Tomb of Zhang Qian Introduction

(1) Contribution to the Silk Roads' OUV

The Tomb of Zhang Qian is the burial site of Zhang Qian, a celebrated diplomat of Chinese Han Empire (2nd century BC), adventurer and the pioneer for the openning up of the Silk Roads, which is a site associated closely with the epoch-making opening up of the Silk Roads in the cultural communications between the Orientand Occident.

(2) General Information

The Tomb of Zhang Qian121 is located in the Raojiaying Village of Bowang Town, 2.3 km west of Chenggu county, Hanzhong city, Shaanxi province. The place is flat terrain on the third terrace of Han River. According to historical records, the tomb of Zhang Qian was built in the 2nd century BC (114 BC, the Western Han Dynasty). Today the cemetery is 100 meters long from north to south and 65 meters wide from east to west. Zhang Qian Memorial Hall is built to the south of the tomb. The cemetry is centered around the earth-covered tomb with brick chamber of the Han Dynasty (19.5 meters long from north to south on the bottom, 16.6 meters wide from east to west and 4.26 meters high). Two limestone animal carvings (166 cm, 184 cm long) of Han Dynasty face each other south of the tomb standing in the protective pavilion. Four stone tablets stand south of the tomb (3 from Qing Dynasty, and 1 from the Republican period). The excavation by Northwest United University in 1939 confirmed that it is indeed the tomb of Zhang Qian, Marquis Bo Wang of Han Dynasty122.

(3) Attributes

Zhang Qian was an outstanding diplomat and the pioneer for opening up of the Silk Roads of 2nd century BC in Han Dynasty, thus the tomb of Zhang Qian is closely associated with the opening up of the Silk Roads, a world known historical event of East-West cultural interchange. The earth-covered tomb and unearthed relics including “Marquis Bowang” sealed mud and stone animals fully embody the social-cultural characteristics of the Han Dynasty and prove that Zhang Qian, the person in historical records who had made significant contribution to the opening up of the Silk Roads, did exist. In the contemporary society, Zhang Qian's great fortitude and pioneering spirit are still memorable to the descendants. The Tomb with rammed ear th tumulus mound, tomb pathway on the east side, rope-print and geometric grain pattern on the tomb door, as well as unearthed relics including the Han Dynasty bricks, ceramic fragments, Wuzhu coins, “Marquis Bowang” sealed mud and the Han Dynasty ar t style stone animals fully embodied the characteristics of the Han Dynasty and proved that Zhang Qian, the person in historical records, did exist. Zhang Qian contributed to the cultural interchange between the East and the West significantly and his exploration was often compared with Columbus’ discovery of American continent123. The Tomb of Zhang Qian is thus a witness to the iconic event – “Zao Kong” (as expressed in Records of the Grand Historian or Shiji), exploring routes to connect with the West Regions.

Zhang Qian traveled twice to the Western Regions as diplomat and explorer, which took him 18 years. His experience urged historians of Han Dynasty to take record of the Western Regions. “Dawan Record” from Records of the Grand Historian or Shiji, “Zhang Qian Biography” and “West Region Record” from Han Shu provided the most ancient and detailed record of the Western Regions and Central Asia in the 2nd century BC124. These historical documents recorded the geography, population, natural resources, transport, climate, customs, economy, culture and military conditions of countries such as Dayuan, Rouzhi, Uisin and other adjacent countries. We can understand the ethnical groups and political powers along the Silk Roads during its opening up period through these precious documents, and they are also testimony of interchange among different peoples along the Silk Roads during the 2nd century BC.