Liao Dynasty QIngling Tombs

Liao Dynasty Qingling Tombs

The Liao Dynasty Qingling Tombs are a cultural tourism attraction.

The Qingling Tombs are located about fifteen kilometers north of the sumu (township) seat of Soboli'ga (White Pagoda) in Bairin Right Banner, Inner Mongolia, and approximately ten kilometers north of the ruins of the Liao Dynasty’s Qingzhou City in Bairin Right Banner (Daban Town). The tombs are situated in a narrow mountain valley on the southern foothills of a major east-west mountain range within the Greater Khingan forest area. This large mountain stretches east-west like a barrier, and on its southern slopes are three peaks covered with rugged rocks that tower into the sky. In the Liao Dynasty, this mountain was called Yong’an Mountain, later renamed Qingyun Mountain, from which the name Qingling (meaning “Celebration Cloud”) Tombs is derived. It is also now known as Dahei Mountain, and in Mongolian as Walian Wula (meaning “sand dune with bricks and tiles”), while locals call it “Wangfen Gou” (“Tomb Valley of Kings”). Surrounded by high mountains, the area is lush with vegetation, serene, and home to many wild animals, serving as an imperial hunting ground during the Liao Dynasty.

According to the *Liao History · Treatise on Geography*, the sixth emperor of the Liao Dynasty, Emperor Shengzong Yelü Longxu, once said while staying at Qingyun Mountain that he wished to be buried there after his death. As a result, three generations of Liao emperors were subsequently laid to rest here. These three imperial mausoleums are aligned from east to west, nestled among dense forests halfway up the mountain. They are respectively the “Yongqing Tomb” of Emperor Shengzong Yelü Longxu and Empresses Qin’ai and Rende; the “Yongxing Tomb” of Emperor Xingzong Yelü Zongzhen and Empress Renyi; and the “Yongfu Tomb” of Emperor Daozong Yelü Hongji and Empress Yi, along with burial tombs of imperial relatives such as concubines and crown princes. The three tombs are spaced about two kilometers apart, covering an area of over ten square kilometers. The grand scale and massive construction of the entire tomb complex are remarkable. These three tombs are also referred to from east to west as the Eastern Tomb, Central Tomb, and Western Tomb. Since all three imperial tombs share one tomb city, they are collectively called the Qingling Tombs. Each tomb has a gate, a hall of offerings, and a spirit way, all oriented east-west. Originally built with brick and wood structures, most remains are now damaged. The gates were originally constructed of brick, but due to severe damage to the painted decorations, only patterns remain to restore their original appearance. The burial chambers consist of front, middle, rear, and four side chambers (ear chambers), built with grooved bricks and lime mortar. The walls are made of three layers of bricks, the ceilings of two, with lime plaster applied to walls and gates, all adorned with colorful murals.

Yongqing Tomb of Emperor Shengzong

The Yongqing Tomb of Emperor Shengzong is located halfway up a mountain three and a half kilometers into the valley and is the best-preserved of the three tombs, with visible surface remains such as halls of offerings, sacrificial halls, spirit passageways, and tomb gates. A spirit way leading to the tomb complex was built at the foot of Qingyun Mountain, and a tomb gate was constructed at the base. The 1,300-meter-long, 3-meter-wide spirit way from the gate to the tomb is flanked by ruins of buildings such as the Xianxian Hall and Yurong Hall. The Yongqing Tomb is a seven-chamber brick tomb built to imitate wooden architecture. The tomb is 21.2 meters long, 15.5 meters wide, and about 6.5 meters high at its tallest point. It includes front, middle, and rear main chambers, side chambers on the eastern and western sides of the front chamber, and on both sides of the middle chamber, with the rear chamber as the principal room. The front chamber has a rectangular floor plan with a vaulted ceiling, while the other chambers are round with domed ceilings, connected by arched passageways. The burial structure is built with three layers of large blue bricks, coated internally with white lime. The floor is slightly sloped southward and paved with smoothed square bricks, with a drainage system underneath. The main chamber houses a large coffin chamber constructed from cypress wood, connected via passages, and fitted with cypress wood doors. The door towers are built with carved bricks, featuring undulating tile ridges and upturned chiwen ornaments, all covered in colorful paintings. Artifacts unearthed from the tomb are highly fragmented. During Japanese excavations of the Eastern Tomb, wooden architectural components such as brackets, arches, and dougong (bracket sets) were found, though structural details remain unclear.

Originally, all three tombs in Qingling had murals, but today only the Eastern Tomb retains well-preserved, vividly colored murals, along with copies and photographs. These were likely painted by artists of both Khitan and Han ethnicities. The murals are mainly found on the finely crafted wooden-imitating brick details and upper parts of the tomb walls, depicting decorative patterns, figures, and landscapes. The tomb gate and imitation wooden structures are decorated with red and green colors, and the chiwen on the gate features yellow-brown hues. The wooden imitations and upper wall areas are painted with meticulous brushwork depicting dragons, phoenixes, flowers, birds, auspicious clouds, pearls, and grid-like patterns, representing the highest level of painted decoration discovered in Liao tombs.

