The Shikan Cliff Tomb Cluster

The Shikan Cliff Tomb Cluster

The Shikan Cliff Tomb Cluster is a Chongqing Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Shikan Cliff Tomb Cluster is located to the south of Shikan Village, Fengchang Township, Jiangjin City, approximately 90 kilometers south of Chongqing. It was discovered during a cultural relics survey in 1987. There are five tombs in total, distributed along a 100-meter-long, 5–10-meter-high sandstone cliff that runs from north to south, all facing west.

Numbered from left to right as M1 to M5, they are all single-chambered tombs with arched ceilings. M1 and M2 have single lintels, while M4 has three layers of lintels. The tomb cluster features line engravings and relief carvings. On the right side of the outer wall of M1, there is a 0.2-meter-long line-engraved fish; on the right side of the outer wall of M2, there is a 0.6-meter-tall human figure. Inside M3, there is a stone coffin, measuring 1.6 meters in length, 0.4 meters in width, and 0.6 meters in height. The left inner wall of the chamber contains two relief figures: the first wears an official’s hat, a wide-sleeved robe, holds a cane in the right hand, and wears a long sword at the waist; the second wears a beam crown, holds a seal in both hands, and both are depicted as walking side profiles facing forward. On the left door lintel of M4, there is a 0.6-meter-tall relief figure of Nüwa with a human head and snake body, holding up the moon with both hands. Between M4 and M5, on the outer wall, there are two sets of line engravings. The first set, located above the lintel, depicts five female figures, each 0.23 meters tall, with twin buns, wearing wide-sleeved long dresses, cinched waists, and both hands extended outward holding round objects, appearing to be dancing — the images are vividly rendered. The second set portrays a fishing and hunting scene: one man draws a bow to shoot at a tiger, while another man in wide sleeves raises both hands to hold an osprey. The outer wall on the right side of M5 features a set of acrobatic scenes. In addition, there are scattered depictions of poultry and livestock. The Shikan Eastern Han cliff tomb cluster boasts rich carvings and serves as important material for studying the social life of the Eastern Han period.