" (Mother-and-Son Towers), carved from local red sandstone. It mimics the wooden construction techniques of the time, featuring intricate stone imitations of beams, columns, and dougong (bracket sets). The main tower is composed of 13 layers of stone blocks, divided into the base, the body, the tower section, and the roof. The roof is designed in a heavy-eave style, with a ridge adorned by a relief of an eagle holding a ribbon, symbolizing longevity and auspiciousness. One of the most striking features is the layer of dougong brackets supported by corner sculptures of Lishi (Strongmen). These muscular, determined figures appear to be bearing the weight of the heavens, showcasing the dynamic power and crude beauty characteristic of Han dynasty sculpture. Standing before it, visitors can feel the "heavy and simple" aesthetic that defined the era.

Myths Carved in Red Sandstone

3.What makes Fan Min: Que truly unique among China's Han towers is its relief carvings, particularly the depiction of "The Dragon Birthing Ten Sons" (Long Sheng Shi Zi) found under the eaves. Unlike the traditional Chinese legend of the dragon's nine sons, this relief portrays a vivid scene derived from the ancient Ailao Yi mythology of the southwest. It features boys and girls playing in a tree, capturing a wide range of human emotions—joy, anger, and sorrow—in a lively, slice-of-life manner. This artistic choice reflects Fan Min's career as an official who governed multi-ethnic regions and signifies the cultural integration on the empire's border. Additionally, the site includes majestic stone beasts—Tianlu and Pixie (winged lions)—standing guard. With their heads held high and mouths open in a roar, these creatures were believed to ward off evil spirits and protect the tomb, further exemplifying the bold and unconstrained artistic style of the Han period.

The Legacy of the Fan Min Stele

4.Adjacent to the tower stands the Fan Min: Stele, a cultural treasure in its own right. Standing nearly 3 meters tall with a rounded top, the stele is supported by a stone tortoise (Bixi) and capped with a relief of two dragons. The inscription contains 558 characters written in Lishu (Clerical Script). This calligraphy is celebrated for its ancient, solemn, and vigorous style, described by the famous Qing scholar Kang Youwei as having the beauty of "a lotus rising from the water." The text details Fan Min's life, his official posts, and his achievements, providing invaluable historical data on the governance of the Shu and Ba regions during the late Eastern Han. Over the centuries, this stele has attracted countless scholars, poets, and calligraphers who come to admire its artistic perfection and rubbings of its text. Despite damage over millennia, including the 2013 Lushan earthquake, the site remains a resilient symbol of Chinese civilization's continuity.