On the walls of the tomb passage, front chamber and its side chambers, middle chamber, and connecting passageways, more than 70 life-sized human figures are depicted in grand scenes. The tomb passage walls feature 15 ceremonial guards wearing round caps, narrow-sleeved long robes, and holding clubs, along with one saddled horse. Similar guards are painted on the connecting passageways of the front and middle chambers. Civil officials and warriors stand with hands clasped, solemn-faced and dressed in dark, heavy tones. This marks the first discovery of depictions of Khitan ethnic costumes. The front section of the front chamber has murals of six-member musical bands on each wall, all wearing straight-top hats and black robes. The remaining 40 figures are mostly male, many with shaved heads, some wearing round caps, and a few in straight-top hats. They wear narrow-sleeved round-collared robes in purple, green, and blue, with leather belts around their waists, all standing with hands clasped or folded. There are also two standing female figures: the one on the right wears a black gauze hat and a green left-lapelled robe, while the one on the left has a hair bun, wears a green narrow-sleeved robe and a red inner tunic, both left-lapelled, with embroidered sashes, holding shawls as if attendants to the other. Above these figures are inscriptions in small Khitan script. These labeled figures provide the first evidence of Khitan customs. The tomb chamber’s caisson ceilings and domes are also painted with detailed, brightly colored depictions of dragons, phoenixes, and peonies.

The middle chamber of the Yongqing Tomb contains four large landscape paintings, fresh and elegant, showcasing exceptional artistic skill. These depict the spring, summer, autumn, and winter scenery of the Liao heartland, with rigorous composition and vivid animal imagery. They are believed to represent the seasonal imperial hunting grounds (“nabo”) of the Khitan imperial family, reflecting the emperors’ tradition of setting up temporary camps for hunting (known as nabo, where hunting swans with goshawks was a ceremonial act). These are extremely rare and precious examples of Liao painting, rich in ethnic and regional characteristics, adding to the magnificence of this underground palace.

Yongxing Tomb of Emperor Xingzong

The Yongxing Tomb, also known as the Central Tomb, is located about 600 meters west of the Yongqing Tomb. Its terrain and structures are similar to those of the Eastern Tomb, with existing ruins including the spirit way, tomb gate, sacrificial hall, and dining hall. The tomb chamber is larger than that of the Eastern Tomb, consisting of seven chambers, all now collapsed, including three main front, middle, and rear chambers and four side chambers, with the rear chamber as the main room. The tomb has a cruciform passageway in front. The Central Tomb has collapsed, but the octagonal layout of its chambers can still be seen. Funerary inscriptions of Emperor Xingzong and Empress Renyi have been unearthed. Southwest of the Central Tomb’s offering hall, the base of a carved stone Dhāraṇī pillar remains.

Yongfu Tomb of Emperor Daozong

The Yongfu Tomb, also known as the Western Tomb, is located about 1,400 meters west of the Yongxing Tomb. Its structures are similar to those of the Eastern Tomb. Existing ruins include the spirit way, tomb gate, and sacrificial hall. The tomb chamber is the same as the Central Tomb, also a seven-chamber structure with a cruciform passageway and octagonal chambers, larger than the Central Tomb, but it too was looted and all chambers have collapsed. Remains of mural fragments have been found. Funerary inscriptions in both Khitan and Chinese scripts of Emperor Daozong and Empress Xuanyi have been unearthed.

Yelü Longxu (January 16, 972 – June 25, 1031), the sixth emperor of the Liao Dynasty (983–1031), Khitan name Wenshunu, was the eldest son of Emperor Jingzong Yelü Xian.

In the fourth year of Qiánhēng (982), he ascended the throne and adopted the era name Tǒnghé, changing the dynastic title back to Khitan. His mother, Empress Dowager Xiao Yanyan, governed as regent according to his late father’s will. Supported by officials such as Xiao Han, Han Derang, Yelü Xièzhěn, and Yelü Xiūgē, he unified Khitan nobility, appointed Han scholar-officials, and actively reformed governance and laws. In the fourth year of Tǒnghé (986), Liao forces decisively defeated the Song Dynasty’s northern expedition... [More details on Yelü Longxu]

Xiao Nougeng (c. 980–1057), a consort of Emperor Shengzong, mother of Emperor Xingzong, and great-great-great-granddaughter of Aguchi, brother of Empress Shulü Ping (wife of Emperor Taizu). When Emperor Shengzong was critically ill, he decreed that Emperor Xingzong succeed him, with Xiao Pusago as empress dowager and herself as Grand Empress Dowager. In 1032, she declared herself empress dowager, taking the title Fǎtiān Empress Dowager before being deposed. Later honored by Emperor Daozong as Fǎtiān Grand Empress Dowager, she died in 1057 with the posthumous title Qīn’āi Empress.

