Shimen was a mademade tunnel dug at the south end of the Baoxie Valley. As a gateway tunnel leading from the Guanzhong Plains to Sichuan in the Qinling Mountains in ancient times, Shimen carries large quantities of scenic spots and relics, the majority of which are graphic carvings. Many of these carved inscriptions were varieties of literary works written by famous men of letters. For literary styles, there were eulogies, inscriptions, epigraphs, accounts, poetic prose and poems. For documentary matters, what were recorded were many and various, including personalities, events, scenic spots, travel accounts. And for artistic taste, the works were narrative, lyrical and documentary.

the Shimen Inscriptions; literature; style; documentation; artisticity