Ma'er Mountain Cemetery

Ma'er Mountain Cemetery

Ma'er Mountain Cemetery is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Located in Fengman District, Jilin City, Jilin Province, covering an area of approximately 8 square kilometers, this is a large cemetery near the capital of the Fuyu Kingdom during the Han Dynasty. There are about 4,000 known tombs, with an estimated total number in the tens of thousands. These tombs date from the late Western Han to the mid-Western Jin period, spanning roughly 600 years. Most of the tombs are vertical earthen pits, featuring Han-style burial structures with wooden coffins and sealed with blue clay and earthen mounds. Artifacts unearthed include pottery, lacquerware, bronze ware, ironware, and silk fabrics. There are also a small number of cave tombs and stone-piled tombs, the latter being associated with the Goguryeo culture. Horse gear and other items found in the cemetery exhibit characteristics of nomadic peoples from the steppe, providing clues to cultural exchanges between the Fuyu people and the Xianbei, Goguryeo, and Eastern tribes. Numerous archaeological sites from the Warring States and Han periods have been found nearby. In 1996, Ma'er Mountain Cemetery was designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the State Council.

Historical research indicates that in the early Western Han period, the Mo tribe within the Huimo ethnic group—specifically, Prince Dongming of the Suli Kingdom—led his people southward from the lower reaches of the Nen River to the plains at the foot of Dongtuan Mountain on the east bank of the Songhua River due to being marginalized. They formed a new ethnic community, the Fuyu people, with the local indigenous She people (from the She clan within the Huimo group). In the third year of Emperor Wu of Han’s Yuanshou reign (108 BCE), they established their capital at "Nanchengzi" (a plain city at the southern foot of Dongtuan Mountain in Jilin City), naming their kingdom Fuyu. Fuyu was the first slaveholding state in China’s northeastern region, lasting for 600 years. The Fuyu Kingdom maintained long-term friendly tributary relations and a subordinate status with the Han, Wei, and Jin dynasties.

Based on the correlation between unearthed artifacts and historical texts, and through careful analysis and research by archaeologists, it has been confirmed that the Ma'er Mountain ancient tomb cluster primarily consists of burials of nobles and commoners from the Fuyu ethnic regime—a minority polity during the Han and Wei periods—along with a small number of Han Chinese tombs from the same era. The discovery of the Ma'er Mountain ancient tomb complex holds significant historical value for confirming that Jilin City was the location of the early capital of the Fuyu Kingdom, as well as for studying the rise and fall of China’s first northeastern slaveholding state, the production and living customs of its minority peoples, and cultural exchanges with the Central Plains. From 1989 to 1997, the Jilin Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, in collaboration with the Jilin City Museum, excavated over 200 tombs of various types and unearthed more than 2,000 artifacts. Among the funerary objects were jade, stone, and bead ornaments, as well as bronze, iron, pottery, gold, and silver ware. The tombs also yielded fragments of silk fabrics such as satin and cloth, along with typical Central Plains Han Dynasty items like sunlight mirrors and lacquer cups. The discovery of Xin Mang dynasty "Huoquan" coins indicates that a significant number of the tombs date to the Eastern Han period. Judging from the main tomb structures at Ma'er Mountain and the types of weapons and pottery unearthed, they align with the burial customs and commonly used items of the Fuyu people. It was customary for residents of the Fuyu capital to be buried on the southern mountains, referred to as the “corpse on the southern mountain of the kingdom.” This “southern mountain of the kingdom” likely refers to the mountain south of the Fuyu royal city. Ma'er Mountain and Guigai Mountain are situated southwest of the “Nanchengzi” site and the Longtan Mountain foothill ruins. The discovery of the Ma'er Mountain tomb cluster not only provides strong evidence for the location of the early Fuyu royal city but also offers a wealth of valuable physical materials for studying the production and living conditions of the Fuyu people in the Jilin region during the Han and Wei periods.

