西汉帝陵

　　在《中国文明史·秦汉时代》这部鸿篇巨制的下册第968页，有一条醒目的大字标题：纪念碑式的巨石群雕。在这条题目之下，记载着中国古代石雕艺术的光辉成就——茂陵·霍去病墓地石雕群像。
　　在我国古代文献中，虽然记述秦代的宫殿和陵墓都曾安置有巨大的雕塑作品，但均已无存。目前所见年代最早的纪念碑式巨石群雕，是西汉名将霍去病墓上的石雕群像。年轻的骠骑将军霍去病与其身为大将军的舅父卫青一起，指挥汉军取得了元狩四年(前119年)对匈奴的决定性战役的胜利，从而基本上解决了匈奴对汉的长期军事威胁。可惜在这次战役后的第三个年头，霍去病就去世了，当时他才24岁。汉武王朝为了缅怀他的功业，为他举行了隆重的葬礼，而且模拟祁连山形状为他修筑了巨大的墓冢，以永久纪念他转战祁连山等地的战功。为了使墓冢更形象地表现出祁连山的风貌，当时在冢上安放了各种动物的雕像。这些雕像都是用巨石刻成。长度一般超过1.5米，有的还在2.5米以上。目前尚存的石刻有17件，包括马、牛、象、虎、羊、猪、鱼、怪兽吃羊、人与熊等题材。由于当时雕刻技艺尚处于初创阶段，雕刻作品的造型在相当大的程度上受到石材形状的限制，同时由于缺乏足够锐利的工具将巨大的石坯镂雕成形，因此雕刻前在选择石材上颇费功夫。即尽量选取与准备雕成的艺术品造型的轮廓大致近似的石材，这些石材只需进行最少量的加工，就可雕出物像的轮廓。轮廓分明以后，将加工的重点放在刻画动物头部，以及表明那种动物体态特征的部位。至于细部刻画，则充分利用浮雕和线刻技法。其中雕琢最简单的一件作品是石鱼，只是选取了一块类似鱼体轮廓的石材，在前端采用线刻技法雕刻出弧曲的鱼鳃，再刻出双重圆圈，从而形成圆睁的大眼睛，作品就告完成。虽然雕琢不多，但其造型颇为古朴传神。至于马、牛等四足动物，由于那时还没有掌握镂雕巨石的技法，也只能采取在石面上浮雕出肢蹄的轮廓而已。也许为了弥补技法拙稚的不足，所以将许多动物雕成伏卧的姿势，现存有伏虎、卧牛、起马和卧象等作品，由于四肢均伏卧于地，因而巧妙地避免了腿与腿之间形成的空间需要镂雕的难题。造型多为卧姿，自然容易产生出重复雷同之感。但是当年雕琢时显然注意到这一点，力求在不同的塑造对象的习性和形体特征方面取得突破，使它们具有不同的个性。从已保存下来的十几件作品分析，那三匹骏马的雕像：起马、跃马和马踏匈奴，应是这个雕刻的核心作品，强烈地表现出称颂英雄击败匈奴军队的主题。可将这三件作品视为召唤、战斗和胜利三个阶段的象征。那匹起马，表现的是英雄听到战斗召唤，急欲奔赴战场的激情。那匹跃马，扬颈昂首，前肢腾起，似乎想带着它那巨大的体重勇往直前压服强敌，显示出争取胜利的蓬勃气势。最后是将敌人压服于体下的立马，四蹄稳稳地立在大地之上，敌人仰面躺在地下，虽被压在马腹之下，但仍在垂死挣扎，用手中的长矛猛刺马腹，但骏马毫不理会，仍旧岿然不动。
　　The grand writing Chinese Civilization History·Dynasties of the Han& the Qin carries on page 968 of its later half a conspicuous headline,under which reports were recorded of brilliant achievements in stone sculptural arts of ancient China-Maoling Mausoleum·Huge Stone Sculptures at the Graveyard of Huo Qubing.
　　Although huge stone sculptures placed at palatial chambers and mausoleums of the Qin Dynasty(221-206 B.C.)were recorded in China's historical data,none of them has been now left existent.The monumental huge stone sculptures of the earliest age existent so far are the huge stone sculptures at the graveyard of Huo Qubing,a valiant general of the Han Dynasty(206 B.C.-220 A.D.).In 4th year(119 B.C.)under the reign title of Yuanshou(122-116 B.C.),Huo Qubing,the cavalry officer and his uncle Wei Qing,the chief commander,led troops on their expedition out to launch punitive attacks on the Hun aggressors and won decisive victory at the military campaign.The powerful attacks on the invaders basically freed the dynasty from long-term military menace from the Huns.Three years later,Huo Qubing unfortunately died of illness when he reached the age of 24.Emperor Wudi felt very grieved over his death.In order to commemorate the military exploits Huo had performed on the northern and western borders in Gansu against the Huns,his burial ceremony was extremely solemn and his grave mound of natural stones was shaped into Mt.Qilian where he had swept the enemies.Huge stone sculptures resembling animal images were placed on the grave mound to achieve a more vivid imitation of Mt.Qilian.The stones generally measure over 1.5m by length,some even beyond 2.5m.The 17 stone sculptures existent so far include Horse,Elephant,Tiger,Sheep,Boer,Fish,Monster Preying on Sheep and Man against Bear.Due to the engraving skill at an initial stage then,sculptural shape was largely limited by stone shape.Moreover,due to lack of sharp tools able to pierce huge stones into required sculptures,choice of stone materials became a tough job consuming time and energy.So,choice of stone materials was focused on the stones similar to outlines of required sculptures.Thus,processing could be simple and easy to lay emphasis on typical parts of sculptures by relief engraving and line engraving.One illustrative example is the sculpture Stone Fish,which was done by selecting a stone similar to the outline of fish,applying line engraving to the gill and carving double circles to represent the eyes.As for such quadrupeds as horses and oxen,they were mostly carved to take squatting posture by relief engraving due to lack of piercing skill.But,effort was made hard to evade similarities among them and push forward their individualities.Through analysis of a dozen sculptural works preserved so far,three pieces of sculptural works depicting horse image should be regarded as the core of the sculptures.They are Horse Squatting for Action,Horse Ready to Leap and Hun Invader Hoofed by Warhorse.They symbolized three respective stages of call,battle and victory,reflecting the theme on defeat of the Hun army.
　　Horse Squatting for Action depicts eagerness of the horse,on hearing the militant call,for battle.Horse Ready to Leap impresses people with forging momentum by the head held high and the forelegs lifted high as if the immense body weight was to press down the obstinate foe.Hun Invader Hoofed by Warhorse depicts the defeated Hun invader lying on the back in a hopeless expression of desperate resistance underneath the horse belly and trying in vain to thrust the horse by the belly with a long spear in hand.But the valiant horse displayed indomitable courage and stood steadfast fearlessly.
　　A National Treasures at Maoling Mausoleum—Twelve Pieces of Huge Stone Sculptures
　　B Monumental Huge Stone Sculptures

茂陵文物鉴赏图志/王志杰著．—西安：三秦出版社，2012