This stone coffin, as well as the accompanying epitaph tablet and cover, were reportedly recovered from the tomb of Prince Cheng Ching located in the Pei Mon mountains, north of Lo-yang in Honan province. The long sides are engraved in an intensely linear style with ten scenes illustrating paragons of piety. In the early sixth century, the fundamental Confucian virtue of filial piety reemerged as a favorite subject of northern carvers. Another significant aspect of the decor is the rather rudimentary and highly decorative landscape setting. The coffin documents an important stage in the development of the pictorial tradition in Chinese art.