Tomb of Marquis Ping of Cai

Tomb of Marquis Ping of Cai

The Tomb of Marquis Ping of Cai is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Tomb of Marquis Ping of Cai is the burial site of Marquis Ping of Cai, the 19th king of the State of Cai during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. It is referred to by later generations as Pan Tomb, covering an area of over 10 mu with a large mound standing 6 meters high. Two stone tablets stand in front of the tomb, one inscribed with "Tomb of Marquis Ping of Cai" and the other with "Biography of Marquis Ping." There are over a hundred dragon cypresses, pines, and poplars surrounding the tomb, forming a verdant backdrop.

According to the "House of Guan and Cai," after Prince Qi wiped out the State of Cai, he attacked and killed King Ling of Chu and declared himself King Ping of Chu. To consolidate his power base, King Ping of Chu reinstated Ji Lu, the youngest son of King Ling of Cai, as Marquis Ping. To align with Chu, Marquis Ping of Cai moved the capital to Lü and renamed it Xincai, distinguishing it from the old capital. The Cai State lasted three generations under him—the Marquis Ping, Marquis Dao, and Marquis Zhao. During the reign of King Zhao of Chu, Marquis Zhao of Cai was forced to move the capital to Shouchun in the Wu region. During his rule, Marquis Ping of Cai oversaw significant development in population, economy, and culture in Xincai. He died in 522 BC due to overwork and was buried here.

The Tomb of Marquis Ping of Cai serves as a ancestral worship site for the Cai clan. Descendants of the Cai family from both China and abroad come to offer incense and pay respects every year. Since 1995, over 300 members of the Cai clan from more than 10 countries and regions—including Malaysia, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan—have visited Xincai for root-seeking and ancestral worship. Among them, the Cai Clan Association of Malaysia organized root-seeking delegations twice, in 1995 and 2002, to pay homage at the Tomb of Marquis Ping of Cai. The Cai Clan Association of the Republic of Korea, led by National Assembly member Cai Yingxi, visited in 1997 and 2002 to worship Marquis Ping of Cai.

The Tomb of Marquis Ping of Cai is located 7 kilometers south of Xincai County in Guanjing Township, 1.5 kilometers east of National Highway 106, 7 kilometers north of Minglin Road and Zhanxin Road, and 3 kilometers west of the Hewu Dam Natural Scenic Area. It is less than 5 kilometers away from the planned A'shen Expressway. The site is 109 kilometers from Zhumadian City, over 140 kilometers from the Shaolin Mountain Scenic Area, over 130 kilometers from the Boshan Lake Scenic Area, and over 170 kilometers from the Tongshan Scenic Area.

The Tomb of Marquis Ping of Cai is well-preserved. In 1995, descendants of the Cai clan in Xincai erected a tablet inscribed with "Tomb of Marquis Ping of Cai" and an accompanying monument in front of the tomb, and planted over a hundred dragon cypresses, pines, and poplars. It is now jointly managed and protected by the Cai Clan Association of Xincai County and Guanjing Township. Every year, Cai clan members from Xincai visit to pay respects and maintain the site. Its tourism resources remain underutilized and await further development.