Harvesting history in fields of stone

Priceless pictures

Photos taken of the monuments in the late Qing Dynasty during the construction of the Bianluo Railway are priceless original materials, said Cao Miao, author of Traces of the Song Mausoleums.

Back then, photography was expensive and usually only for wealthy elites. Belgian and French engineers and doctors working on the railway took many clear, detailed pictures of the mausoleums. Today, photographers and history lovers take photos from the exact same angles as those century-old photos, Cao said.

"We can't stop natural weathering," he said. "The job for this generation is to slow this damage, keep the complete cultural background, and hand them down to later generations. Digital archives make sure this cultural heritage will never vanish entirely."

Comparisons with the old photos show irreversible damage.

Many carved decorations, sharp stone edges and surrounding scenery have worn away or disappeared.

Having photographed the mausoleums for more than a decade, Cao said: "When I press the shutter, I have a dialogue with these 1,000-year-old stone carvings."

Wang Guoqiang, a professor from Luoyang Normal University's school of history and culture, said digital copies of these old photos make international research easier, letting heritage lovers all over the world study the site online. "These photos also provide clear references for repairing stone relics and restoring the original ancient landscape," he said.

Wang also suggested connecting Gongyi's stone carvings with Longmen Grottoes and Songshan Mountain cultural sites to build a unified cultural tourism route.

"The famous scenic spots can share tourists and attract more people to come," he said.

Apple Rouse, vice-president of the US-based Chinese American Youth Association, believes the Song Mausoleums can help young people connect with their heritage.

"The Song stone carvings, beside high-speed trains and modern facilities, create a powerful clash of times, like images put together by AI (artificial intelligence). These 1,000-year-old stone figures overlook the Central Plains, showing the everlasting strength of Chinese civilization."

Contact the writers at qixin@chinadaily.com.cn