The Ma'er Mountain Cemetery is distributed across multiple slopes and ridges of Ma'er Mountain, Xishan, Nanshan, and Pianlian Mountain in Jiangnan Township, Jilin City, covering a total area of approximately 8 square kilometers. Since the discovery of two tombs on Ma'er Mountain during the construction of high-voltage power lines in 1985, Jilin Province's cultural relics archaeologists have explored the Ma'er Mountain Cemetery five times over the following decade, excavating 162 tombs and unearthing nearly 2,000 artifacts. Based on drilling and density calculations, it is estimated that the total number of tombs in the Ma'er Mountain Cemetery cluster is at least 6,000, and may even exceed 10,000.

Among the excavated tombs, the six excavation areas of the Nanshan tomb cluster are relatively concentrated on the western slope and the eastern ridge, while there are also tombs on the southern slope, though these have not been excavated. Some areas, on small ridges less than 100 meters long, contain over a hundred tombs, indicating a high density of burials. Tombs are also found on the summit and all sides of Ma'er Mountain, suggesting that Ma'er Mountain served as the central hub of the cemetery, with larger tombs located on the summit—indicating the higher status of those buried there. Additionally, various tomb clusters show long periods of continuous use and feature different types of tombs overlapping or cutting into one another.

Furthermore, several contemporaneous settlement sites have been discovered around the cemetery, including mountain fortresses such as Longtan Mountain Fortress, Dongtuan Mountain Fortress, and Tiantai Ancient City, as well as plain settlements like Nanchengzi at the foot of Dongtuan Mountain, Tuchengzi in the northern urban area of the river, and Guandi Ancient City built on the riverbank terrace opposite Longtan Mountain Railway Station.

The fortress walls on the mountains do not confirm that this was the capital of the Fuyu Kingdom, but the large number of tombs and the diverse forms of burial structures indicate that the ancient city housed a dense and prosperous population, including many nobles.

These tombs date from the late Western Han to the mid-Western Jin period, spanning roughly 600 years.

The wide variety of unearthed artifacts attests to the level of development of Fuyu culture at the time.

Through several excavations, the Ma'er Mountain Cemetery has yielded numerous artifacts, but they are relatively disorganized. The primary reason is that all the tombs had been looted, with most sets of burial goods missing. Most finds consist of remnants left after looting, often no longer in their original placement.

The types of artifacts found in the tombs are diverse, mainly including pottery, stone tools, jade, agate ornaments, gold and silver ware, bronze ware, ironware, woodware, lacquerware, and silk fabrics—totaling nearly 2,000 pieces—which reflect the level of Fuyu cultural development. Among the surviving artifacts, ornaments are the most numerous, followed by horse and chariot fittings, tools and weapons, containers, and pottery. “In truth, each tomb likely had these grave goods, but some were severely damaged during looting and could not be restored.” Wang Hongfeng’s greatest regret is that many of these artifacts were disturbed and exhibit breakage and fragmentation, which not only diminishes the value of the tombs and remains but also greatly complicates sorting and research efforts.

Decorative patterned bricks

The excavated tombs are mainly divided into four types. Few pottery items were found in the tomb pits or wooden coffins (or coffins with outer cases), with only fragments that are difficult to restore. Only 29 pottery pieces were repaired, including pots and jars, though the jar category is quite mixed and clearly not from the same period. However, 25 pieces were collected, some with impressed patterns, generally rectangular in shape but with a smaller back than front—likely for easier demolding. The sides and backs of the bricks also show blurred square or diamond-shaped indentations, possibly intended to enhance bonding strength during construction. The patterns on these bricks are varied and complex, with significant differences in size and thickness, suggesting they were used decoratively rather than simply for structural purposes, though their exact use and placement remain unclear.

A wide variety of metal artifacts

Gold and silver items, used as decorative objects, were frequently found in larger tombs, with a rich variety of types. Tube rings make up a significant proportion, along with plaque ornaments and inlaid decorative pieces. The unearthed ironware is heavily corroded and not well preserved. Functionally, these items include tools, weapons, chariot parts, and horse gear, distributed across various tomb clusters.

