Summary: (Abstract of the Book "Shi Jun Tomb")Located in the east of Jingshang Village, Daminggong Town, Weiyang District, Xi′an City, the joint tomb of Mr. Shi (surname) and his wife Kang were buried in ...

(Abstract of the Book "Shi Jun Tomb")

Located in the east of Jingshang Village, Daminggong Town, Weiyang District, Xi′an City, the joint tomb of Mr. Shi (surname) and his wife Kang were buried in the second year of Daxiang, Northern Zhou period (AD 580). From June to October 2003, this tomb was excavated by Xi′an Institute of Archaeology. Relics such as stone gates, chamber, bed, gold finger-rings, coins and ornaments were unearthed. The stone carvings were cut in relieve, painted in colors and coated with gold foil. The subjects are related with Han culture and Zoroastrianism. According to the inscription on the stone chamber, the title of Shi was Sabao, the administrator of Zoroastrianism in Liangzhou, during Northern Zhou dynasty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cave tomb with long slope path and yard

faces south with an azimuth of 186°. With a total length of 47.26 m, it consists of ramp, yard, tunnel, a corridor and a chamber,. The ramp extends southward from the chamber, measuring 1.7 m in width and 40.96 m in horizontal length with a slope of 15°. The number of the yards and the tunnels are both 5. The corridor is 2.8 m long, 1.5 m wide and 1.9 m high with an arch ceiling. The chamber has a rectangular plan. It is 3.7 m long from the east to the west and 3.5 m from the north to the south. Between the ramp and the chamber, there are two sealed gates of bricks and stones respectively. The second gate consists of six stones: a lintel, two side posts, two leaves and a threshold, and measures 1.65 m in overall height and 1.66m in width. The lintel and side posts are carved with interlocking grape and acanthus patterns, musicians and Lokapalas. The musicians have nimbuses around their heads, vary in appearance and expression, with different instruments in their hands: konghou (plucked stringed instrument), curved-neck pipa, bamboo flute, recorder and panpipes. The door leaves bear color-painted and gold-foiled designs, mostly missing except for apsarases and lotus-flowers. Each leaf has a pattern consisting of 24 button-shaped stone lumps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A sarcophagus

 

 

was found in the mid-north of the chamber. It is 2.46m long, 1.55m wide, and 1.58m in height. Shaped like a hall with a hip-and-gable roof, it is formed of a base, middle wall-slabs and a top. The four sides are carved with four-arm guardian deities, Zoroastrianist divinities, and scenes of sacrifice, going up to Heaven, banqueting, procession and hunting, all in relief. Their subject and style demonstrate features of the Western Regions. In addition, inscriptions of the tomb owners’ career are manifested on the sarcophagus, both in Sogdian and Chinese.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mural paintings can be seen in the

ramping passage way and the chamber. However, the subjects are undistinguishable owing to the poor condition. The relieved carvings on the sarcophagus, beds and gates are rich in content, reflecting Zoroastranism and its culture influenced from Han. More importantly, invaluable evidence for the study of Sogdian culture, such as writing and the Sogdians emigrations in China are provided by the bilingual inscriptions, as well as the official institution of Sabao and the Sogdian burial in Chang’an.