Dressing Tower Yuan Tomb

Dressing Tower Yuan Tomb

The Dressing Tower Yuan Tomb is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Dressing Tower Yuan Tomb is located in Nangou Village, Guyuan County, Hebei Province. It is a Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368) tomb of a Mongolian noble, and the tomb owner was Kökechin, the niece of Kublai Khan, the founding emperor of the Yuan Dynasty.

The memorial hall atop the tomb is popularly believed to be the “Dressing Tower” of Empress Xiao from the Liao Dynasty. It faces south, has a brick-vaulted, beamless structure, and stands 9.1 meters tall. The building has a square floor plan, with arched gateways on the south, east, and west walls, and a vaulted dome roof. At the center of the tower, an elite Mongolian noble tomb was discovered, yielding precious artifacts such as clothing and gold ornaments that reflect distinctive Yuan Dynasty Mongolian features.

The discovery of the Dressing Tower Yuan Tomb and the wealth of information obtained through archaeological excavation have provided new physical evidence for studying the burial customs, rituals, religious beliefs, architectural styles, and the evolution of dress among the Mongolian and other ethnic tribes during the Yuan Dynasty. This also contributes to research on the culture of the Ongud tribe and other ethnic groups. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Hebei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units