A Hero’s Vigil – Hebei, China

Title of the Artwork: A Hero’s Vigil – Hebei, China

Year of Photography: 2000

Printing Process: ILFORD MULTIGRADE IV RC photo paper, hand-printed using silver halide process

Artwork Dimensions: Height 9.5 in, Width 12 in (the artwork is in perfect condition)

Artist’s Reflection

This black-and-white film photograph, taken in 2000, captures a quiet moment in Chengziguan, Hebei. An ancient tree stands tall above a burial mound, while a flock of sheep meanders peacefully across the frame, as if merging naturally with the land. Rendered in monochrome, the shifting light and shadows deepen the sense of history and quiet desolation. The contrast between the tree’s solemn stillness and the animals’ gentle movement speaks silently of the passage of time.

In composing this shot, I focused on the visual layers between the tree and the flock, aiming to convey not only visual tension but also the gravity of forgotten memory. This is more than a landscape photograph—it is an homage to history.

Background Story

This old tree stands in Chengziguan, Hebei Province. Beneath it, legend says, lies the grave of a fallen general named Yang—believed to be Yang Liulang, one of the legendary Yang Family Generals from the Northern Song Dynasty. Known for his bravery in defending China’s northern borders, Yang Liulang has become a symbol of loyalty and familial honor in Chinese folklore. Time may have softened the memory, but in this tranquil field, his presence lingers still.

Local tales say that beneath this tree rests his remains, and when the wind blows through the plains, one can almost hear the distant echoes of war drums and galloping cavalry.

Though Yang Liulang’s name may have faded from the pages of history, this site remains a place where people remember the heroes of the past. The solitary tree stands as witness to time’s passage—and to the quiet disappearance of legend. As the sheep pass unknowingly beneath it, the photograph preserves the timeless resonance of a hero’s story, carved into the silence of the land.