The copper artifacts found in the tombs are more numerous, with the largest quantities being ring ornaments, bracelets, armlets, and wrist decorations, followed by chariot and harness parts such as bridles, wheel hubs, axles, and bells. There are also small numbers of containers and tools like vessels, plugs, and crossbow mechanisms, as well as remnants of bronze mirrors and other ornaments. All the copper items are made of bronze, mostly cast, with some copper rings gilded on the surface. Due to differences in alloy composition and artifact thickness, preservation conditions vary—smaller items like rings and clasps are heavily corroded, while others like bridles and mirrors show only slight corrosion and are better preserved.

A large number of glass beads and agate pieces

The Ma'er Mountain Cemetery did not yield many stone or jade items, and the types are simple—jade items are all pendants, and stone items are mainly portable whetstones. However, a large number of glass and agate beads were discovered. In the excavated tombs, nearly 90% contain scattered beads, with some tombs yielding dozens or even hundreds, reflecting the Fuyu people’s fondness for bead ornaments. These beads were used not only for necklaces and bracelets but also for earrings.

In a large tomb excavated at the top of Ma'er Mountain, over 500 fragmented and scattered glass beads were found. After restoration, they formed a colorful glass bead necklace. The tomb’s occupant was undoubtedly a high-ranking military officer, as only commanders wore iron armor at the time. Moreover, this tomb is the largest of all those excavated and is located on the mountaintop, further indicating the high status of its owner.

Rare silk fabrics were also unearthed

A total of 27 silk fabric items were found in the excavated tombs. Most of these came from the Xishan tomb cluster, with a small number from the Nanshan tomb cluster. Professional analysis identified the types of silk fabrics as hu silk, satin, gauze, and brocade, with decorative motifs including ink paintings and embroidery—indicating a relatively advanced level of social and cultural development in the Fuyu Kingdom.

“It should be said that although the ancient ethnic group associated with the Ma'er Mountain Cemetery did not go so far as to ‘send all their gold, silver, jade, and silk to the dead,’ they still practiced elaborate burials and certainly did not do so carelessly.” Moreover, Wang Hongfeng noted that based on the placement of the artifacts, pottery or metal containers were not placed inside the coffins but rather at one end on top of them. “This shows that later generations engaged in remembrance and ceremonial offerings for their ancestors.”

Among the 162 excavated tombs, Tomb 18 in the Xishan I area “yielded the most artifacts.”

Tomb 18 contained a wide variety of items, including one porcelain jar, six pottery jars, lacquered ear cups, double-linked silver shell ornaments, and various horse gear with wooden cores wrapped in bronze. Among the 27 silk fabric items unearthed, the majority also came from this tomb. It also included a hand-painted ink drawing of a soul-guiding image on silk. From this, it is inferred that the occupant of Tomb 18 held a relatively high status, owned horses, and had some wealth. The discovery of numerous silk fabrics and paintings suggests he may have been a civil official in life.

The large number of artifacts unearthed from Tomb 18 greatly encouraged the archaeology team. “There are more tombs like this one—not just one. Half of the 162 excavated tombs are similar large tombs, and most of these are located on Xishan.” Yesterday, they set out for the Ma'er Mountain Cemetery to begin their archaeological plan. “Xishan will be our main focus this time. It’s very possible we’ll uncover the tomb of a Fuyu king there.”

Additionally, this archaeological operation will also excavate Longtan Mountain Fortress, Dongtuan Mountain Fortress, and Guandi Ancient City. Through step-by-step digging and exploration, the mystery of the Fuyu Kingdom’s capital location will gradually become clearer.

“The Fuyu Kingdom was the earliest political power in Northeast China. The *Book of the Later Han* once recorded: ‘Since ancient times, it has never been defeated.’ However, the true face of the Fuyu Kingdom has long lacked precise and detailed historical evidence,” said Wang Hongfeng. Nowadays, historical records about the Fuyu Kingdom are relatively scarce. Through this archaeological excavation, the economic and cultural level of the Fuyu people at that time will be revealed to the world. This dig will not only confirm the exact location of the Fuyu Kingdom’s capital city but also greatly enrich China’s historical data on the Fuyu Kingdom.

Further reading:

· Fourth batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites