Monument to the People's Heroes

World Heritage

Beijing and surrounding areas

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The Monument to the People's Heroes was built to commemorate the people's heroes who died in the People's Liberation War and the People's Revolution. It is the first monumental building in the Tiananmen Square complex to be located on the central axis of Beijing. The foundation stone was laid in 1949 and the construction was completed between 1952 and 1958. The Monument to the People's Heroes adopts the traditional Chinese stele form. The body of the monument faces south and north, facing Tiananmen Square, and is made of granite and white marble. The lower level of the monument is inlaid with eight huge white marble reliefs on all four sides of the waist part of the Xumi pedestal. The 172 carefully designed figures reflect the revolutionary history of the Chinese people's anti-imperialism and anti-feudalism from the Opium War to the War of Liberation. From pattern design to carving technology, it represents the highest level of Chinese sculpture in the mid-20th century. The most eye-catching part of the front of the monument is inlaid with giant granite, on which are engraved eight large gold-plated characters written by Mao Zedong: "The people's heroes will live forever." The back of the monument is engraved with a gold-plated inscription drafted by Chairman Mao Zedong and inscribed by Premier Zhou Enlai. The top of the stele adopts the classical architectural style of a small hipped roof with cirrus clouds above and heavy curtains below, and its shape is solemn and dignified.

# Sculpture

# Monumental buildings

# Beijing Central Axis

# Tiananmen Square

# People's Liberation War

# Chinese traditional steles

Cultural theme related to the site

# Stone carving art

In 1949, on the eve of the founding of New China, the idea of the Monument to the People's Heroes took root in Tiananmen Square to commemorate the revolutionary heroes. This monument of the new era was painted by elites from all over the country. Initially, it was planned to invite foreign craftsmen, but finally trusted domestic craftsmen. Quyang, Hebei, is the hometown of carving. From the Han Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, the skills have been passed down, and the glory has been engraved on the white marble. Quyang craftsmen inherit the past and create new things. From Yungang to Yihe, their stone carving footprints are all over China. The Monument to the People's Heroes was finally carved by local masters, proving that Chinese skills are worthy of the important task of the times and will be recorded in history forever. Quyang stone carving has been passed down for thousands of years, and the ingenuity can be seen in the white marble. Yang Qiong of the Yuan Dynasty and Panama of the Qing Dynasty won awards, and their skills are internationally renowned. From apprentice to master, stone carving is not only a livelihood, but also a family honor. Yang, Gao, Liu, Dong, Ran, the big surnames of the family, have been passed down from generation to generation. Quyang stone carving has flourished to this day and has grown with the Republic.

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Philosophy related to the heritage

Interpretation from the perspective of Eastern philosophy: Monument to the People's Heroes From the perspective of Eastern philosophy, the Monument to the People's Heroes carries a profound historical memory and cultural symbol. In Confucian philosophy, the monument embodies the spirit of "benevolence" and "righteousness", commemorates the heroes who sacrificed for the welfare of the country and the people, and emphasizes the dedication and loyalty of individuals to the collective. Taoist philosophy may see the concept of "ruling by doing nothing" from the silence and solemnity of the monument, that is, by commemorating heroes, it can invisibly guide society to be good and achieve harmony. Buddhist philosophy may regard the monument as a symbol of "emptiness" and "impermanence", reminding people that although life is short, the spirit of fighting for justice and peace is eternal. Interpretation from the perspective of Western philosophy: Monument to the People's Heroes From the perspective of Western philosophy, the Monument to the People's Heroes can be interpreted as a celebration of the values of "freedom" and "democracy". Enlightenment philosophers such as Rousseau and Locke emphasized individual rights and social contracts, and the heroes commemorated by the monument can be seen as symbols of the struggle to maintain these universal values. Existentialist philosophers such as Sartre and Camus may see the significance of the existence of individuals in history from the monument, emphasizing the importance of personal choices and actions. From the perspective of Marxist philosophy, the monument may be interpreted as a symbol of class struggle and the victory of the proletarian revolution, emphasizing the inevitability of history and the power of the people. Whether in Eastern or Western philosophy, the Monument to the People's Heroes carries the respect for history, the remembrance of heroes, and the hope for the future. It is a bridge connecting the past and the future, reminding people to cherish peace and pursue justice.