Forest of Stone Steles Museum Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information
Forest of Stone Steles Museum is situated in the old location of Confucian temple on San Xue Street, near to the south gate of Xi'an City Wall. It was initially established in 1087 A.D. when some precious stone steles were moved here for safe keeping. Since 1944 the Forest of Stone Steles used to be the principal museum for Shaanxi Province. Then because of the large number of stone steles (large engraved stone tablets), it was officially named as the Forest of Stone Steles Museum in 1992.
Why be an art
The museum has an area of over 30,000 square meters. It is one of the centers of ancient Chinese stone-engraving classic. It is also the center of the works of art of noted calligraphers of past dynasties. The numerous standing steles likens a forest, hence the name " Forest of Steles"'. With a history of over 900 years, it is an art treasure well known at home and abroad.
How many "Stone Steles" here
In Forest of Stone Steles Museum, more than 2300 steles from the Han Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty have been kept and more than 1000 pieces are displayed.
When to rename
The Forest of Stone Steles used to be the principal museum for Shaanxi Province since 1944. Then because of the large number of stone steles, it was officially named as the Forest of Stone Steles Museum in 1992.
What to see
There are 3,000 steles and the museum is divided into seven exhibitions halls, which mainly display the works of calligraphy, painting and historical records. All of these record some achievements in the development of the Chinese culture and reflect the historical facts of the cultural exchanges between China and other countries.
Room One
It mainly displays 'the Kaicheng Stone Classics', which contains twelve lections caved on 114 steles. The lections include 'the Book of Changes', 'the Book of History', 'the Book of Songs', 'the Analects of Confucius' and some others of this kind. These are the must-read books for the intellectuals of the feudal society. At that time the printing was under development. In order to well preserve these lections, the rulers ordered to engrave them on the stone steles.
Room Two
The stone tablets written by the calligraphers during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) are exhibited in the Room Two. It has the collection of the masterpieces of the famous calligraphers as OuYang xun, Yan Zhenqing, Wang Xizhi and Liu GongquanNestorian Tablet is the most useful material for experts to study the cultural exchanges between the Tang Dynasty and the other states.
Room Three
Room Three houses the calligraphy-collection, which is of great importance. As a traditional art, calligraphy occupies the same position of importance as the painting in the history of Chinese art. In China, the scripts are classified into five categories: seal script, official script, regular script, running-hand and cursive-hand. Through these tablets, you could learn much about the evolvement of the Chinese haracters.
Room Four
Painting Stones in Room Four were engraved with historical records. You could see the portraits of Confucius and Bodhidarma on some and the allegorical pictures and texts written to appear like pictures on others.
Room Five
In ancient times, the rulers of different dynasties preferred to build temples and solidify the city wall. Some records of this form of Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties engraved on the steles are preserved in Room Five.
Room Six & Room Seven
You would certainly go to Room Six if you enjoy the poetic inscriptions. Emperors, noted ministers and well-reputed calligraphers of various dynasties have left many inscriptions, some of which are shown in Room Seven.
The Stone Sculpture Gallery
The Stone Sculpture Gallery was built in 1963, including mausoleum stone sculpture and religious stone sculpture from Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - 24 A.D.) to Tang Dynasty. It is prized as a great treasure in the art of world stone sculptures.
When to visit
- Opening Hours
8:00a.m. - 6:45p.m. (Summer)
8:00a.m. - 6:00p.m. (Winter)
- Recommended time for a visit
Three hours
Getting there
By bus
It is easier to take Bus 14, 402, 239 to get there.