Eastern Han Tombs in Shatou, Panyu

Eastern Han Tombs in Shatou, Panyu

The Eastern Han Tombs in Shatou, Panyu are a protected cultural heritage site of Guangzhou City.

The Eastern Han Tombs in Shatou, Panyu are located at the eastern foot of Guigang on Yinping Road, Shatou Village, Shatou Street, Panyu District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province. Excavation and surveying of the tomb site began in 1993. Within a foothill area approximately 300 meters long and 100 meters wide, 22 brick-chambered tombs from the Eastern Han Dynasty were discovered, 12 of which have been excavated and cleared, yielding nearly 500 burial objects. These tombs date back to the late Eastern Han period, and their occupants were likely wealthy households or officials of some status at the time, making them of significant research value. In July 1999, the Guangzhou Municipal People's Government designated the site as a cultural heritage protection unit under the name “Eastern Han Tombs in Shatou, Panyu.”

The tomb structures in this Eastern Han tomb cluster vary in form. Single-dome tombs include “中” (central), “十” (cross), “凸” (convex), and “T” shapes, while double-dome tombs feature “串” (linked) and “土” (earth) shapes. Most tombs consist of a passageway, sealed gate, corridor, front chamber, rear chamber, and wall niches. Taking Tomb No. 3, which is the best-preserved, largest in scale, and richest in unearthed artifacts, as an example: it faces south and is a single-dome “十”-shaped brick-chambered tomb, comprising a passageway, sealed gate, corridor, front chamber, left side chamber, right side chamber, main chamber, and wall niche. It currently measures 8.25 meters in length. Due to past damage, the sloped passageway is incomplete. The corridor is 1.10 meters long with double side walls and a vaulted ceiling. The front chamber is 3.25 meters long north to south and 3.30 meters wide east to west, built with flat bricks, though its dome ceiling has been destroyed. The left side chamber is 1.36 meters long (incomplete), and the right side chamber is 3.55 meters long, both featuring single-arched vaults. The main chamber is 3.9 meters long with a straight single arch, and its rear wall contains a wall niche. Notably, the niche has a window-lattice-style sealed door, which is quite rare as it is open through both inner and outer sides. The tomb was looted in ancient times, and its interior is filled with soil and broken bricks, but it still contains a relatively rich array of burial objects. Particularly notable is a pottery tray in the northeast corner of the front chamber, on which nine thin-walled bronze bowls are neatly arranged. In addition, over a hundred pottery items were unearthed, including vessels such as pots, jars, four-eared jars, vats, bowls, boxes, tripods, cylinder vessels, gui containers, cauldrons, wine cups, wine warmers, kui containers, cosmetic boxes, incense burners, candle lamps, wells, granaries, and stoves. Among the animal models is a vividly shaped pottery dog.

According to officials from the district cultural relics office, based on the scale, structure, and characteristics of the burial objects, the tomb cluster dates to the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and its occupants were likely wealthy households or officials of some status at the time. Its historical value lies in the fact that it is the largest Eastern Han tomb site discovered in Guangzhou to date, providing valuable physical evidence for understanding the social development of the region during the Eastern Han period. The abundant burial objects reflect the level of development of the feudal manorial economy at the time, confirming the pastoral and water-town life scene of Panyu 1,800 years ago. The site is of great significance for studying the continuous historical development of Panyu and preserving the historical and cultural heritage left by our ancestors.

In July 1999, the Guangzhou Municipal People's Government designated the site as a cultural heritage protection unit under the name “Eastern Han Tombs in Shatou, Panyu.”

Shatou Village: Located in the southeastern part of Shatou Street and bordering Shiqiao Street, Shatou Village enjoys convenient transportation and a superior geographical position. Covering an area of about 2 square kilometers, it comprises 14 villager groups with a permanent population of over 2,770. The village was formerly known as Bisha. During the Southern Song Dynasty, it was established on a sandy beach in front of a mountain, with lush green forests on the hill behind creating a beautiful contrast — hence the name Bisha (Green Sand). Initially divided into five neighborhood sections, the largest being Shatou Section, which also hosted a market called Shatou Fair. Gradually, the name Bisha was replaced by Shatou. The village’s main sources of income are land leasing, shop rentals, and warehouse rentals. Leveraging its geographical advantages, the village is actively developing and strengthening... More details about Shatou Village ++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Guangzhou Cultural Heritage Protection Units