Cao Wei Tomb in Xizhu Village

Cao Wei Tomb in Xizhu Village

The Cao Wei Tomb in Xizhu Village is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Cao Wei Tomb in Xizhu Village is located about 650 meters south of Xizhu Village, Koudian Town, Luoyang City, and approximately 20 kilometers south of the Han-Wei Luoyang City. The tomb sits on a gentle slope at the northern foot of Mount Wan'an, about 2.5 kilometers west of the Yuanqiu site from the Cao Wei period (commonly known as "Yusu Valley Pile").

The unearthed artifacts from the tomb mainly consist of over 500 items including pottery, ironware, bronze ware, lacquered woodenware, bone artifacts, and jade artifacts. Among the pottery, the forms include figurines, chickens, dogs, pigs, stoves, wells, mills, houses, four-handled jars, plates, spoons, stoves, and lamps. Additionally, several iron tent frames and eight stone tent bases were found, along with four stone wall pieces and one stone gui. A large number of inscribed stone plaques were also excavated, with about 180 already restored, while over 100 fragments are still under restoration. The stone plaques are hexagonal with flat tops and sloping shoulders, approximately 8.3 cm in length and 4.6–4.9 cm in width. Each has a circular perforation at the top and bears clerical script inscriptions on one side. The inscriptions list funerary objects, covering more than ten categories such as clothing, funeral rites, utensils, furnishings, stationery, grooming tools and ornaments, food, theatrical props, and miscellaneous items. The size, content, format, and writing style of these plaques are similar to those found in the "Cao Cao Tomb."

The funerary objects unearthed from this tomb show clear similarities to some artifacts from the Zhengshi Eight-Year Tomb and the Cao Xiu Tomb in Luoyang, exhibiting transitional characteristics from the Eastern Han to the Western Jin period. In particular, the numerous inscribed stone plaques in the tomb, in terms of size, content, and format, resemble those found in the Cao Cao Mausoleum, providing distinct indications of the era and social rank. This publication has specially invited archaeology expert Han Guohe to write an article interpreting the excavation findings and significant academic value of the tomb.

On October 7, 2019, the Cao Wei Tomb in Xizhu Village was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Xizhu Village: Xizhu Village…… More details about Xizhu Village++

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units