The Bagualing Ancient Tombs

The Bagualing Ancient Tombs

The Bagualing Ancient Tombs are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

A cluster of Eastern Zhou and Ming Dynasty tombs. Located in Bagualing Town, Jingzhou District, Jingzhou City, Hubei Province, it faces the Yangtze River to the south and neighbors Jishan Mountain to the north. Central geographic coordinates: 112°15′02″–112°15′07″ E, 30°33′74″–30°33′82″ N. Covering an area of approximately 40 million square meters, it is the burial ground for the Chu royal family as well as the princes of the Ming Dynasty’s Liaofan princedom.

Historically known as “Dragon Mountain,” the site is also called Bao Bao Shan (Treasure Mountain). With beautiful natural scenery, “Pine Clouds of Bagualing” was once one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Jiangling. Legend has it that the tombs of over ten Chu kings, including King Zhuang of Chu, along with the tombs of eleven princes of the Ming Dynasty’s Liaofan princedom, are located here. The Bagualing Ancient Tombs stretch from Xincun Village and Anbei Village in Bagualing Town to the west, reaching as far as Yangchang Village, the Town Gardening Farm, and Tongling Village in Bagualing Town. Surveys have revealed over 400 tombs with earthen mounds and numerous others without. Most of these tombs are pit graves from the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, while some are brick-chambered tombs from the Ming Dynasty. The ancient tomb area also features several early ancient cultural heritage sites.

The main Eastern Zhou tombs with mounds include:

Pingtouzhong (Flat-top Mound): The mound is about 17 meters high with a circumference of approximately 260 meters. To its north lies a companion mound, about 7 meters high and 70 meters in circumference. The two mounds are around 10 meters apart.

Fengjiazhong (Feng Family Mound): The mound stands 16 meters high with a circumference of 300 meters. Companion mounds are aligned nearby.

Huanmaozhong (Hat-Changing Mound): “Legend says it was named after the Shu general Guan Yu changed his hat here.” The mound is about 15 meters high with a circumference of approximately 200 meters.

Xiannvmiao Zhong (Fairy Temple Mound): The mound is about 10 meters high with a circumference of around 150 meters.

Luomaotai (Hat-Falling Terrace): “Historical records say that Meng Jia, a military advisor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty’s Huan Wen, got drunk and climbed here, had his hat blown off by the wind, and composed an exceptional literary piece—hence the name.” The terrace is about 9 meters high with a circumference of roughly 140 meters, and the top platform covers about 70 square meters.

The Tomb of Prince Liao Jian of the Ming Dynasty: The base of the mound is about 60 meters in diameter, with a remaining height of 4.5 meters. It is the tomb of Zhu Zhi, the 15th son of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. In the 11th year of the Hongwu reign (1378), Zhu Zhi was titled Prince Wei, and in the 25th year (1392), he was made Prince Liao, enfeoffed in Guangning (now Beizhen County, Liaoning). During the Jianwen era, his fief was moved to Jingzhou. He passed away in the 22nd year of the Yongle reign (1424) and was posthumously titled Jian. He was buried here the following year. Excavated in 1987, the brick tomb chamber consists of a passage, front chamber, central chamber, rear chamber, and left and right side chambers. Among unearthed bronze items were locks, lidded pots, plates, ladles, hanging-lid incense burners, and lids; tin objects included round-bottomed bowls, plates, pots, tripods, cups, spoons, and chopsticks; lacquered wooden items comprised bowls, plates, carts, horses, turtles, and wooden figurines; other finds included gold nails, silver coins, iron locks, and pottery jars.

In 1988, it was designated by the State Council as part of the third group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Bagualing Town: Situated approximately 10 kilometers west of downtown Jingzhou, Hubei Province, Bagualing Town lies between three ancient cities: the historic Jingzhou, the ancient Ji'nan, and the ancient Wancheng. The town covers a land area of 114 square kilometers, with 55,400 mu of arable land, 18,000 mu of hilly terrain, and administers 18 villages, 3 farms, and 1 neighborhood committee, with a population of 35,000. The area enjoys convenient transportation: a hardened road from Jingzhou to the Tomb of Prince Liao leads directly into the town; the southern part connects closely with National Highway 318, the eastern part neighbors National Highway 207, and the provincial Yihuang Expressway crosses through the area, featuring an exit at Bagualing. The telecommunications industry is developing rapidly, with program-controlled telephone lines extending to households... More details about Bagualing Town++

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Hubei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Third Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units