Luozhuang Han Tomb

Luozhuang Han Tomb

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

The Luozhuang Tomb site is located 500 meters west of Luozhuang Village, Zaoyuan Subdistrict Office, Zhangqiu District. It lies to the west of the farm of the Provincial Water Resources Bureau Design Institute and to the east of Highway No. 09. The protected area is defined by the perimeter walls of the current Luozhuang Han Royal Mausoleum Management Office. The construction control zone is the same as the protected area.

The central part of the tomb site is elevated, featuring a large burial mound. In 2000, it was ranked among China’s Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries. In 1999, through archaeological drilling and surveys, the basic layout of the tomb was clarified. The burial mound covers an area of 200×200 meters, and the tomb faces from east to west, with a “中”-shaped (Chinese character “zhong”) plan. The main burial chamber is centrally located, measuring approximately 37×35 meters. There is one tomb passage on the east side and one on the west side of the chamber, extending about 20 meters deep. Through two rounds of archaeological excavations, 36 accompanying pits and sacrificial pits were found surrounding the tomb, yielding over 3,000 stunning cultural relics. The unearthed artifacts include ceremonial procession items, a large horse-and-chariot pit, various types of bronze and lacquered ware, stoneware including weapons and ritual vessels. Of particular importance is the discovery of a musical instrument pit, which contained 7 se (a type of zither), 1 jian’gu (a hanging drum), 1 xuangu (a suspended drum), 3 small drums, a set of bianzhong (chime bells) comprising 14 niuzhong (bells with knobs) and 5 yongzhong (bells with loops), as well as 6 sets of qing (chime stones) totaling 107 pieces. Additionally, there were chunyu (a percussion instrument), zheng (a bell), duo (a small bell), and bronze bells. All the musical instruments were practical items. Judging by the various burial objects, the tomb dates back to the early Western Han Dynasty. A seal clay imprint bearing the words “Seal of the Grand Official of the Lü State” suggests that the tomb owner may have been Lü Tai, King of the Lü State. In January 2000, it was designated as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit by the Zhangqiu Municipal People’s Government.

On June 23, 2015, it was announced as a fifth-batch provincial-level cultural relic protection unit by the People’s Government of Shandong Province.

Zaoyuan Subdistrict: Zaoyuan Subdistrict Office is located in the central part of Zhangqiu City, governing 4 management areas, including 36 administrative villages and 1 neighborhood committee, covering an area of 50.88 square kilometers, with 49,000 mu of arable land and a total population of 35,000. It is 5 kilometers east of downtown Zhangqiu and 30 kilometers west of the provincial capital Jinan. The Jiaoji Railway, Provincial Highway 102, and Century Avenue run east-west, while Provincial Highway 244 and Panwang Road run north-south. The location is geographically superior with distinct regional advantages.

Zaoyuan has abundant water resources, with the Xiuping Main Canal running east-west and the Xibale River flowing from south to north... More details about Zaoyuan Subdistrict++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units