First Exploration of Mysterious Ancient Stone Statues in Southern Anhui: Relics of an Unknown Civilization or Witchcraft?

In places like Huangshan and Xuancheng in southern Anhui Province, several mysterious ancient stone statues are scattered. The one in the picture stands deep in the fields of Sanjie Village, Baidi Town, Jingde County.

It was already afternoon when I drove through Sanjie Village. After several inquiries, I finally saw the statue itself. From a distance, it stood alone in a terraced field on the hillside, as if guarding the land by itself.

This statue in Sanjie Village is bald and nude, about 2 meters tall. The carving lines are simple, but its posture and facial expression are clearly visible.

The most striking feature of the statue is its exaggerated form. Most parts except the face are flat-carved, but the details of the lower body are prominently emphasized.

The statue's left hand seems to be behind its back, while its right hand grasps the base of its own genitals, very much like an early ancestor's fertility worship object, but the tip of the genitals is broken.

There are several other similar nude stone statues in southern Anhui. The true origin of these statues remains a mystery to this day.

According to an elderly woman in her 60s from Sanjie Village, the statue has been there since she was born. 'When I was young, I heard from the elders that the statue is several hundred years old. We have always kept it in the field to drive away insects.'

The 'insect-repelling and evil-warding' theory is a main explanation for the statue's origin.

Legend has it that southern Anhui used to suffer frequent insect plagues, causing great misery. The locals believed the plagues were caused by a demoness, so they commissioned such a nude stone statue to shame and subdue the demoness, ensuring good weather and a bountiful harvest for the following year.

The 'insect-repelling' theory seems more in line with local folklore, but the 'shaming the demon' aspect is somewhat far-fetched. Hence, a second theory about the statue's origin relates to fertility worship.

According to historical records, since the Ming Dynasty, there was a folk custom in southern Anhui of a 'Stone Monk' for praying for children. The story goes that a farmer's wife could not conceive. One night she dreamed of a monk, and the next day she became pregnant. Later, in the countryside of southern Anhui, people often placed a 'Stone Monk' statue in the fields to pray for sons. Infertile women would sleep beside it at night and place their hands on its key part. If they dreamed of having intercourse with it, it was considered an omen of a noble son, hence it was also called the 'Child-Giving Monk'.

But nowadays, the tradition and term 'Child-Giving Monk' have long disappeared in rural southern Anhui, and the 'insect-repelling and evil-warding' explanation has become mainstream.

So, in what era, by whom, and for what purpose were these mysterious stone statues carved? There are no clear records in historical texts. We can only guess that these statues are most likely cultural relics of the ancient Shanyue people or some kind of witchcraft belief.

As for why the genitals of these stone statues were all broken off, there are also two folk theories.

One theory is that during the 'Destroy the Four Olds' movement in the last century, local communes had the statues knocked down and their exposed genitals broken off. Some statues even had their heads smashed.

The other theory is more jocular.

Legend has it that farmers working in the fields got bored and wanted to tease the village girls. They deliberately hung odds and ends, like lunch boxes, on the statue's genitals and then asked the girls to retrieve them. The girls, feeling extremely embarrassed and not daring to touch them, simply used stones to break off the statue's genitals.

In addition to physical damage, theft of the statues has also occurred.

In 2007, a nude ancient stone statue was stolen from Jing County, Xuancheng City. It was later purchased by a South Korean at an antique market in Beijing, but was eventually seized by Tianjin Customs and returned to its hometown in southern Anhui.

Today, these statues are scattered in the wilds of rural southern Anhui, mostly unattended and lacking protection.

Of course, a few villages have plans to restore the statues and turn them into a new local tourist attraction. But one wonders how tourists will accept these unusual statues.

But regardless, all cultural relics deserve proper protection. Whether it's 'high-end' items like bronze ritual vessels and jade wine cups, which are important remnants of Chinese cultural history, or these unconventional nude stone statues, they all carry our thousands of years of civilization and national spirit.

Cultural relics are inherently not superior or inferior; they should not be treated differently due to ideological shackles.

Travel Notes Directory: 1. Mysterious ancient stone statues remain a mystery; 2. Folk speculations on the statues' origin; 3. Destroyed and stolen, where will the ancient statues go? Travel Info: Hotel Index, Guide Index, Airfare Index, Site Navigation, Travel Index, Cruise Index, Enterprise Travel Index, Franchise Cooperation, Distribution Alliance, Friendly Links, Corporate Gift Card Purchase, Insurance Agency, Agent Cooperation, Hotel Franchise, Destination and Scenic Area Cooperation, More Cooperation, About Ctrip, Ctrip Hot Topics, Contact Us, Careers, User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Business License, Security Center, Ctrip Content Center, Intellectual Property, Trip.com Group Algorithm Publication.