The actual epitaph (the one laid below the cover) consists of two parts—the first part, known as zhi includes a biography, while the second part, known as ming is made up of short verses praising the deceased. The title on the extreme right tells us that this epitaph is dedicated to Gai of Yuhang, a county in the state of Wu, a repetition of the inscription on the cover. Gai’s nephew, Heng, commissioned this epitaph upon her death. We are told that Gai Taisu hailed from a family of government officials. Funeral services are customarily led by a son of the deceased. Filial piety was the motivation behind the construction of this epitaph. The effort and time that went into writing this epitaph reflects the sincerity of Gai’s nephew and his son.
