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[[underlined]] Chapter IV. [[/underlined]]   62.

cultivation in this region of heavy seasonal rains and a dense farming population might easily account for their disappearance. Our examination made it clear, nevertheless, that the sculptures had been erected in pairs whose members confronted each^[[|]]other (pl. [[strikethrough]] XXXIV [[/strikethrough]] ^[[13, fig. 2)]] from opposite sides of the avenue ([[underlined]] shên tao [[/underlined]] 神道 ---lit. "spirit paths") forming the approaches to the graves of these relatives of the Liang Dynasty rulers. First, in every case, had stood two of the majestic and imposing winged lions, facing each^[[|]]other across the roadway; then a pair of the great tortoises with their upright stelae; and lastly, nearest the tombs themselves, the fluted pillars with their ornamented discs and their "lioncels". The total effect must have been a very impressive one.
   Interments of the Liang Dynasty emperors, as opposed to those of their kinsmen, seem to have been marked in a similar way, save that in their case the lion figures were replaced by those of [[underlined]] ch'i-lin [[/underlined]] 麒麟 (loosely translated "unicorns"); an example may be seen at the tomb of the founder of the line, Liang Wu Ti, not far from the town of Tan-Yang 丹陽, some miles still farther east of Nanking.
   Our examination of the sculptures on this site not only confirmed my original estimate of their exceptionally high quality but showed most clearly the pressing need for their protection from further damage. However my subsequent efforts to arouse official interest in the matter met with no response, and when I later revisited the site the splendid winged lions and their companion carvings remained exactly as they had been, save for additional injury that they had suffered in the interval. [[superscript]] (43) [[/superscript]]
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[[superscript]] (43) [[/superscript]]
   Much has been written about the Liang Dynasty sepulchres and their attendant sculptures. For an interesting and somewhat detailed account of them as they existed a generation ago, see Père Mathias Tchang, S.J., [[underlined]] "Tombeaux des Liang" [[/underlined]], Variétés Sinologiques, no. 33, Shanghai, 1912.
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