Tomb of Ba Manzi in Chongqing

Tomb of Ba Manzi in Chongqing

The Tomb of Ba Manzi in Chongqing is a cultural tourism attraction.

Introduction Commonly known as the “General’s Tomb,” it is located next to Lotus Pond in Qixinggang, Yuzhong District. The tomb 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 Republic of China by Dan Maoxin from Rong County, reading “Tomb of General Ba Manzi of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.” Ba Manzi was a general of the ancient State of Ba more than two thousand years ago during the Warring States period. According to the “Huayang Guo Zhi · Ba Zhi” (Chronicles of the States of Huayang · Records of Ba): In the late Eastern Zhou Dynasty, General Manzi of the State of Ba sought military assistance from the State of Chu to quell internal strife, promising to cede three cities in return. Once the unrest was suppressed, General Ba Manzi could not bear to surrender his country's territories. “He then cut off his own head and presented it to the Chu emissary,” asking him to convey his apologies to the King of Chu. Deeply moved, the King of Chu “buried his head with the rites due to a high minister,” while the State of Ba “also buried his body with the same honors.” A poem praises the event: “His noble suicide, a legacy hanging between sun and moon; his sacrifice for the city, a tale spanning distant mountains and rivers.” The exact date of the original construction of Ba Manzi’s Tomb is unknown, but it has been renovated in various dynasties. The currently existing tomb was rebuilt in 1922. 　

Chongqing Yuzhong