Stone inscriptions, as one type of excavated literature, have unique functions different from those of traditional literature, and they hold great value for the study of language, script, history, and culture. However, due to various reasons, there are some materials with difficult-to-distinguish authenticity, age, or nature, which cause significant interference in the study of language, script, history, and culture, and also affect the judgments of collectors. Therefore, it is crucial to identify them. This article examines the stone inscriptions of six stone statues in medieval China. Among them, the inscriptions of four of the statues, which date back to the Six Dynasties, can be divided into three categories: forgeries, half-true and half-false, and errors in recording or omissions by the compiler. Of these inscriptions, this demonstrates the complexity and difficulty of determining the authenticity. This is also why determining the authenticity of the “Statues of Wang Sanniang” is challenging, based on a single piece of evidence. With limited excavated information and other tangible historical records, it becomes necessary to look for clues in other areas. One such suspicious records involves the mention of “Child-giving Guanyin”. This reference, as a singular instance predating the Ming Dynasty, is questionable when considered alongside the premature use of era name before the official announcement of the regime, suggesting a high probability that this inscription is a forgery. The Guanyin statue from the third year of the Renshou of the Sui Dynasty, whether in terms of the inscription’s content or the statue’s type, should not be identified as the “Child-giving Guanyin”. This suggests that the claim regarding the origin of Child-giving Guanyin from the Six Dynasties has lost an important documentary backing, which is worthy of reflection on the current issues in the research regarding the origin and dissemination of the Child-giving Guanyin.

• 孫穎(四川大學) | Ying SUN