Tomb of Wang Huan

Tomb of Wang Huan

The Tomb of Wang Huan is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Tomb of Wang Huan is located in a mountain hollow behind the Zhenhai Tower in Yuexiu District, Guangzhou. It was excavated in 1954. The tomb is rectangular in shape and constructed of bricks, which are bluish-gray and plain without any patterns. The tomb measures 3.6 meters in length and 1.72 meters in width. Only one bluestone epitaph was unearthed from the tomb, with no other artifacts. The cover of the epitaph is 75.5 cm high, 78 cm wide, and 10 cm thick, with slanted edges, and features the eight-character inscription “Epitaph of Lord Wang of Taiyuan” engraved in two lines in seal script. The border is densely covered with engraved peony floral patterns. The epitaph stone itself is 75.5 cm high, 78 cm wide, and 7 cm thick, having been broken into several pieces but reassembled in relatively good condition. The inscription is written in regular script, with 44 lines, some characters damaged, totaling approximately 1,704 characters, making it the largest and most text-rich epitaph discovered among Tang Dynasty tombs in Guangzhou. The epitaph mentions that “at that time, our Duke Qi (i.e., Duke of Qi, Xu Yanruo), was appointed to govern Panyu. Since you were a former subordinate, you were willing to follow him in honor, not regarding the vast sea as far, nor the hardships of relocation as difficult. Holding the summons to serve as a scribe, adorned with the full glory of office, you were thus appointed as an Examining Censor and concurrently held the position of Assistant Censor.” This indicates that Wang Huan served as a scribe accompanying Xu Yanruo on his southern journey (Xu Yanruo was appointed as the Military Governor of Qinghai Navy in September of the third year of the Guanghua era). The text also records that Wang Huan had previously been a staff member under Wang Duo, the Military Governor of Yicheng, stating: “Initially, when Emperor Xizong fled to Sichuan (referring to the year 881, when the Huang Chao rebel army captured Chang’an and the emperor hastily escaped to Sichuan), at that time Lord Wang (i.e., Wang Duo) held the seal of chancellor and commanded the military, stationed at Baima (now Huaxian, Henan), and was also referred to as the Grand Commander.” This proves that while Wang Duo held the concurrent titles of Chancellor and Military Governor of Yicheng, he also bore the title of “Grand Commander.” However, the Old Book of Tang refers to Wang Duo only as “Commander” (i.e., Supreme Commander), while the New Book of Tang lists him as both “Commander” and “Grand Commander” (the commander over the Supreme Commander), leaving historical accounts uncertain on this official title. The epitaph of Wang Huan is greatly helpful in resolving this issue of bureaucratic titulature. Wang Huan passed away due to illness on the third day of the tenth month in the first year of the Tianfu era (901 AD) at the age of 43, in Jinli Town. He was initially buried beside Chaotai, and his remains were relocated here in the third year of the Tianyou era (906 AD).