The Chengqiao Eastern Zhou Tombs

The Chengqiao Eastern Zhou Tombs

The Chengqiao Eastern Zhou Tombs are a protected cultural heritage site of Nanjing City.

The Chengqiao Eastern Zhou Tombs are located in Changqing Village, Chengqiao Town, Luhe District, dating back to the Eastern Zhou period.

The Chengqiao Eastern Zhou Tombs in Luhe consist of an ancient burial complex from the Eastern Zhou era situated on a high ridge in the Chen'gang group and Changqing Village of Chengqiao. The Nanjing Museum and the Nanjing Museum (city-level) conducted archaeological excavations and clearances of Tombs 1, 2, and 3 within this burial complex in July 1964, January 1972, and January 1988 respectively, unearthing a large number of bronze and iron artifacts of high artistic, scientific, and historical value: (1) In July 1964, the Nanjing Museum cleared Tomb 1 within the premises of Chengqiao Middle School, identifying it as Tomb 1. It yielded the world’s earliest cast iron, a set of nine straight-knob bianzhong (chime bells), as well as bronze items such as ding (tripod cauldrons), zunfu (wine vessels), swords, ge (dagger-axes), ji (halberds), arrowheads, along with chariot and horse fittings and tools. Some pottery items were also found.

(2) In July 1972, the Nanjing Museum cleared Tomb 2 on the slopes of the Chen'gang group and Changqing Village, identifying it as Tomb 2. A total of 50 artifacts were unearthed, including 3 bronze ding, 1 bronze you (wine vessel), a set of seven bianzhong, and a set of five other bronze bells; 13 bronze weapons such as 3 swords, 4 ge, 2 spears, 2 arrowheads, 2 ding (but possibly metal fittings), and 1 ju (a chariot part); 9 bronze chariot and horse fittings, 8 bronze production tools; 1 iron bar, and 3 pottery items.

(3) On January 1, 1988, the Nanjing Museum and the Cultural Relics Management Committee under the Luhe County Education and Culture Bureau jointly cleared Tomb 3, identifying it as such. Artifacts unearthed included 9 bronze items, 2 stone ornaments, and 1 pottery jar. Among them, the iron artifact unearthed from Tomb 1 represents the world’s earliest cast iron, predating similar European finds by over 1,900 years. The inscribed calligraphy on the bronze items is rarely seen in China. The Chengqiao Eastern Zhou Tombs have been rated by Nanjing City as one of the “Top Ten Archaeological Excavation Sites in Nanjing Since the Founding of the People’s Republic.” Based on research by archaeologists from the Nanjing Museum and local cultural relics experts in Nanjing, the Chengqiao Eastern Zhou Tombs are believed to date back to the Spring and Autumn period. The occupants of Tomb 1 and Tomb 3 were not people from the State of Wu, but rather Chu descendants who served as officials in Wu and were also relatives of the Wu royal family. Tomb 2 is speculated to be the grave of a daughter of the Wu royal family. Therefore, the Chengqiao tomb site in Luhe is considered to be the burial ground of Chu-descended nobility from the State of Wu. The Nanjing Museum pointed out in the second issue of Kaogu (Archaeology) in 1974 that the Chengqiao Eastern Zhou Tombs are a noteworthy burial site from the Spring and Autumn period, holding significant importance for the study of the relationships between the State of Wu and other states.

The Chengqiao Eastern Zhou Tombs are a protected cultural heritage site of Nanjing City.