春天里的祭拜——曲阜春季祭孔大典侧记

THE TOMB OF FANG YANQIAN

今年的4月4日是中国的传统节日清明节，中国人习惯拜祭先人、寄托哀思的日子。这期间，孔子故里曲阜迎来了近万名海内外的祭孔者。

O n the southern hillside of Mount Zhao in Caishi County, Jinan City, there is ancient Behind the old in an cemetery. pine trees this cemetery, there is an ancient tomb, where Fang Yanqian lies buried--the father of Fang Xuanling, who was one of the 18 most famous scholars during the Tang Dynasty （618-907）. The present extant tomb is comprised of the grave itself, the grave tablet and remains of some stone animals. Since Fang Yanqian was an official of the Sui Dynasty （581-618） and his son Fang Xuanling was one of the founding fathers of the Tang Dynasty, the tablet text was written by Li Baiyao--a historian of the Tang Dynasty and copied on the tablet by Ouyang Xun--a calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty. Also because both father and son were clean and upright officials, they were deeply loved by the people. Consequently, the tomb and grave tablet of Fang Yanqian were protected by the consecutive dynasties and governments in China＇s history. In 1977, it was listed as a cultural relic site under the major protection of Shandong Province.