Liaoyang Mural Tomb Cluster

Liaoyang Mural Tomb Cluster

The Liaoyang Mural Tomb Cluster is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Liaoyang Han Dynasty Mural Tomb Cluster is located in the Bangtaizi, Sandaohao, and Beiyuan areas in the northern part of Liaoyang City, Liaoning Province.

The tomb cluster was discovered in the early 20th century. These are stone-chamber mural tombs from the late Eastern Han Dynasty and the Han-Wei transition period, and their owners were all prominent figures of the Gongsun clan regime that controlled Liaodong at the time. In the 1950s, the Liaoning Provincial Museum and other organizations conducted excavations, clearing several tombs. All the tombs were constructed with stone slabs. Large tombs consist of a front chamber, rear chamber, corridor, left and right side chambers, and a varying number of small rooms within the corridor, with the overall layout being roughly square, typically around 7 meters in both length and width. Smaller tombs are made up of front and rear chambers along with left and right side chambers, generally around 4 to 5 meters in length and width. The burial objects in these tombs had been looted long ago.

The murals inside the tombs were painted directly onto the stone walls of the chambers. Their content mainly depicts scenes from the lives and experiences of the tomb owners. The distribution follows certain patterns: flanking the tomb entrance are door guards and guard dogs; the front chamber often features large-scale murals of acrobatic performances and musical dances; the rear chamber and corridor depict the tomb owner’s processions in chariots and on horseback; the rear corridor usually shows musical performances, acrobatics, gate towers, residences, and subordinate officials; the side chambers and smaller rooms illustrate banquets and kitchen scenes of the tomb owner; and the ceilings of all chambers are adorned with flowing cloud patterns. The murals are meticulously composed, vividly depicted, and richly colored, serving as precious material evidence for understanding the economy, culture, and lifestyle of the aristocracy in the Liaodong region at the time.

In March 1961, the Liaoyang Mural Tomb Cluster was announced by the State Council as part of the first group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

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

In May 2013, it was designated by the State Council as part of the seventh group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· First Group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units