Zhuxi Tomb Cluster

Zhuxi Tomb Cluster

The Zhuxi Tomb Cluster is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Hunan Province.

The Zhuxi Tomb Cluster is located along the northern bank of the Zishui River between Dongping Town and Jiangnan Town in Anhua County, stretching from east to west following the river’s course, covering an area of approximately 0.5 square kilometers. To date, 11 tombs have been discovered—some double-chambered and some single-chambered—all belonging to ethnic minority burials from the northwestern frontier during the Yuan Dynasty.

In May 1985, the second national survey of immovable cultural relics was officially launched. In April 1986, the first tomb was initially discovered in Zhuxi Village, Dongping Town. In April 1988, the Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology officially dispatched a team of experts to conduct an on-site archaeological investigation. The team was led by nationally renowned authority Gong Shaozu, with Yao Xiaotian, the first director of the Anhua County Cultural Relics Office, assisting. Due to the unique structure of the tombs, the burial chambers had long been looted. The coffins and remains had completely decayed, and the tombstones had been repurposed by villagers during the Cultural Revolution, leaving no physical evidence to confirm the true identities of the tomb owners. The entire burial chamber was a single-chambered structure with a domed ceiling in a rectangular shape, facing south, measuring 3.25 meters in length, 2.45 meters in width, and 1.7 meters in height. The southern end served as the entrance, constructed entirely with a lime and glutinous rice mortar. After careful excavation by the expert team inside the chamber, murals were found on the eastern, northern, and western walls, featuring a total of 27 painted female figures. Some were drumming, others playing flutes or xiao (a vertical bamboo flute), with various types of drums including lifted drums and waist drums. The figures were elegant, graceful, and quite charming. After repeated examination, the expert team confirmed that these were burials of ethnic minorities from the northwestern frontier during the Yuan Dynasty.

In June 2008, the state initiated the third national survey of immovable cultural relics. At the invitation of the Anhua County cultural relics department, Zhou Chuanghua and Pan Maohui, archaeologists from the Yiyang City Cultural Relics Management Office, served as the head and deputy head of the team respectively, with Liu Weiqi, director of the county cultural relics office, and Ouyang Hongyan, deputy director, assisting. Through nearly a month of field investigation, 10 more tombs of similar specifications were discovered along the Zishui River downstream from Zhuxi Village in Dongping Town to Jiangbei Village in Jiangnan Town. Some were double-chambered and some single-chambered, all constructed with lime and glutinous rice mortar. The three inner walls of each tomb chamber featured painted murals, depicting either human figures or animal patterns, mostly eagles and dogs. Unfortunately, all had been looted and nothing was left intact. The expert team confirmed that all were burials of ethnic minorities from the northwestern frontier during the Yuan Dynasty.

In January 2011, after application by the Anhua County Cultural Relics Management Office, recommendation by the Yiyang City Cultural Relics Management Office, and approval by the provincial government, the Anhua Yuan Dynasty Northwest Frontier Ethnic Minority Tomb Cluster was listed as a key cultural heritage site under the protection of Hunan Province. The People's Government of Anhua County officially erected a protective monument in October 2012.

Jiangnan Town: Overview of Jiangnan Town

In 1950, the provincial government approved the establishment of Jiangnan Town as a formal township. In 1986, Jiangnan Township was merged into it. In 1995, during the county-wide restructuring of districts and townships, Chenwang Township was also incorporated. The town covers a total area of 131.4 square kilometers, governing 52 villages and 4 neighborhood committees. The area is mostly mountainous, with the highest peak being Tianjing Mountain at an elevation of 949 meters. It borders the Zishui River to the north, and three major water systems—the Maxi, Sixian, and Weixi Creeks—flow through the town before joining the Zishui River. The region is rich in resources, known as an important producer of palm fiber, medicinal herbs, and timber in the county. Mineral resources include gold, silver, uranium, zinc, iron, barite, … More detailed information about Jiangnan Town++

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Key Cultural Heritage Sites Protected at the Provincial Level in Hunan Province