Tomb of Duke Wen of Jin

　　The Tomb of Duke Wen of Jin is situated on the side of Xiacun in Anyu Town at the junction of Quwo and Jiang counties in Shanxi Province. The tomb stands 40 meters tall, is circular in shape, and has a circumference of 200 meters. It is a provincial-level cultural heritage protection site. The tomb’s occupant, Duke Wen of Jin (697–628 BC), was the ruler of the State of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period. His given name was Chong’er, and he was the son of Duke Xian of Jin. After 19 years in exile, he returned to the state and ascended the throne. He worked diligently to govern and transformed Jin into a powerful hegemonic state.

　　　　The Tomb of Duke Xian of Jin is located on the eastern ridge of Huaiquan Village, Nanfan, Jiang County. The tomb is a hundred feet high, stands without a shrine, and is solitary. Its shape resembles a wooden bell without a handle. He was the son of Duke Wu of Jin during the Spring and Autumn period, named Guizhu, and was the one who initially established the capital at Wei (Jiang County, Shanxi).

　　Duke Wen of Jin

　　Duke Xian initially married a woman from the Jia clan but had no children. He then married Ji Jiang of Qi, who bore him the wife of Duke Mu of Qin and his eldest son, Crown Prince Shen Sheng. Later, he took two women from the Rong tribes and fathered Chong’er and Yiwu. During the campaign against the Li Rong, he captured Li Ji, who gave birth to Xi Qi. Duke Xian favored Li Ji and often heeded her slander. He first forced Crown Prince Shen Sheng to commit suicide and then sought to harm Princes Chong’er and Yiwu in order to secure the throne for Xi Qi. Duke Xian reigned for 26 years. After his death, due to his tyrannical and depraved rule during his lifetime, he was not included in the ancestral worship rites as a way to honor virtue and condemn evil. The Tomb of Duke Xian is a provincial-level key cultural heritage protection site.

　　　　The Tomb of Duke Wen of Jin is located in Xiacun, Weizhuang, Jiang County. Duke Wen was a feudal lord during the Spring and Autumn period, the second son of Duke Xian of Jin, and the younger brother of Crown Prince Shen Sheng, with the given name Chong’er. Duke Xian favored Li Ji, killed Crown Prince Shen Sheng, and Chong’er fled to the Di (or Di) State, where he remained in exile for 19 years. Later, with the military support of Duke Mu of Qin, he returned to Jin, reclaimed the throne, executed Prince Dai, welcomed King Xiang of Zhou, rescued the State of Song, defeated the State of Chu, and succeeded Duke Huan of Qi as the leader of the alliance. He reigned for nine years and was posthumously honored with the title “Wen.” During Duke Wen’s reign, the capital was located at Jiang (present-day Jiang County, Shanxi). After his death, he was buried on the western ridge of Xiacun, Weizhuang, Jiang County.

　　Mausoleum

　　　　The mausoleum is built along the terrain, standing over 30 meters high, resembling a hill. It is said that before liberation, the tomb area was covered with lush pine and cypress trees, green grass, and presented a solemn and quiet atmosphere. A shrine was built on the hilltop behind the tomb, but it was dismantled by Japanese invaders during the war, and all the trees were cut down. What can be seen today are the verdant and elegant Chinese scholar trees covering the hills, and a Ming Dynasty memorial stele inscribed with “Tomb of Duke Wen of Jin” standing beside the road—majestic and imposing.

　　Location

　　Layout

　　　　The Tomb of Duke Ling of Jin is located in Nanliujia Village, Moli Township, 12 kilometers east of Jiang County. During his lifetime, Duke Ling was debauched and tyrannical, corrupted the court, cruelly exploited the people, and relentlessly persecuted ministers who offered remonstrations, which stirred resentment among his subjects. He was eventually killed by Zhao Chuan, the younger brother of Zhao Dun, becoming a notorious and despised ruler in history. In front of the tomb is a stone tablet inscribed with the characters “Jingzhong” (Tomb of Jing). Due to Duke Ling’s extremely brutal rule during his life, he was not included in the ancestral worship rites throughout the dynasties.

