Tomb of General Ba Manzi

Tomb of General Ba Manzi

Commonly known as "General's Tomb," the Tomb of Ba Manzi is located beneath the Yuhai Building at Lotus Pond, Qixinggang, Yuzhong District, Chongqing (on the basement level of the furniture store next to Shanghai No. 1 Department Store). The burial site is an arched stone cave, covering an area of about 20 square meters. The tomb is built in a hexagonal shape with stone slabs, with each edge approximately 1 meter high. The top is round and sealed with lime mortar. The front is inlaid with a bluish slate stele. The existing tombstone was inscribed during the early years of the Republic of China by Dan Maoxin from Rong County, reading “Tomb of General Ba Manzi of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.”

General Ba Manzi was a military leader of the ancient Ba State over two thousand years ago during the Warring States period. He was born in Linjiang City (present-day Zhong County) in the late Eastern Zhou Dynasty. To defend his city, Ba Manzi committed suicide by cutting his own throat. Later generations, in recognition of his loyalty, renamed Linjiang to Zhongzhou (literally “Loyal Prefecture”). The ancient city wall where Ba Manzi cut his head but kept the city stands at the eastern gate of the old county town and can still be seen today.

The tomb chamber and stele of Ba Manzi have suffered severe weathering. The hexagonal shape of the tomb can be faintly made out, entirely sealed with stone. The central tombstone bears the seal script inscription “Tomb of General Ba Manzi of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty,” with the upper inscription reading “The 11th Year of the Republic of China, February, Auspicious Day” and the lower one “Inscribed by Dan Maoxin of Rong County.” During the Ming Dynasty, over 500 years ago, a book titled “Records of Scenic Spots in Shu” described the Qixinggang area where the tomb is located as follows: “Behind the prefectural school at Lotus Dam, there are stone stalagmites and stone tigers, which are said to be the tomb of the King of Ba.” Later, burial items were discovered, proving that the interred was not a king but a general—hence the site also became commonly known as “General’s Tomb.”

According to the “Huayang Guo Zhi · Ba Zhi” (Chronicles of the States of Huayang · Records of Ba): In the late Eastern Zhou Dynasty, General Ba Manzi of the Ba State sought military assistance from the Chu State to quell internal strife, promising three cities in return. Once the unrest was resolved, Ba Manzi, unable to bear the thought of ceding his country’s territory, “cut off his own head and presented it to the Chu envoy,” asking him to convey his apologies to the King of Chu. Touched by his loyalty, the King of Chu “buried his head with the rites befitting a high minister,” and the Ba State “also buried his body with the same honors.” A poem praises this deed: “His noble sacrifice shines brighter than the sun and moon; his legacy of defending the city endures beyond the rivers and mountains.”

The original construction date of the Tomb of Ba Manzi is unknown, but it has been repaired in various dynasties. The current structure was rebuilt in 1922. The existing tombstone was inscribed during the early years of the Republic of China by Dan Maoxin of Rong County, reading “Tomb of General Ba Manzi of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.” According to the “Huayang Guo Zhi · Ba Zhi”: In the late Eastern Zhou Dynasty, General Ba Manzi of the Ba State sought military assistance from the Chu State to quell internal strife, promising three cities in return. Once the unrest was resolved, Ba Manzi, unable to bear the thought of ceding his country’s territory, “cut off his own head and presented it to the Chu envoy,” asking him to convey his apologies to the King of Chu. Touched by his loyalty, the King of Chu “buried his head with the rites befitting a high minister,” and the Ba State “also buried his body with the same honors.” A poem praises this deed: “His noble sacrifice shines brighter than the sun and moon; his legacy of defending the city endures beyond the rivers and mountains.”

Address: Lotus Pond, Qixinggang, Yuzhong District, Chongqing