Giving Birth to an Imperial Son

Legend says Xiao Nougeng was originally very ugly... [More details on Xiao Nougeng]

Rende Empress (983–1032), of the Xiao clan, childhood name Púsàgē, daughter of Xiao Kuíyīn (younger brother of Empress Ruizhi Xiao Yuchuo), and the second empress of Emperor Shengzong Yelü Longxu.

Xiao Púsàgē entered the palace at age twelve and was named Qítian Empress in 1001. Deeply favored by Emperor Shengzong, she bore him two sons who both died young. In 1016, court lady Xiao Nougeng gave birth to Yelü Zōngzhēn (Emperor Xingzong), whom Xiao Púsàgē raised. In 1031, as Emperor Shengzong lay dying, he decreed that Yelü Zōngzhēn should succeed... [More details on Xiao Púsàgē]

Yelü Zōngzhēn (1016–1055), Khitan name Zhīgǔ, courtesy name Yǐbùjǐn, eldest son of Emperor Shengzong Yelü Longxu and Empress Qīn’āi Xiao Nougeng, seventh emperor of the Liao Dynasty, reigned 1031–1055.

Born on February 23, 1016, Yelü Zōngzhēn was raised by Qítian Empress Xiao Púsàgē. As an adult, he was knowledgeable in music and Confucian teachings, and open-minded. In 1018, at age three, he was named Prince Liang. In November 1021... [More details on Yelü Zōngzhēn]

Xiao Tàlǐ (d. 1076), of the Xiao clan, childhood name Tàlǐ, eldest daughter of Xiao Xiàomù (Northern Bureau Chief Councilor and brother of Empress Qīn’āi Xiao Nougeng), and empress of Emperor Xingzong Yelü Zōngzhēn, as well as mother of Emperor Daozong Yelü Hóngjī.

Xiao Tàlǐ was gentle, kind, and beautiful. After Emperor Xingzong ascended the throne, she became a consort, then empress in 1035. She bore him three sons and two daughters: eldest son Emperor Daozong Yelü Hóngjī, second son Prince Sòng Yelü Hélǔwò, third son Prince Qín Yelü Ālián, eldest daughter Princess Jìn Yelü Báiqín, and second daughter Princess Zhèng Yelü Wòlǐtài.

... [More details on Xiao Tàlǐ]

Yelü Hóngjī (September 14, 1032 – February 12, 1101), courtesy name Nièlín, childhood name Chálà, eldest son of Emperor Xingzong Yelü Zōngzhēn and Empress Rén'yì Xiao Tàlǐ, eighth emperor of the Liao Dynasty.

In the 24th year of Chóngxī (1055), he ascended the throne and adopted the era name Qīngníng. He appointed his uncle Yelü Zhòngróng as Grand Imperial Uncle and Supreme Commander-in-Chief. In 1063, when Yelü Zhòngróng attempted to usurp the throne, Yelü Rénxiān and Yelü Yìxīn quelled the rebellion, leading to Yelü Zhòngróng’s suicide. In 1066, the dynastic title was changed to Great Liao (it had been Liao since 983)... [More details on Yelü Hóngjī]

Xiao Guānniàn (1040–1075), first empress of Emperor Daozong Yelü Hóngjī, daughter of Xiao Huì (brother of Empress Qīn’āi Xiao Nougeng), and a renowned female poet of the Liao Dynasty. Known for her graceful beauty and delicate charm, she had an introverted and gentle personality, excelling in literary talent. She often composed her own lyrics, mastering poetry and music, and was skilled in debate. A master pipa player regarded as the finest of her time, she was also a poet, hailed by Emperor Daozong as a “woman of talent.”

During the Chongxi era, she was taken as a concubine by Yelü Hongji, King of Yan and Zhao, and gave birth to Crown Prince Yelü ?F. In December of the first year of Qingning (1055), she was enthroned as empress and honored... More details about Xiao Guanyin ++

Daban Town: Located in the government seat of Bairin Right Banner, Daban Town is a newly established town formed in 2001 through the merger of the former Daban Town and the former Dushi Sumu. The town covers a total land area of 757,500 mu, including 28,000 mu of arable land and 23,000 mu of forested land. The Chaganmuren River and the Gulgutai River flow through and converge within the town, providing abundant water resources.

The town administers 17 gachas (administrative villages), 52 dugui longs (groups), and 10 neighborhood (community) committees. The total population of the town area is 58,000, including 10,360 engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry, and vegetable farming. There are 36 Party branches and 663 Party members... More details about Daban Town ++