The Jingshe Site

The Jingshe Site

The Jingshe Site is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Jingshe Site

The Jingshe Site (Class IV National Heritage Site)

Era: Shang Dynasty

Location: East of Jingshe Village, Jingxing Town, Lingshi County

Located on the eastern slope of Mount Mian and the eastern bank of the Fen River, east of Jingshe Village in Jingxing Town, Lingshi County, Shanxi Province. It lies approximately 15 kilometers southwest of Lingshi County town. In addition to Shang Dynasty cultural remains, the site also features cultural deposits from the Neolithic Age, the Eastern Zhou period, and later dynasties such as the Han Dynasty.

In 1976, a late Shang Dynasty tomb was discovered, yielding more than 30 bronze artifacts including ding (tripods), jue (wine cups), gu (wine vessels), and gong (wine vessels). In January 1985, two more Shang Dynasty tombs and a chariot pit were found at a soil excavation site east of the village. Archaeological excavations unearthed a large number of bronze artifacts and more.

Both Shang Dynasty tombs are vertical earthen pit shaft graves, with coffins and outer coffins as burial containers. Tomb No. 1 has one outer coffin and three inner coffins — the central chamber held a male burial in an extended supine position, flanked by two female skeletons on either side, both buried in a lateral position facing the male. Tomb No. 2 contains one outer coffin and two inner coffins — the male tomb owner lies to the south in an extended supine posture, while the female lies to the north in a lateral position facing the male. Both tombs contained sacrificial human remains, sacrificed dogs, and interred beef shanks. The grave floors had waist pits with buried dogs.

The two tombs yielded over 140 bronze artifacts including ding (tripods), gui (food vessels), zun (wine vessels), you (wine vessels), gu (wine vessels), jue (wine cups), and small bronze knives with sheep head designs. Jade artifacts included over 10 pieces such as fish, swallows, birds, tigers, and huang (jade ornaments). Based on the shapes, decorative patterns of the bronze items, and the small bronze knife with a sheep head, these tombs are identified as belonging to the Shang Dynasty late period, northern bronze style of the Shilou type. Moreover, over 40 bronze items bear clan insignia “VV,” interpreted as representing the Li (鬲) clan, indicating that the Lingshi area was the territory of the Li clan state during the late Shang period. The occupants of the two tombs were its rulers. Additionally, two jue (wine cups) bear the inscription “Qiang” (羌), suggesting that this region was also within the range of Qiang people’s activity at the time. One bronze gui (food vessel) has a raised line pattern of a horse on its base, which is related to the commonly seen “horse-Qiang” references in oracle bone inscriptions.

Jingshe Village: Jingshe Village is located 13 kilometers east of Lingshi County town, 3 kilometers east of the Mount Mian tourist scenic area, 2.5 kilometers from the renowned Wang Family Courtyard, and 1.5 kilometers from the exit of the Dayun Expressway. National Highway 108 runs west across the village. The village has 850 households and a population of 2,300, with 3,800 mu of arable land. Jingshe Village boasts a long cultural history. Its name originates from honoring Jie Zitui, a key minister of one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period. The ruins of the Temple of Jie Zitui are 2 kilometers from the village. To the east of the village lies an ancient Shang Dynasty tomb cluster, which has been designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the State Council and a Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the provincial government.

Jingshe... More detailed information about Jingshe Village ++

Further Reading:

· Class IV National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit