Maozhong Ruins

　　The Maozhong Ruins are situated approximately 100 meters northwest of Maozhong Village in SUNDIAN Town. Also referred to as the Filial Son’s Tomb, the site is an irregularly shaped oval earthen mound that extends from the east to the northwest, rising more than two meters above the ground. It forms part of an ancient burial complex. Artifacts unearthed here include bronze arrows, dagger-axes, and pottery stamps inscribed with text, all of which hold significant value for studying the history and culture of the Shang Dynasty. The site is designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit.

　　Legend has it that in ancient times, local authorities mandated that elderly people be buried alive once they reached the age of 60. A local filial son’s father had lost his wife early in life and, in order to spare his son from having a stepmother, remained unmarried for life. The father and son lived together, relying on each other. As the son grew up, in order to keep his father with him forever, he farmed during the day and built a kiln to make bricks nearby (a kiln pit covering over 200 acres still exists near the site). In secret defiance of the law, he used the bricks to construct an underground dwelling and corridor, covering them with a thick layer of earth (the mound seen today), providing a hidden home for his father. He would visit daily to bring food and chat with his father. The elderly man lived to over 100 years of age, and the son also took in many elderly neighbors. To commemorate the filial piety of this son, locals also refer to the mound as the Filial Son’s Tomb.