Tomb of Chiyou in Wenshang

Tomb of Chiyou in Wenshang

The Tomb of Chiyou in Wenshang is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

The Tomb of Chiyou in Wenshang is located in Nangwang Town, nineteen kilometers southwest of Wenshang County. It faces south with its back to the north and is surrounded by towering trees.

Chiyou was an outstanding figure in the history of the Chinese nation, a tribal leader and national chieftain who lived during the same era as the Yellow Emperor and the Flame Emperor. According to the *Dragon Fish River Chart*, “Before the Yellow Emperor, there were seventy-two brothers of Chiyou, with bronze heads and iron foreheads, who ate sand and stones, and crafted the five weapons, transforming clouds and fog.” The *Three Sages Record* states, “Since ancient times, the Heavenly King Chiyou opened up land, mined copper and iron to forge weapons and promote production.” The *Primordial Record* records, “The Chi clan occupied the lands east of Huai and Dai, blocking the path of Xuanyuan’s eastward advance, and by the time of his demise, gradually retreated.”

According to the *Han Geography Records*, his tomb was located in Kanshang City (present-day Nangwang Town, Wenshang County, Shandong) of Shouzhang County in Dongping Commandery, with a mound five zhang high. During the Qin and Han dynasties, residents often worshipped there in October, and a red aura would emerge, resembling crimson, which the people called the “Chiyou Banner.” After Chiyou was defeated by Xuanyuan, he fled to the regions of Huai, Dai, Ji, and Yan. Historical records state that he built a city at Zhuolu, resided in Huai and Dai, and moved about, issuing commands to the world (Dai, in ancient times, referred to Mount Tai; Yan, in ancient times, referred to Yanzhou, now Yanzhou District), indicating that after being defeated by the Yanhuang alliance, Chiyou’s sphere of influence and living space had shrunk to the areas around Mount Tai, Yanzhou, Wenshang, Dongping, and Juye. Volume 28 of the *Records of the Grand Historian* states, “On the third day, the Ancestor of War is worshipped, Chiyou is worshipped. Chiyou was in the western territory of Qilu, in Kanshang of Dongpinglu” (Dongpinglu refers to present-day Wenshang County, Shandong; Kanshang refers to present-day Nangwang Town, Wenshang County).

Based on historical records, relevant experts have conducted comprehensive research and archaeological surveys of the Tomb of Chiyou, confirming that Wenshang was a major habitat of the Chiyou tribe in history and one of the birthplaces of Dongyi culture. According to the *Chinese Emperors Dictionary*, at that time, there were the Yellow Emperor’s tribe and the Flame Emperor’s tribe in the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River, and the Dongyi and Jiuli tribes in the lower reaches. They frequently fought over resources and living space. Chiyou, the brave and skilled leader of the Jiuli tribe, defeated the Flame Emperor’s tribe. The Flame Emperor’s tribe sought help from the Yellow Emperor, and the two tribes joined forces to wage a great battle against Chiyou in the fields of Zhuolu. Historical records state, “They fought in the flatlands of Si and Ji, where the rivers were swollen” (Si refers to the Si River; Ji refers to the Ji River; the flatlands refer to present-day Wenshang County, Shandong). Chiyou was killed and his body was divided and buried in places such as Wenshang and Juye (the theory of the four mounds of Chiyou), with his head buried in Kàn Lǐ (now Nangwang Town, Wenshang County).

The Tomb of Chiyou is located in Nangwang Town, Wenshang County. *Huanglan* states: “The Tomb of Chiyou is in Kanshang City of Dongjun, in Kancheng, with a mound seven chi high. People often worship there in October, and a red aura emerges, resembling crimson, which the people call the Chiyou Banner.” *Records of Commanderies and States* states: “Dongpinglu has Que Pavilion. According to records, Dongpinglu is in Wenshang, at Kancheng Pavilion, where the tombs of various lords of Lu are located—this place is it.” The *Chinese Emperors Great Dictionary*, *Ciyuan*, *Commentary on the Water Classic*, *Volume 23 of Yanzhou Prefecture Records*, *Wenshang County Records*, and *Map of the Tombs of Various Lords in Kancheng* all document this.

There are currently two stone steles at the Tomb of Chiyou, each 2.3 meters high, 1.5 meters wide, and 30 centimeters thick. They stand in front of the tomb. The inscription “Tomb of Chiyou” at the base of the stele was carved during the Qing Dynasty. The “Chiyou Shrine” stele is currently housed in the county museum.

For thousands of years, visitors from home and abroad have come in an endless stream to pay their respects to their ancestors.

In ancient times, there were two tombs of Chiyou within the territory of Shouzhang County (including present-day Taiqian County). One is located about 300 meters southeast of Hou Sanli Village, Chengguan Town, Taiqian County, Puyang City. Locals call it the Tomb of Chiyou, but its construction date is unknown. In the early 1930s, the earthen mound was 1.5 meters high and covered more than 3 mu, overgrown with wild grass and willows. In 1933, the Yellow River breached its banks, submerging the Tomb of Chiyou, which was then quickly cultivated into farmland.

According to *Huanglan*, another tomb of Chiyou was located in Kanshang of Shouzhang County, Dongping Commandery (now within Nangwang Lake, Wenshang County, Shandong).

Legend has it that in ancient times, Chiyou, the leader of the Jiuli tribe, lived at the border of Hebei and Shandong. Later, the Yellow Emperor and his tribe migrated from northwestern China and clashed with the Chiyou tribe, leading to a large-scale war in Zhuolu (present-day Hebei Province). After capturing and killing Chiyou, the Yellow Emperor divided his body and buried it in different places: his torso in central Hebei, his shoulders and thighs in the fields of Lijiuzhong, his bones in Kanshang County, and some remains in Taiqian.

Legend has it that in ancient times, people often worshipped Chiyou in October, and a red aura would rise from his tomb, reaching the clouds like a huge banner, known as the “Chiyou Banner.” Taiqian has the Tomb of Chiyou and the Chiyou Shrine, and Chiyou is revered by later generations as the “God of War.”

Nangwang Town: Located in the southwest of Wenshang, Nangwang Town borders the ancient city of Wenshang to the east, Jiaxiang to the west, Liangshan Water Margin to the north, and Rencheng to the south. The town has a population of 57,000 and covers an area of 59.3 square kilometers. Its transportation network is well-developed, with the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal running north-south, the Jiliang and Wenjin provincial highways traversing the town, and the Rizhao-Qingdao Expressway just 10 kilometers to the south. It is also 30 kilometers from the Beijing-Shanghai and Beijing-Kowloon railways and Jining Airport. The installed capacity of program-controlled telephones has reached 4,000 lines, and the town has 60 kilometers of village roads. With complete facilities and a favorable development environment, Nangwang has become one of the most economically dynamic areas in the county. Nangwang… More details about Nangwang Town++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units in Shandong Province