The Fushan Tomb Cluster

The Fushan Tomb Cluster

The Fushan Tomb Cluster is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

The Fushan Tomb Cluster is located approximately 5 kilometers northwest of Dingtao County and about 1.5 kilometers west of the Heze-Shangqiu Highway. By taking a vehicle to the Dingtao County Chemical Fertilizer Plant and looking eastward, you will see a sudden rise covered in greenery, resembling a mountain — this is the Fushan Tomb Cluster. The cluster consists of two artificial mounds, eastern and western: the eastern mound is about 12 meters high, 90 meters wide from east to west, 340 meters long from north to south, with a deep valley 50 meters wide in between leading to the western mound; the western mound is about 4 meters high, 54 meters wide from east to west, and 140 meters long from north to south. Together, the two mounds cover an area of approximately 38,000 square meters. The grandeur of the earthen mounds and the magnificence of the engineering are unmatched in the Heze region. In 1977, it was listed as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit. The Fushan Tomb Cluster is the burial ground of the nobility of the State of Cao during the Western Zhou to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. According to the Dingtao County Annals: “Fushan is twelve li northwest of the county, with layered mounds rising abruptly. It is the ancient burial site of the State of Cao, where the piled earth rises so high it resembles a mountain. From the twenty-fifth generation including Cao Shu Zhen Duo to Bo Yang, all served as temple caretakers.” Another source, the Cao Nan Literature Record, quoting the World Geography Record, also states: “Fushan is the ancient burial site of the State of Cao.” In the 11th century BC, King Wu of Zhou overthrew King Zhou of Shang and established the Zhou slave-owner dynasty. To suppress uprisings among the ruled clans and slaves and to consolidate the slave-owner ruling regime, he enfeoffed royal relatives, meritorious officials, and nobles. “Cao Shu Zhen Duo, the sixth son of King Wen of Zhou, was enfeoffed in Cao after King Wu conquered Shang.”

The Fushan Tomb Cluster is also a burial site from the Han dynasties. Although there are no written records, observation of the exposed cliffs on the southwestern side of the eastern mound has revealed numerous vertical shaft, stone coffin, and brick-chamber tombs from the Han period, along with some unearthed artifacts. Some tombs are as deep as five or six meters from the opening to the bottom, indicating considerable scale. Investigations show that across the Heze region, almost all ancient cultural sites and tomb grounds contain Han dynasty tombs interred within them, possibly due to the superstitious custom that burying the dead near mountains and water could bring blessings to future generations.

Over time, by the Ming and Qing dynasties, temples were built atop the Fushan Tomb Cluster, and steles were erected to record events, such as the Jade Emperor Shrine, the Hundred Gods Pavilion, the Mountain Gate, and the Guan Yu Temple. Records describe the halls and pavilions as having “majestic momentum, with flying clouds and painted beams,” presenting an image that seemed to touch the heavens; “with colors of blue, yellow, cinnabar, and vermillion, they seemed almost otherworldly,” making for a spectacular sight. In those days, verdant pines and cypresses covered the sky, with towers and pavilions hidden among them — quiet, simple, and frequented by visitors. The Stele Record of the Hundred Gods Hall, Jade Emperor Pavilion, and Various Temple Shrines from the fifth year of the Daoguang reign describes the scenery at the time: “Our Tao region has flat terrain without towering mountains or steep ridges. Mounds like these, with their undulating beauty and shaded serenity, attract literati and scholars who climb to gaze into the distance, drink wine, and compose poetry. Fushan is indeed a scenic gem.” Later, due to wars, the halls fell into disrepair, some collapsed, others were demolished, leaving few remaining today; the lush pines and cypresses were all cut down; and successive steles were destroyed one after another.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the government implemented strong measures to enhance protection and management, and raised funds from various sources to restore and rebuild the historic sites of the Fushan Tomb Cluster. In 1952, the Fushan Temple Fair was revived. By 1999, the number of visitors and goods at the fair had rapidly increased, making it a large-scale fair renowned across a hundred li and reaching nearby counties and cities in Henan and Anhui provinces. Currently, the Fushan Tomb Cluster is not only a famous commodity distribution center in the Heze region but also one of its important tourist attractions.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units