This funerary epitaph comprises two stone slabs—the ‘cover’ and the actual epitaph.They were placed one on top of the other in the tomb, in front or next to the coffin. The ‘cover’ states the identity of the deceased. Here, it is engraved with the deceased’s surname—Gai where the deceased came from—Yuhang and the period of death—the Tang dynasty. The status of the deceased determines the size of the epitaph and the decorations on it. From the modest size of this epitaph, it is postulated that the deceased was of common birth and not a noble. 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.
