Tomb of King Zhongzong of Shang

Tomb of King Zhongzong of Shang

The Tomb of King Zhongzong of Shang is the mausoleum of Tai Wu, the tenth king of the Shang Dynasty, and is the only above-ground royal tomb from the Shang Dynasty in China. The tomb was initially built during the Han Dynasty, renovated during the Tang Dynasty, and reconstructed in the seventh year of the Kaibao era of the Song Dynasty (974 AD). It underwent multiple expansions during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In 1986, it was designated as a Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit of Henan Province. Within the tomb area, there still stands the "Inscription and Preface for the Newly Built Temple of King Zhongzong of Shang of the Great Song" from the seventh year of the Kaibao era of the Song Dynasty (974 AD), featuring a dragon-headed turtle pedestal, standing 6.45 meters tall, 1.6 meters wide, and 0.59 meters thick. It is one of the rare large-scale ancient steles in Henan Province, renowned for its exquisite carvings, bold calligraphy, and rich historical content, making it of significant historical and artistic value.