Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-cfpbc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T05:48:08.165Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Tomb Architecture of Dynastic China: Old and New Questions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2016

Qinghua Guo
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

A significant number of tombs have survived from the Han dynasty (Western Han 206 BC-AD 8, Eastern Han 25–220), an important period for tomb architecture in China. The number of examples is in stark contrast to the lack of evidence of other architecture from the period. In fact, no timber architecture built before the Tang dynasty (618–907) exists today. While much care and scholarly effort has been devoted to the interpretation of ancient architecture, funeral architecture has not received adequate study and scrutiny.

Type
Research Article
Information
Architectural History , Volume 47 , 2004 , pp. 1 - 24
Copyright
Copyright © Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Notes

1 Xiaofen, Huang, Archaeological Studies in Han Tombs (Hanmu di Kaogu Yanjiu) (Changsha, 2003)Google Scholar.

2 Xuan, Zheng (annotated, Han, Early), Etiquette (Li Ji), Juan 2. Reprint (Taipei, 1965), p. 12 Google Scholar.

3 Qian, Sima, Records of the Historian (Shi Ji), Juan 43: Zhao Royal Family, Early Han, modern reprint (Beijing, 2000), 11, 1489 Google Scholar. Kuan, Yang, History of Tomb Systems in Ancient China (Zhongguo Gudai Lingqin Zhidushi Yanjiu) (Taiwan, 1987), p. 12 Google Scholar.

4 Yongzhen, Zhou, ‘Tombs of the Yin Dynasty’, Archaeological News (Kaogu Tongxun), 6 (1955), pp. 42–48 Google Scholar. Museum, Hubei Provincial, Suixian Zenghou Yi Tomb (Beijing, 1980)Google Scholar.

5 Please note that different characters are transliterated in the same way in Pinyin and tones are not indicated, so that guo can mean empire / country and the outer box of the coffin, and mu a grave or washing of hair (see Part Three).

6 Museum, Hunan Provincial, Excavation of Mawangdui Tomb Mi in Changsha (Changsha Mawangdui Yihao Hanmu Fajue Jianbao) (Beijing, 1972)Google Scholar. Museum, Hunan Provincial, Mawangdui Tomb Mi in Changsha (Changsha Mawangdui Yihao Hanmu) (Beijing, 1973)Google Scholar.

7 Gu, Ban, History of the Han (Han Shu), Juan 14: Table of Princes and Marquises, Eastern Han, modern reprint (Hong Kong, 1970), II, 391 Google Scholar.

8 Shaanxi Institute of Archaeology and Museum of the Qin Shihuang Terracotta Army, Archaeological Report of the Qin Shihuang Mausoleum (Beijing, 2000)Google Scholar.

9 Gu, Ban, History of the Han (Han Shu) Juan 68: Huo Guang, Eastern Han, modern reprint (Hong Kong, 1970), vi, 2948 Google Scholar.

10 Beijing Tomb Excavation Office, ‘Excavation of a Western Han Timber-chamber Tomb at Dabaotai’, Wenwu (Cultural Relics), 6 (1977), pp. 23–33 Google Scholar.

11 Ibid., p. 1. Zheng Xuan, Etiquette, Juan 2, p. 22. Nai, Xia, ‘The Coffin System of Mawangdui Mi’, Studies in Mawangdui Han Tomb (Mawangdui Hanmu Yanjiu) (Changsha, 1979), pp. 31–37 Google Scholar.

12 Museum, Shandong, ‘Brief Report on the Excavation of Han Tombs at Qufu’, Wenwu, 5 (1972), pp. 39–43 Google Scholar.

13 Museum, Xuzhou, ‘Brief Report on the Excavation of a Western-Han Tomb at Beidongshan, Xuzhou’, Wenwu, 2 (1988), pp. 2–18 Google Scholar.

14 Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, The Royal Tombs of the Liang Fiefdom of the W. Han Dynasty at Mount Mangdang (Mangdangshan Xihan Liangwan Mudi) (Beijing, 2001), pp. 115-20Google Scholar.

15 Institute of Archaeology, Academia Sinica, Chinese Academy of Social Science, Excavation of the Han Tombs at Mancheng (Mancheng Hanmu Fajue Baogao), 2 vols (Beijing, 1980)Google Scholar.

16 Museum, Nanjing, ‘Cave Tomb M2 of the Western Han on Guishan in Tongshan’, Kaogu Xuebao (Archaeological Sinica), 1 (1985), pp. 119-33Google Scholar.

17 Weichao, Yu, ‘Archaeological Discoveries of the Qin-Han Period’, 1949-1999 Great Archaeological Discoveries of the People’s Republic of China (Beijing, 1999), p. 227 Google Scholar.

18 Guangzhou Excavation Team, ‘Brief Report on the Excavation of Nanyuewang Tomb of Western Han, Kaogu (Archaeology), 3 (1983), pp. 222-30Google Scholar.

19 Zhongshu, Wang, ‘Burials and Tombs’, Archaeological News (Kaogu Tongxun), 1 (1955), p. 60 Google Scholar.

20 Jingzhou Museum of Hubei Province, The Chu State Tombs at Yutaishan of Jiangling (Beijing, 1984)Google Scholar.

21 Inner Mongolia Archaeological Team, ‘A Mural-painting Tomb of the Eastern Han in Helin Ge’er, Inner Mongolia’, Wenwu, 1 (1974), pp. 8–23 Google Scholar.

