The Tomb of the Li Family of Xizhen

The Tomb of the Li Family of Xizhen

The Tomb of the Li Family of Xizhen is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Hebei Province.

The Tomb of the Li Family of Xizhen is located in Xizhen Village, Lincheng County, Xingtai City, Hebei Province.

Cultural relic level: Provincial

Approval date: July 15, 1993

About 10 kilometers east of Lincheng County in Xingtai City, Hebei Province, and 50 meters northwest of Xizhen Village, there is a cluster of Northern Qi tombs consisting of four burial sites. The southern one is Tomb No. 1, the central one is Tomb No. 2, the northwest one is Tomb No. 3, and the northeast one is Tomb No. 4. Tombs No. 1, 2, and 4 all had tumulus mounds in 1975, while Tomb No. 3’s mound had disappeared long before. In the winter of 1975, during local farmland infrastructure projects, parts of the mound of Tomb No. 1 and the entire mounds of Tombs No. 2 and 4 were removed. The roof of Tomb No. 2 collapsed under the weight and was later dismantled by a production team who took bricks from it. Tomb No. 4 had its tomb passage excavated, but the burial chamber remained intact.

According to the epitaphs, this tomb cluster belonged to the Li family of Zhao Commandery, a prominent clan of the Northern Dynasties. Tomb No. 1 is the grave of the first wife of Li Zumu, who served as the Central Army Staff Officer in the Office of the Minister over the Masses during the Northern Qi Dynasty. Tomb No. 2 is the joint burial tomb of Li Zumu and his wife. Tomb No. 3 is the grave of Li Junming, the second son of Li Zumu, and Tomb No. 4 is the grave of Li Junying, the third son. The Li family of Zhao Commandery was one of the high-ranking aristocratic clans of the Northern Dynasties. Generations of the Li family held official posts and hereditary titles, and intermarried with the imperial family. Li Zumu’s fifth-generation ancestor, Li Shun, held the positions of Palace Attendant, Grand General Who Guards the West, Grand Marshal, and Prince of Gaoping during the Northern Wei Dynasty. Based on the epitaphs, Li Zumu himself held titles such as Xuanwei General, Crown Prince’s Equerry, Champion General, and Guard General, and his fourth daughter was the consort of Prince Ande.

Further reading:

· Third Batch of Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units in Hebei Province