Mengwa Han Tomb Site

Mengwa Han Tomb Site

The Mengwa Han Tomb Site is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

Located to the north of Mengzhuang Village in Chaocheng Town, Mengwa is the site of the ancient Dongwuyang City from the Han Dynasty. The site is a basin, nearly 1 meter lower than the surrounding area. Its western part features a north-south pedestrian path, with a brick kiln to the west of the path, while the northern part has an east-west water channel and pedestrian path, covering a total area of 1.8 million square meters.

The southern part of the site contains a large Han Dynasty mural tomb (also known as the Mengwa Han Tomb). In May 2006, the Mengwa Han Tomb Site was designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit by the People's Government of Shandong Province. To further protect this historical and cultural heritage, in April 2007, the Shenxian County Cultural Relics Management Office initiated the first phase of conservation work on the Han Dynasty mural tomb.

The Mengwa Han Tomb is 10 meters high, with sides measuring 75 meters, covering an area of 5,625 square meters. (Both the Qing Dynasty’s “Chaoyang County Annals” and the 1997 edition of “Shenxian County Annals” recorded this site as the “Alliance Platform of Duke Huan of Qi” from the Spring and Autumn Period, with the “Roaring Sound of the Overlord’s Platform” (referring to the Mengwa Han Tomb) identified as its origin. However, archaeological findings have confirmed the authenticity of the Mengwa Han Tomb, refuting the “Alliance Platform” theory and serving to correct historical records.)

Artifacts such as the Tang Dynasty “Tri-colored Taoist Statue” (a national third-grade cultural relic), the Song Dynasty “Tri-colored Pillow” (a national second-grade cultural relic), and Han and Tang Dynasty “pottery jars” collected by the Shenxian County Cultural Relics Management Office were all unearthed from the Mengwa Site. Analysis of artifacts and ceramic fragments excavated over the years indicates that, besides Han Dynasty relics, the site and its surroundings also contain objects from the Tang and Song Dynasties. Bricks and tiles are scattered across the area, and pottery shards are found everywhere, earning it the reputation of an “open-air museum.”

On May 23, 2004, during an investigation of a Tang Dynasty tomb west of the “Mengwa Site,” the Shenxian County Cultural Relics Management Office discovered a 1-meter-diameter, 6-meter-deep theft hole at the top of the “Mengwa Han Tomb.” Further investigation revealed that the bottom of the theft hole led to a north-south corridor, which had a domed ceiling. The corridor was covered in murals whose colors remain vivid to this day. Most of the paintings depict auspicious birds and mythical beasts, including the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise. The corridor is decorated luxuriously and magnificently, resembling a royal mansion or palace. Midway along the eastern side of the corridor is a stone-framed doorway, believed to be the entrance to the tomb. Over a thousand years ago, this was the original entry point. The western side of the corridor is thought to be the main burial chamber, with a sealed door opposite the entrance. The door opens to the east, breaking from the conventional south-facing design. It is speculated that the eastward orientation may be due to the presence of a river or major transportation route nearby. Whether the reason was proximity to a river, a road, or the existence of a southern gate remains to be further studied and verified. The murals in the Han tomb are vivid, grand in scale, masterfully painted, and remarkably well-preserved. They are the only known examples of their kind in Shandong Province and are rare even nationwide. These murals hold significant academic value for the study of Han Dynasty painting art as well as the political, economic, and cultural aspects of the time.

Approximately 800 meters northeast of the Mengwa Han Tomb lies the tomb of Zang Hong, Governor of Dongjun Commandery. Another 1,000 meters northeast of Zang Hong’s tomb is the Ming Dynasty family tomb of the Jiangdong clan, whose members included an Imperial Tutor to the Crown Prince. In May 2002, a cluster of Tang Dynasty tombs was discovered 1,500 meters north of the Mengwa Han Tomb.

Source: Shenxian County People's Government

Ximengzhuang Village: Ximengzhuang Village…… Detailed information on Ximengzhuang Village++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units