From The 1st To 13th Centuries, Yunnan Stone Inscriptions And Their Meaning

Inscription,means stone artifacts which inscribed with characters.Researches of Yunnan's inscriptions was first appeared in the Song Dynasty.In the Qing Dynasty Chinese Epigraphy was rising,several epigraphy visited Yunnan,Yunnan's inscriptions get more attention to academics though their researches.In the period Republic of China,local scholars also have research on Yunnan's inscriptions.The above studies method are based on the traditional textual epigraphy.Combining with the research methods and results of traditional epigraphy,from the perspective of modern epigraphy,this paper have a comprehensive study on the Yunnan 's inscriptions.inscriptions cultural and the influence on inscriptions by regional cultural exchange's also be investigated.Yunnan's inscriptions first appeared in the Later Han Dynasty,the number of inscriptions is scarce until the early Tang Dynasty,the 39 species,the author collected statistics,and mainly tomb-brick inscriptions,tomb-Stele,epitaph(tomb inscriptions)and others.Characteristics in shape and decoration of inscriptions reflects the influence from the Central Plain Culture.the distribution of inscriptions in Yunnan has two paths:.one has entered from Yibin,Sichuan to Zhaotong,thus affecting eastern Yunnan area.The Cuan's inscriptions is the most in Later Jin Dynasty;Another from Xichang,Sichuan region through Yongren,Dayao,Yaoan to western Yunnan area,and the main characteristics of this path's inscriptions is tomb-brick inscriptions,which prosperous during the period of Shuhan to the Former Jin Dynasty.Yunnan's inscriptions reflects the inscriptions culture created by the immigrants from the Middle-Land since the Han Dynasty,although these immigrants fused with the local indigenous ethnic,their inscriptions culture is still continues,and the Cuan's inscriptions also reflects communication with the Southern Dynasties.8?13th-century Yunnan was reigned by Nanzhao and Dali kingdom.The number of inscriptions author have collected during the period are 67 species,including tomb-stele,cliff inscription,dharani pillars,statues inscription,cremated grave inscription.Since the 7th century,Cuan,Nanzhao,Tibet,Tang,and some kingdom around Erhai lake were fought in Yunnan.Nanzhao in the middle of the 8th century ultimately control Yunnan area,war and ally with both Tang and Tibet.Nanzhao used more of inscriptions in the 9th century before to record documents,no personal used burial inscriptions retained.After the 9th century Buddhism of Nanzhao and Dali kingdom influenced all aspects of social life,cremation prevailed in the Dali kingdom.There were numerous of inscriptions in cremation cemetery.New inscription types such as dharani pillars,statues inscription,cremated grave inscription appeared,and the Round-Crown-Stele shape,figure of Buddha and the Seed Character decorated in the stone.Cuan's demise in the Tang Dynasty,they and the Baiman around Dianchi lake are heirs of immigrant who migrated in Han and Jin Dynasty from the Central Plain.In the 7th century Xicuan and Baiman's inscription existed,and in the aspect of culture is pretty much closer to the Central Plain Culture.In the 8th century Xicuan and Baiman were defeated by Nanzhao,settled to western Yunnan,then they became the most of population in Nanzhao and Dali kingdom.They fused with immigrant and formed local inscription culture which under the influence of Buddhism.