The Tomb of Zhang Jiuling and His Family

The Tomb of Zhang Jiuling and His Family

The Tomb of Zhang Jiuling and His Family is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

The Tang Dynasty tomb of Zhang Jiuling and his family in Shaoguan is located on Cuizhu Ridge in Dunzitou Village, Wujiang District, Shaoguan City. It was relocated and reburied in the 29th year of the Kaiyuan era (741 AD) during the Tang Dynasty. The tomb mound is a semi-circular earthen structure, and the burial chamber is a brick tomb with a "古" (ancient) character-shaped layout, measuring 8 meters in total length. It consists of a passageway, side chambers, and the main coffin chamber. Both the passageway and side chambers have arched ceilings. The passageway is 3.18 meters long, 1.09 meters wide, and 1.70 meters high. The two side chambers are 0.80 meters long, 0.52–0.54 meters wide, and 0.33 meters high. The main coffin chamber has a pointed conical ceiling, measuring 4.82 meters long, 4.80 meters wide, and 5.35 meters high, with remnants of figure murals. The tomb has been robbed multiple times, and surviving burial objects include pottery jars, talc utensils, a pottery inkstone inscribed with "Zhang Zheng," and an epitaph (see Chapter 5, Section 2 on epitaphs). A spirit way stele stands beside the tomb. In front of the tomb, there are three stone sheep, a two-courtyard Zhang Wenxian Ancestral Hall with a flush-gable roof, covering an area of about 200 square meters. Zhang Jiuling served as Right Chancellor of the Ministry of Personnel and passed away in the 29th year of the Kaiyuan era (741 AD) at the age of 63. Below the tomb lies the grave of his wife, Lady Lu, and on either side are the tombs of his father Zhang Hongyu, brother Zhang Jiugao, and brother Zhang Jiu Zhang. All are semi-circular brick-chambered tombs. Zhang Jiugao died in the 14th year of the Tianbao era (755 AD), and his tomb yielded a collection of talc ornaments and two jade artifacts, which are considered quite valuable.

In July 1962, the People's Government of Guangdong Province designated it as a cultural relic protection unit.

Transportation: Take a bus in downtown Shaoguan to get there.

Address: At the foot of Luoyuandong Mountain, northern suburbs of Shaoguan City, Guangdong

Type: Cemetery / Historical Tomb Site

Recommended Visiting Time: About 1 hour

Ticket Information:

Free admission.

Further Reading:

· One of the First Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units in Guangdong Province