Dongmenli Mural Tomb

Dongmenli Mural Tomb

The Dongmenli Mural Tomb is a protected cultural heritage site of Liaoning Province.

The Dongmenli Mural Tomb is situated 75 meters south of the eastern gate inside the old city wall of Liaoyang. The tomb chamber is constructed from large light blue shale stone slabs and is composed of eastern and western coffins and a funerary objects chamber. It has a T-shaped plan, with standing stone slabs forming the four walls, flat stone slabs for the base and ceiling, and four stone pillars supporting the roof. The tomb door is located in the middle of the southern wall, sealed externally with stone slabs, and oriented 10 degrees south of due south. Outside the door, there is a brick wing wall atop the tomb. The tomb measures 3.60 meters in length, 3.10 meters in width, and 1.54 meters in height. There are three human skeletons inside: one child in the eastern coffin chamber and two adults (a man and a woman) in the western coffin chamber. They were buried with their heads to the north and feet to the south, in a supine, extended position. The burial goods included white lime pillows, reed mats, and a layer of white lime spread over the bodies. This tomb is a family joint burial. The grave goods mainly consist of grayish-black earthenware pottery, totaling 29 types and 62 pieces. These include jars, nested boxes, long-necked bottles, ewers, urns, model houses, stoves, wells, and other funerary pottery items, as well as pottery tables and ear cups modeled after lacquerware, silver rings, iron knives, lacquered cosmetic boxes, sawtooth-patterned bronze mirrors, and Ban Liang and Wu Zhu copper coins. All items were placed on the rear funerary objects platform, as well as within the coffin chambers and near the door.

The painted murals depict: The Gate Guard Figure: a standing man with a black ox-heart-shaped headscarf, wearing a short right-buttoned tunic with black-green collar and cuffs, holding a rectangular shield and an iron ring-pommel sword; The Clerk Figure: wearing a black single-beam “Xianjin” official cap, dressed in a fitted green long robe, with a club-like object at the waist, holding something in both hands with a clasped-hands gesture; The Civil Official Figure: wearing a black official hat, dressed in a red robe, seated upright, with a solemn expression; The Warrior Figure: clad in armor, holding a weapon, with a fierce expression; The Musician Figure: wearing bright-colored clothing, playing a stringed instrument; The Dancer Figure: wearing red attire, dancing gracefully; The Painter Figure: applying colors to a painting board, with vivid colors and dynamic brushstrokes.

This tomb is believed to date back to the middle period of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The mural content indicates that the tomb owner was a civilian official of the Liaodong Commandery with a rank equivalent to 300 bushels or a local official at the level of a county magistrate.

Protected Area: With the center of the tomb as the reference point, the protected area extends 15 meters east, south, and north, and west to Dongshuncheng Road.

Construction Control Zone: Beyond the protected area, the first control zone (Class I) spans 50 meters east and south, west to Dongshuncheng Road, and north to the East-West Avenue. The area beyond the Class I zone, extending east to Dongmen Road, 36 meters south, west to Dongshuncheng Road, and north to the East-West Avenue, is designated as the Class IV construction control zone.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Protected Cultural Heritage Sites of Liaoning Province