Longtoushan Ancient Tomb Cluster

Longtoushan Ancient Tomb Cluster

The Longtoushan Ancient Tomb Cluster is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Longtoushan Ancient Tomb Cluster is located on Longtoushan Mountain in Helong County, Jilin Province.

The site spans over 500 meters from east to west and about 400 meters from north to south, with 12 earthen mounds visible on the surface. In front of the largest tomb stand two large stone pillars, and the flat land to the south features the foundations of buildings.

One of the excavated tombs is that of Princess Zhenxiao, the fourth daughter of Dae Heung-mu, the third king of the Bohai Kingdom. Built in the late 8th century, the site originally had a brick pagoda, which has since collapsed, leaving only the tomb chamber. The most precious find is the 12 mural figures painted inside the tomb—this marks the first discovery of Bohai murals. On the east and west walls of the tomb passage are depictions of a warrior each, while the rectangular main chamber features four attendants on each side and two more on the rear wall. The warriors wear armor, and the attendants are shown wearing traditional headwear and ornate robes. These colorful figures, with their plump forms and skilled brushwork, reflect the painting style of early Tang Dynasty and also demonstrate the profound cultural influence of the Central Plains of the Tang Dynasty on the frontier ethnic groups. The tomb walls are built of bricks and sealed with large stone slabs. A tomb epitaph was unearthed, inscribed with Chinese characters in regular script, chronicling the life of Princess Zhenxiao. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units