Xia Balizhi Tomb Cluster

Xia Balizhi Tomb Cluster

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

The Xia Balizhi Tomb Cluster is situated in the suburbs of Xuanhua District, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, northeast of Xia Balizhi Village in Hezi Township, about 4 kilometers northwest of the ancient city of Xuanhua. It is a tomb cluster of the Zhang family (with the western section being the burial ground of the Han family) from the late Liao Dynasty to the mid-Jin Dynasty, primarily represented by the tomb of Zhang Shiqing, an imperial censor of the Liao Dynasty, built in 1116 (the sixth year of the Tianqing era of the Liao Dynasty). The site was first discovered in 1972, and from 1973 onward, four excavations have been carried out, unearthing a total of 12 ancient tombs from the Liao and Jin periods, spanning a period of 100 years.

The tombs were built 4–5 meters underground, all facing south. The tomb structures include both double-chambered and single-chambered tombs, in square, circular, hexagonal, and octagonal shapes. Each tomb consists of a passageway, entrance, and main chamber, most of which feature brick carvings imitating wooden architecture. Zhang Shiqing’s tomb has a front and rear square structure with chambers, consisting of five parts: a passageway, entrance, front chamber, corridor, and rear chamber. Its unique design, complex structure, and exquisite craftsmanship make it a valuable physical resource for studying the architectural art style of the Liao Dynasty.

A total of more than 800 cultural relics have been unearthed from the tomb cluster, including bronze ware, ironware, ceramics, pottery, woodwork, lacquerware, stoneware, ornaments, and food items. Among the ceramics, Liao sancai (three-color glazed pottery), yellow-glazed porcelain, and white porcelain are considered masterpieces of Liao Dynasty ceramics. Thirty-five pieces of wooden artifacts were excavated, including male and female figurines, warrior figures, the twelve zodiac figurines, as well as furniture such as tables, chairs, cabinets, basin stands, mirror stands, and cypress wood coffin boxes. These items are remarkably well-preserved, exquisitely crafted, and have remained intact for a thousand years, making them extremely rare. The cypress wood coffin box contains ashes, and both the inside and outside are inscribed with Sanskrit and Chinese characters—a unique burial style that was discovered in China for the first time. The stone artifacts found in Zhang Shiqing’s tomb include stone lions, while the others are epitaphs that record the tomb owners’ lives and the exact dates of their burials. Among the unearthed items are various foodstuffs such as millet, grain, sorghum, walnuts, chestnuts, grapes, and wine stored in chicken-leg bottles sealed with lime—providing precious physical evidence for studying the history of ancient grain cultivation and brewing techniques.

The tomb chamber murals are rich in content, well-preserved, and demonstrate superb painting techniques. The lines are smooth, the colors vivid, and the figures serene and lifelike, full of charm and vitality. There are a total of 98 murals, covering an area of 360 square meters. Among them, the Music Performance Scene, Tea Ceremony Scene, Astronomical Chart, Procession Scene, Maid Scene, and Scripture Preparation Scene were discovered in China for the first time, resembling an underground art palace. They hold significant value for the study of Liao Dynasty history, culture, astronomy, folklore, and clothing. Multiple star charts were also found in the tombs, among which the colored star chart painted on the ceiling of Zhang Shiqing’s tomb is a fusion of China’s traditional Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions system and the Western Babylonian Zodiac system—an unprecedented blend of Chinese and Western astronomical charts. This is another major archaeological discovery following the Han Dynasty star charts and the Northern Wei celestial maps, providing new and valuable historical material for the study of ancient Chinese astronomy and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries.

In 1996, the Xia Balizhi Tomb Cluster was designated by the State Council as part of the fourth group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units