　　Geographic Location of the Tomb of Duke Wen of Jin

　　The tombs of Duke Xian of Jin, Duke Wen of Jin, and Duke Ling of Jin are all located in Jiang County. The tomb of Duke Xian in Huaiquan Village, Jiang County, is about 40 meters high and resembles a wooden bell without a handle. It is said that the colorful soil used to build it was transported from Taizi Beach in Quwo, dozens of miles away, by locals passing baskets in a line. Because of his poor reputation, the tomb has “no shrine and stands alone.” The tomb of Duke Wen in Xiacun, Jiang County, is also about 40 meters high and circular. Due to his outstanding merits, a shrine was built in front of the tomb. Inside the shrine stands a stone stele inscribed with “Tomb of Duke Wen of Jin” from the 51st year of the Qianlong reign in the Qing Dynasty. In recent years, a lifelike stone statue of Duke Wen of Jin has been erected in front of the tomb, and ancestral worship has been conducted through the dynasties. Duke Ling, due to his cruel and tyrannical nature, was buried in a desolate mound in Nanliujia Village, Jiang County, after his death, left unattended and without worship. The Jiang County Museum houses various steles, stone statues, and related cultural relics from the Qing Dynasty, including plaques inscribed with “Old Capital of Jin,” “Jiang County Division,” and “Elder of Jiang County.”

　　　　Many place names in Jiang County also reflect this history. For example, Shigu’s hometown, located near Chechuang City, is called Nancheng Village. About seven li east of Chechuang City lies Zhuozigou, named after Zhuozi, Duke Xian’s son who lived in seclusion here, away from worldly strife. Xiaoqicun was the training ground for General Qi Wu of the State of Jin. Nanguanzhuang was named by Duke Wen of Jin during his inspection of the area. Wubi Village got its name from a local resident surnamed Wu who once presented a jade bi to Duke Wen. Fan Village is said to have been the former residence of Fan, Duke Wen’s maternal uncle. Originally named Fancun, it was renamed to avoid the inauspicious character “fan” (meaning “offense”). Some relics such as the General’s Temple and stone tablets still remain in the village. Jin’yu Village was named because Duke Wen of Jin stationed troops there. Bajianquan (Drawing Sword Spring) got its name from a legend that when Duke Wen led his troops in battle and they were thirsty and hungry, he plunged his sword into the ground in desperation, and upon pulling it out, spring water gushed forth—the name has been passed down since. Dongfeng Village was the fief of the Jin historian Dong Hu. Sunwang Village is said to have been named Zunwang Village because Duke Wen once held a meeting there advocating “respect the king, expel the barbarians.” Later, it was renamed Sunwang Village in honor of Sun An, an official known for his integrity.

　　Sightseeing

　　　　Nowadays, Chechuang City is widely recognized as the ancient capital of the State of Jin. More scholars come here for research, and tourists for sightseeing. Chechuang City is increasingly becoming a new tourist attraction.

　　Records

　　　　In Xiacun, Anyu Town, at the junction of Jiang County and Quwo, there are several earthen mounds stretching like hills. These are the legendary tombs of Duke Wen of Jin and belong to Jiang County. About ten li to the west lies Quwo.

　　Tomb of Duke Wen of Jin Scenic Area

　　In the transition between spring and summer, the green grass is lush, willows sway gently, and the landscape is vibrant with greenery. In front of the tomb stands a stone stele erected in the 15th year of the Qianlong reign, inscribed with “Tomb of Duke Wen of Jin.” Nearby, there is a statue of Duke Wen, full of vigor, as if pointing out the land and unleashing boundless passion. Upon approaching this place, one is suddenly filled with a sense of solemnity, and even the passing wind seems to intensify momentarily.

　　　　The “Zuo Zhuan” states: “When Duke Wen died, he was to be buried in Quwo.” Although the tomb is in Jiang County, it is also near Quwo, so this account is likely not false. Mr. Tian Jianwen from the Houma Workstation of the Shanxi Archaeological Research Institute said that archaeological excavations revealed these tombs actually date back to the Han Dynasty. Meanwhile, the “Quwo” recorded in the “Zuo Zhuan” refers to present-day Wenxi. Historical records from the “Jiaking Annals of Quwo County” state: In the third year of the Yuanding era during Emperor Wu of Han’s reign, he traveled east to Quwo County and, upon hearing the news of the defeat of the Southern Yue, joyfully renamed the county Wenxi. At that time, the areas of present-day Quwo and Wenxi were swapped. Therefore, it can be roughly concluded that these tombs are at most the legendary “spiritual tombs” of Duke Wen constructed by later generations. The true tomb of Duke Wen should be in Jiang County, on the side closer to Wenxi.

　　　　However, even as a “spiritual tomb,” this place still faintly exudes an aura of kingship, as if Duke Wen has been lying beneath the earth here for thousands of years. It is only a pity that few come to pay their respects. Yet Duke Wen of Jin, Chong’er, remains vividly alive in the hearts of the local people. It is not only because he became a hegemon during the Spring and Autumn period and achieved great military feats, but also because the legends and stories associated with him serve as exemplary figures for people to learn from.