The Southern Song Dynasty Stone Carving Park. /南宋石刻公園。 [Photo by Yan Long]嚴龍攝
By Xu Zhuowei
The Southern Song Dynasty Stone Carving Park is located on the east bank of Dongqian Lake. The stone carvings in the park are mainly from the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), while some were made in the Ming and Qing Dynasty. There are more than 200 statues in the park, most of which were originally placed in front of the tombs of the Shi Family in Southern Song, reflecting the family's eminent position and power.
南宋石刻公園位于東錢湖東岸，公園里的石刻以南宋時期為主，涵蓋部分明、清期間的作品，共200余尊石像生，大部分是南宋史家四位宰相的墓道石刻，體現了史家的顯赫官位和權勢。
Stone carvings are famous for their vivid image and diverse gestures. The officials, military officers, crouching tigers, instant horses, and kneeling sheep figures represent "loyalty, bravery, etiquette, righteousness, and filial piety" respectively, which vividly represent the history and culture at that time.
石刻以造型準確、形體動作多樣、表情生動而著稱。園中的文臣、武將、蹲虎、立馬、跪羊分別代表了“忠、勇、節、義、孝”，相當鮮明地再現了當時的歷史人文景觀。
The exhibits in the Park also include stone arches, architectural decorations, pagodas, bridges, stone chairs, helmets, decorative patterns, and geomancy in Southern Song Dynasty. Therefore, it is considered as a historical book with rich content and profound meaning.
南宋石刻還包括南宋時代的石牌坊、建筑居飾、佛塔、橋梁、石椅，以及相關的冠盔服飾、圖案裝飾、風水堪輿等。因此可以認為是一部石頭雕成的內容豐富、內涵深邃、風采盡顯的歷史文化史書。