Tomb at No. 33 Xianlie Road

Tomb at No. 33 Xianlie Road

The Tomb at No. 33 Xianlie Road is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Tomb at No. 33 Xianlie Road is located southwest of the 19th Route Army Cemetery at Shaha Ding. It was excavated in 195 [year possibly incomplete]. The surface features an earthen mound, oval in shape, approximately 20 meters long from east to west, 18 meters long from north to south, and 5 meters high. The tomb plan resembles two horizontally arranged “convex” characters, consisting of two brick chambers with conical, convex tops. The burial chambers are partially underground, both square in plan, with conical domes, each measuring 3.6 meters in length and width, and 3.62 meters in height. The passageway, rear niche, and connecting corridor all have arched ceilings. The interior includes a brick coffin platform. This tomb was looted early on, and the coffins and human remains have decayed. Over 150 pottery artifacts survived the looting. The pottery is solidly made, with some pieces having thinly applied glazes in bluish-white hues, almost porcelain-like. In addition to common containers, tableware, and cooking vessels, the collection also includes models of castles, granaries, wells and stoves, seated figurines, musical and dancing figurines, tomb-guarding figurines, as well as pottery livestock and models of carts and boats. One of the pottery boats is fully structured, measuring 54 centimeters in length and 16 centimeters in overall height. The boat has an anchor at the front and a rudder at the back. There are walkways on both sides for the rowers. The interior is divided into three compartments: front, middle, and rear. The front compartment is low and wide, with an arched canopy; the middle compartment is slightly higher, square-shaped, with a slightly protruding round canopy; the rear compartment is narrower but taller, serving as the helm cabin with a double-sloped canopy; at the stern, there is also a small rear cabin, and a toilet is attached to the right side of the rear compartment. A set of four musical and dancing figurines includes one exceptionally large dancing figure, 38 centimeters tall, standing with a slender waist, a topknot divided into three sections, and meticulously crafted hair and clothing details. Its upper garment flares out in a trumpet-like shape. The right hand is in front, the left hand is twirled backward, and the mouth is slightly open, as if dancing and singing. The three smaller music-playing figurines are only half the size of the dancing figure, each 14.5 centimeters tall, wearing tall hats and with two sashes crossing diagonally over their chests. One holds a zither in front with both hands pressing the strings, as if playing; the other two extend their hands, seemingly clapping to keep rhythm.