Quwo Yangshe Tomb Site

Quwo Yangshe Tomb Site

The Quwo Yangshe Tomb Site is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Yangshe Village is located about 12 kilometers northeast of Quwo County, on the southern side of the Fuh River Valley. The tomb site lies on the ridge land to the south of the village. The famous Qu Village–Tianma Site is situated in the hinterland of the northern side of the Fuh River Valley. The Yangshe Tomb Site faces the Beizhao Tomb of the Jin Marquises within the Qu Village–Tianma Site across the river valley, with the wide Fuh River Valley and terraces in between, a straight-line distance of 4,500 meters. The earthen ridge to the south of Yangshe Village extends from the direction of Yicheng. Yicheng, too, is a core region of the Jin State, with this land bearing even deeper cultural deposits.

The name "Yangshe" alone stirs the imagination. The origin of the village's name is unknown, though it may derive from its geographical location. But it is more likely connected to the Yangshe clan of the Jin State during the Spring and Autumn period, as many place names in Quwo have intricate ties to the history of the Jin State.

Yangshe is an ancient surname. Though it no longer appears in today’s "Hundred Family Surnames," the Yangshe clan was a prominent family in the Jin State during the Spring and Autumn period and played a significant role in its history. Notably, the famous late-Jin statesman Yangshe Shuyu (courtesy name Shuxiang), also known as Bo Lieguo, was a renowned official of his time. The Yangshe clan originated from the ruling house of the Jin State and was part of the noble lineage, i.e., descendants of the feudal lords. Historically, the Yangshe clan first appeared in 660 BCE, when Duke Xian of Jin ordered Crown Prince Shensheng to campaign against the Red Di tribes of Dongshan, appointing Yangshe Tu as the military commander—the surname Yangshe originating with him. The Yangshe clan lasted only three generations, from Yangshe Tu to his grandson Yangshe Shuyu, who later changed the family name. Yangshe Tu had a son, Yangshe Zhi, who, according to historical records, was intelligent, composed, and well-respected. He once joined other former Jin officials in welcoming Duke Wen of Jin, Chong’er, back to Jin, laying the foundation for the state’s future hegemony. Later, he served under Duke Jing of Jin as an official. When Duke Dao of Jin ascended the throne (572 BCE), he appointed officials, and Yangshe Zhi assisted Qi Xi as the central army commander, passing away in the third year of Duke Dao’s reign (570 BCE). Yangshe Zhi had four sons recorded in texts such as the Zuo Commentary: Yangshe Chi, Yangshe Shu, Yangshe Fu, and Yangshe Hu, collectively known as the "Four Clans of Yangshe," a powerful family in the Jin State. Yangshe Chi, courtesy name Bo Hua, was the lord of Tongyu and held the fief of Tongyu; Yangshe Shu, courtesy name Shuxiang, was a noble doctor of the Jin clan and a famous politician, holding the fief of Yang, with descendants later adopting the Yang surname; Yangshe Fu, courtesy name Shuyu, was a noble doctor of the Jin clan and held the fief of Pingyang; Yangshe Hu, courtesy name Shupi or Shuxiong, was a noble doctor of the Jin clan and also held the fief of Pingyang. Yangshe Shu (Shuxiang), who received a fief in Yang, adopted the Yang surname. His son, Yang Shiwo, unfortunately fell afoul of the power struggles among the noble houses of Jin, was convicted of a crime, leading to the extermination of both the Yangshe and Yang clans. The Yangshe clan was eliminated, eventually fading into the dust of history, leaving behind a regrettable legacy.

Today’s Yangshe Village may have been one of the fiefs of the Yangshe clan in ancient times, hence the preservation of its name to this day.

Phone: 0357-4526727

Address: Quwo County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units