22 Shaanxi Museum, ‘Excavation of the Tomb of Tang Prince Yide’, Wenwu, 7 (1972), pp. 26–31 Google Scholar.

23 Shaanxi Cultural Relics Bureau, ‘Excavation of the Tomb of Tang Princess Yongtai’, Wenwu, 1 (1964), pp. 7-12.

24 Shaanxi Provincial Museum, ‘Excavation of the Tomb of Tang Prince Zhanghuai’, Wenwu, 7 (1972), pp. 13–25 Google Scholar.

25 Shaanxi Provincial Museum, ‘Excavation of Tang Li Shou’s Tomb’, Wenwu, 9 (1974), pp. 71–88 Google Scholar.

26 Zhaoyu, Zeng, Excavation of an Ancient Stone-relief Tomb in Yinan (Yinan Gu Huaxiangshimu Fajue Baogao), (Beijing, 1956)Google Scholar.

27 Lixiang, Xin, Studies on Stone Relief of the Han Dynasty (Handai Huaxiangshi Zonghe Yanjiu) (Beijing, 2000), p. 190 Google Scholar.

28 Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Major Archaeological Discoveries of China in the 20th Century (Sichuan, 2000), p. 80 Google Scholar.

29 Guo, Qinghua, ‘The Formation and Early Development of Architecture in Northern China’, Construction History, 17 (2001), p. 12 Google Scholar.

30 Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics, Dahuting Han Tombs in Mixian (Mixian Dahuting Hanmu), (Beijing, 1993)Google Scholar. Jinhuai, An, ‘Mural-painting and Stone-carving Tombs of the Han at Dahuting, Mixian’, Wenwu, 10 (1972), pp. 49–62 Google Scholar.

31 Luoyang Archaeological Excavation Team, Han Tombs at Shaogou, Luoyang (Luoyang Shaogou Hanmu) (Beijing, 1959)Google Scholar.

32 Yunmei, Kang, An Exploration of the Ancient Chinese View of Death (Zhongguo Gudai Siwangguan zhi Tanjiu) (Taipei, 1994), pp. 199–212 Google Scholar.

33 Gu, Ban, History of the Han (Han Shu) Juan 6: Wu Di, 134 BC, modern reprint (Hong Kong, 1970), 1, 167 Google Scholar.

34 Cultural Relics Group of Changsha Cultural Bureau, ‘Cao Zhuan’s Tomb of the Western Han in Changsha’, Wenwu, 3 (1979), pp. 1-7. National Cultural Relics Bureau, ‘Laoshan Tomb of the Han in Beijing’, Major Archaeological Discoveries in China in 2000 (Beijing, 2001), pp. 72-77.

35 Written by a group of scholars gathered by Buwei, Lu, Lushi Chunqiu, Juan 10: Jiesang (Master Lu’s Spring and Autumn Annals), 239 BC, modern reprint (Taiwan, 1965)Google Scholar.

36 Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Excavation in the Liang State Mausoleum Precinct of the Western Han Dynasty in Yongcheng (Yongcheng Xihan Liangguo Wangling yu Qinyuan) (Zhongzhou, 1996)Google Scholar.

37 Santai Cultural Relics Office, ‘2000 Excavation Report of Cave Tombs in Santai, Sichuan’, Wenwu, 1 (2002), pp. 16–41 Google Scholar.

38 Baoding Cultural Relics Office, Excavation Report of the Underground Place of the Congling Tomb (Internal circulation), 1980. National Archaeological Institute and Sichuan Museum, ‘Ming Tomb at Fenghuangshan, Chendu’, Kaogu, 5 (1978), pp. 306-13Google Scholar.

39 Institute of Archaeology, Fuhao Tomb in Yinxu (Beijing, 1980)Google Scholar.

40 Qiheng, Wang (ed.), Research of Fengshui Theory (Fengshui Lilun Yanjiu) (Tianjing, 1992), pp. 182-97Google Scholar.

41 Shaanxi Cultural Relics Committee, ‘Investigation of the Imperial Tomb of Qinshihuang’, Kaogu, 8 (1962), pp. 407-11Google Scholar.

42 Archaeological Team Leader Training Program, ‘Excavation of Walled Town of the Yangshao Period at Xishan, Zhengzhou’, Wenwu, 7 (1999), pp. 4–15 Google Scholar.

43 Henan Archaeological Institute and Municipal Cultural Bureau, ‘Excavations of an Ancient City of Longshan Culture at Pingliangtai in Huaiyan’, Wenwu, 3 (1983), pp. 29 Google Scholar and 35. Qingyun, Zhao, Pottery History in Henan (Henan Taoci shi) (Beijing, 1993), pp. 25–26 Google Scholar.

44 Chunqiu Zuozhuan Gu (Passage: The 7th Zhaogong year), modern reprint (Taipei, 1965), 11. Zhengsheng, Du, ‘Form, Sprite and Hunpo’, View, Meaning and Society (Renguan, Yiyi yu Shehui), (Taipei, 1993)Google Scholar. Yu, Ying-shin, ‘“O Soul, Come Back!” A Study in the Changing Conceptions of the Soul and Afterlife in Pre-Buddhist China’, Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, 47 (1987), pp. 363-95CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

45 Hung, Wu, Monumentality in Early Chinese Art and Architecture (Stanford, 1995), p. 123 Google Scholar.

46 Ibid., p. 24. Zeng Zhaoyu, Excavation of an Ancient Stone-relief Tomb in Yinan, stone rubbing no. 69.

47 Shen, Xu, Interpretations of Characters and Words (Shuowen Jiezi), AD 121, 13th reprint (Beijing, 1994)Google Scholar.

48 Yong, Liang, ‘Chronological Sequence of Princes’ Tombs of Chu Fiefdom of the Western Han Dynasty’, Wenwu, 10 (2001), pp. 71–81 Google Scholar.