The imperial mausoleum area of the Northern Song dynasty is located in Gongyi city of Henan province. In this area, there are eight mausoleums where seven emperors of the Northern Song dynasty and the father of Song Taizu rest. All mausoleums face south. From south to north lies Que Tai, Ru Tai and symmetrical lines of stone sculptures, but only the stone sculptures are well preserved.

There are 58 stone sculptures for each mausoleum, including a pair of balusters, a pair of elephants, a pair of elephant tamers, a pair of auspicious birds, a pair of Jiaoduans (an auspicious animal), two pairs of horses of honor, four pairs of equerries, two pairs of stone tigers, two pairs of stone sheep, three pairs of envoys, two pairs of military officers, two pairs of civil officers, a pair of portal lions, a pair of generals guarding the mausoleum, a pair of maids in waiting, and a pair of eunuchs from south to north. For Yong’an Ling, the mausoleum of Song Taizu’s father, there are only four stone sculptures still in existence. The stone sculptures for other mausoleums are all well preserved. In the whole area, there still exist 15 balusters, 14 elephants, 10 elephant tamers, 14 auspicious birds, 14 Jiaoduans (an auspicious animal), 76 horses of honor and equerries, 29 stone tigers, 29 stone sheep, 30 envoys, 22 military officers, 24 civil officers, 63 portal lions, 14 generals guarding the mausoleum, and 18 maids in waiting and eunuchs.

Irrespective of partial subtle changes, sculptures of the Han and Tang dynasties express magnificent grandeur and graceful charm through holistic shape relations and overall dynamic design. The stone sculptures at the imperial mausoleum area of the Northern Song dynasty inherit this tradition on one hand, and on the other hand develop towards meticulous depiction. They exhibit practiced skills, motion in the midst of stillness, and the unity of form and spirit. And the orderly arrangement and magnificent momentum fully display the inviolability and stateliness of the mausoleum owners, and the royal manner of the Northern Song dynasty.

The stone sculptures at the imperial mausoleum area of the Northern Song dynasty hold an important position in the history of Chinese sculptures for the distinctive artistic style. They are an extremely significant part of China’s artistic heritage.