Wu Family Shrines

The Wu Family Shrines are an archaeological site in Shandong province with preserved stone reliefs from the Han period distributed across multiple structures. These carvings depict mythological beings, historical events, and scenes from the everyday life of that era.

The Wu Liang Shrine was built in 151 AD during the Eastern Han period and was among the earliest examples of elaborate stone carving in the region. The reliefs survived for centuries before being destroyed in the 11th century.

The stone carvings show scenes that mattered to Han society: children honoring parents, officials serving rulers, and historical tales coming to life. When you look at these reliefs, you see what people valued most in their daily world.

The site is open to visitors and offers guided tours that explain the stone reliefs and archaeological findings in detail. It helps to set aside enough time to properly view all the structures and their carvings without rushing.

The stones were rediscovered only in the mid-1700s when a private scholar found them and recognized their connection to historical records. This discovery later helped scholars better understand the Han era.