The Origin and development of Epitaph in Early China
Date Issued
2011
Date
2011
Author(s)
Chiu, Chien-Chih
Abstract
Epitaph is tomb inscriptions which craved name, identification and memorial writing for deceased. There were two meanings of epitaph in early China, one was the words craved on the tomb, and the other was the form of the tomb. This essay focused on the two meanings between the 1st century to 6th century.
This essay tried to observe the origin and development of the epitaph in early China from a wider perspective. In the past, the scholars only used epitaph words as historical evidence; however, they neglected the substantial messages of epitaph itself. Therefore, this essay described the epitaph’s history and social background according to archaeological materials and historical document. This essay could be divided into three parts: First, it explored why people bury the epitaph, and how their motive related to social customs; second, how the development of the epitaph effected by national policy, geographical and ethnic factors; third, why and how non-Han (非漢民族) imitated Han (漢) in writing epitaph, and the social values behind the epitaph -writing.
In the Chapter two, according to historical document, it argued that the customs of tomb-inscribing appeared before the epitaph, but not all tomb inscriptions could be considered as the epitaph. Reviewing all tomb inscriptions of Han, it revealed that “Han epitaph” (漢代墓誌) hasn’t yet been in fixed form, for instance, the inscriptions often carved on the corner of the tomb room (墓室) or attached beside the stone reliefs (畫像石). This phenomenon may relate to social customs and electoral of Han Dynasty.
Chapter three interpreted the “Ban of Stele” (禁碑令) in medieval China, and argued that the form and context of the epitaph in medieval China succeeded the characters of Han Dynasty, and found out that it was also affected by geographical and artificial factors.
In the Chapter four, it discussed the reconstruction of the stele-shaped culture (碑型墓誌文化) in the Northern China by exploring the regional features and the routes of spread of West-Jin Dynasty “stele-shaped epitaph” (碑型墓誌). Besides, it re-examined the process of the epitaph-fabricating, and considered the writings of the epitaph reflected the position of national policy. Through intervening in the epitaph-fabricating, the nation affected the writings of the epitaph.
Subjects
epitaphs
tomb
burial customs
Ban of Stele
the process of the epitaph-fabricating
the sinicization of emperor Xiaowen.
Type
thesis
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