The Zuiqianqian Tomb Cluster

The Zuiqianqian Tomb Cluster

The Zuiqianqian Tomb Cluster is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Zuiqianqian Tomb Cluster is located on a narrow terrace (approximately 1,500 square meters in area) to the northeast of Zuiqianqian Village, Panshidian Town, Haiyang County, Shandong Province, where ancient tomb ruins have been found.

In early spring 1978, local farmers accidentally destroyed a tomb (designated M1) while digging. The tomb had double coffins and a single inner coffin, but wooden and pottery artifacts were discarded and damaged, with only the bronze items recovered by cultural heritage authorities. Fewer jade artifacts were unearthed, reportedly small ornaments such as tubes and beads, some of which remain scattered among villagers. The unearthed bronze items included plates, basins, gui (food vessels), pots, chisels, swords, spears, arrowheads, and bianzhong (chime bells). A recovered bronze ding (tripod) lid and the beast-faced spout of a pot featured exquisitely crafted patterns. Unfortunately, these significant bronze vessels such as the ding and pot have since been lost. The set of bianzhong included seven pieces—two large knob bells and five smaller tubular bells. The knob bells were relatively large, standing 43.5 cm tall and weighing 11.6 kg, with dignified forms and exquisite decorations.

In 1985, the Haiyang County Museum conducted an emergency excavation of another tomb, designated M2. Fewer artifacts were found, most being pottery, including a few imitation bronze ritual vessels such as a beast-headed yi (a type of vessel). Only three bronze items were recovered: a ding and a basin.

The excavation of Tomb M4 in 1994 yielded the richest findings. This earthen pit tomb was well-preserved due to the sealing effect of Qinggaoni (a type of clay), keeping its double coffins and single inner coffin largely intact. Many lacquered and wooden items, such as pots, jars, sacrificial stands, spoons, and sword handles, retained their original shapes and vivid colors. Over 240 artifacts were excavated, including more than 60 bronze items. The main finds were seven dings, nine bianzhong, two each of pots, basins, and gui, and one each of yu (basin), yan (steamer), yi, and others. There were also weapons such as swords and spears. Some of these artifacts featured particularly refined designs and decorations. One yan and one yu bore inscriptions. The yu, in particular, was impressively large—47 cm tall with a 69.5 cm diameter, featuring four large beast-headed ears and covered in elaborate dragon patterns, making it the most outstanding piece among the bronze artifacts. A considerable number of horse harness fittings, such as bit loops, were also found near the tomb. The use of Qinggaoni fill above the tomb chamber was a common practice at the time, serving both to seal and protect against theft. The well-preserved state of the artifacts in this tomb is largely due to this method. The coffin chamber had two layers of rammed earth platforms on all sides, with some burial objects placed on them. Both the outer and inner coffins were constructed from square timber, with some outer coffin planks measuring over 6 meters in length and about 0.2 meters in width and thickness. Building the tomb chamber consumed a significant amount of timber. Between the inner coffin and outer coffin was a head box where most burial objects were placed. The inner coffin was of the hanging-bottom type, and although the human remains inside had decayed, scattered among the ashes were jade ornaments such as pendants, tubes, and beads, likely personal adornments of the deceased.

Based on the excavation findings, the Zuiqianqian Tomb Cluster is identified as a high-status aristocratic burial site. Despite only three tombs having been discovered, two contained complete sets of bianzhong, multiple layers of coffins, and various valuable bronze ritual vessels. As described in Mozi · Jiezang regarding the burial customs of nobles at the time: “Now when lords and nobles bury their dead… they must use grand outer coffins (i.e., the outer wooden shell, or guo), inner coffins, multiple layers of leather decoration, jade bi and other jade items, along with weapons like spears and swords, as well as dings, drums, pots, basins, mirrors, embroidered fabrics, horses and chariots, musical instruments, and female entertainers—all prepared with great care, even compacting the earth and digging tomb passages. Even for ordinary hills and mounds, such practices exhaust the people’s labor and waste incalculable wealth.” Lüshi Chunqiu also remarks: “The larger the state and the richer the family, the more lavish the burial. Pearls are placed in the mouth, and the body is adorned with fish-scale-style coverings, alongside treasured objects, ritual vessels, chariots, horses, clothing, weapons, and more—everything needed for the afterlife is included. The burial chamber is built with tightly packed logs, with multiple layers of coffins, surrounded by piled stones and charcoal.” Thus, the scale of the tomb pit, the number of coffin layers, the burial of chariots and horses, the presence of ritual bronze vessels, and the quantity of artifacts all serve as important indicators of the tomb owner’s status. In comparison, the Zuiqianqian Tomb Cluster is indeed such an aristocratic burial ground.

In 2006, the Zuiqianqian Tomb Cluster, as a Zhou Dynasty burial site, was listed in the sixth group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units by the State Council.

Panshidian Town: Panshidian Town is located on the coast of the Yellow Sea, 15 kilometers northeast of Haiyang City, and approximately 100 kilometers from Yantai, Weihai, and Qingdao. The Xingyu Line runs through the town. The town covers a total area of 138 square kilometers, has a population of 33,000, and administers 41 administrative villages.

The town boasts beautiful scenery and pleasant natural landscapes. The Yun Ding Natural Scenic Area, located in the heart of Zhao Hu Mountain, features lush pines and bamboos, steep mountains, and clear waters. It enjoys a cool summer and mild winter, earning the reputation of the “Jiangnan of the North.” Below Qifeng Mountain lies the Congma Chan Temple, originally built during the Tang Dynasty. The towering Changshou Cliff rises abruptly, with a single winding path leading to the summit... More information about Panshidian Town ++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units