Over 400-yr-old stone tablet found in North China

SHIJIAZHUANG - A stone tablet dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1384-1644) has been discovered in North China's Hebei province, local authorities said Tuesday.

Found in the process of land leveling near Puli Pagoda in Lincheng county, the tablet, which is believed to have been made during the reign of Emperor Wanli, has a history of 406 years, according to the county's cultural heritage administration.

The cuboid is 227 cm tall, 90 cm wide and 30 cm thick, with inscriptions of 748 characters describing a monk of Puli proposing to give porridge to the needy.

According to the county's recorded history, Puli Pagoda was built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and destroyed between 1912 to 1949.

The tablet provides important materials for the study and archaeological excavation of the pagoda, according to Suo Lixia, head of the county's cultural heritage administration.