Ancient tombs in Shizhaishan

Shizhaishan ancient tombs are national key cultural relics protection units, located in Jinning County, Yunnan Province. It is the cemetery of the king of Yunnan and his family servants from the Warring States period (475-221 BC) to the Han Dynasty (206-220 BC). It is the earliest representative remains of Shizhaishan culture. Shizhai mountain is about 33 meters high, 500 meters long from north to South and 200 meters wide from east to west. At the top of the mountain is the Neolithic peiqiu site, covering an area of about 5000 square meters. From 1955 to 1960, 14 large-scale archaeological excavations were carried out here, 50 ancient tombs were cleared, and more than 4000 cultural relics were unearthed, which is the largest archaeological discovery in Yunnan since 1949. Among them, the second excavation from 1955 to 1957 was particularly important. A total of 20 ancient tombs were cleared. In the sixth tomb, the gold seal character "Dian Wang Zhiying" was unearthed, which caused a sensation in the archaeological circles at home and abroad. Thus, it also confirmed the historical fact that Emperor Wu "granted Dian Wang Yuying" in the second year of Yuanfeng (1 BC) of the Western Han dynasty recorded in historical records. In 1965, Shizhaishan ancient tomb group site and Neolithic Beiqiu site were listed as provincial key cultural relics protection units. Shizhaishan tombs are irregular, generally choose the soil between the rocks to dig a pit, as a tomb. There are four types of tombs. The first type is from the Warring States period to the early Western Han Dynasty, the second and third types are from the middle Western Han Dynasty, and the fourth type is from the late Western Han Dynasty. There are many kinds of unearthed artifacts, including bronze, gold, silver, iron, jade, seashells, etc. Most bronzes are cast by lost wax method, among which inlay, gilding, carving and tin alloy have reached a high level. The types of bronze ware include weapons, production tools, daily utensils, shellfish containers, musical instruments, decorations, etc. Weapons include spears, axes, swords, forks, axes, crossbows, arrowheads, helmets, and armours. Tools for production include hoes, shovels, sickles, chisels, needles, cones, and fishhooks. Pots, kettles, and washes are used in daily life. Zun, Zhen, pillow, mirror, hook, and box are used. Musical instruments include bronze drums, chimes, and various clasps hanging on people's bodies, utensils, and coffins. In addition, the unearthed special utensils "storage shell" on, cast a variety of figures activity map, such as ancestor worship, war, textile, farming and other scenes. These bronzes are rare ancient crafts with exquisite workmanship, beautiful shape, gorgeous decoration, vivid carving and unique style.

Ancient tombs in Shizhaishan

Shizhaishan ancient tombs are national key cultural relics protection units, located in Jinning District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province. It is the cemetery of the king of Yunnan and his family servants from the Warring States period (475-221 BC) to the Han Dynasty (206-220 BC). It is the earliest representative remains of Shizhaishan culture.

From 1955 to 1996, after five excavations, 86 ancient tombs from the Warring States period to the Han Dynasty were cleared. Nearly 5000 pieces of cultural relics, including bronze, gold, silver, iron, jade and agate, were unearthed. Among them, the bronzes are well cast and exquisitely decorated, with strong local ethnic characteristics, reflecting the social development level of ancient Yunnan.

Shizhai mountain is about 33 meters high, 500 meters long from north to South and 200 meters wide from east to west. At the top of the mountain is the Neolithic peiqiu site, covering an area of about 5000 square meters.

Explore history

From 1955 to 1960, 14 large-scale archaeological excavations were carried out here, 50 ancient tombs were cleared, and more than 4000 cultural relics were unearthed, which is the largest archaeological discovery in Yunnan since 1949. Among them, the second excavation from 1955 to 1957 was particularly important. A total of 20 ancient tombs were cleared. The gold seal "seal of the king of Yunnan" was unearthed in the sixth tomb, which caused a sensation in the archaeological circles at home and abroad. Thus, it confirmed the historical fact that Emperor Wu "granted the jade seal of the king of Yunnan" in the second year of Yuanfeng (1 BC) of the Western Han dynasty recorded in historical records. In 1965, Shizhaishan ancient tomb group site and Neolithic Beiqiu site were listed as provincial key cultural relics protection units.

Unearthed artifacts

Shizhaishan tombs are irregular, generally choose the soil between the rocks to dig a pit, as a tomb. There are four types of tombs. The first type is from the Warring States period to the early Western Han Dynasty, the second and third types are from the middle Western Han Dynasty, and the fourth type is from the late Western Han Dynasty. There are many kinds of unearthed artifacts, including bronze, gold, silver, iron, jade, seashells, etc. Most bronzes are cast by lost wax method, among which inlay, gilding, carving and tin alloy have reached a high level. The types of bronze ware include weapons, production tools, daily utensils, shellfish containers, musical instruments, decorations, etc. Weapons include spears, axes, swords, forks, axes, crossbows, arrowheads, helmets, and armours. Tools for production include hoes, shovels, sickles, chisels, needles, cones, and fishhooks. Pots, kettles, and washes are used in daily life. Zun, Zhen, pillow, mirror, hook, and box are used. Musical instruments include bronze drums, chimes, and various clasps hanging on people's bodies, utensils, and coffins. In addition, on the unearthed special utensil "chubei", there are various figures' activity pictures, such as ancestor worship, war, textile, farming and so on. These bronzes are rare ancient crafts with exquisite workmanship, beautiful shape, gorgeous decoration, vivid carving and unique style.

Explore meaning

The cultural relics unearthed from the Shizhaishan tombs and the records in historical records and Hanshu show that the Shizhaishan tombs in Jinning are the tombs of Dian Ren, his relatives and ministers, and the ruling center of Dian state in Qin and Han Dynasties is in Jinning. At the same time, it also provides valuable material for the study of ancient ethnic history, smelting and religious customs in Dianchi area.

Address: Jinning County, Kunming City, Yunnan Province

Longitude: 102.695662

Latitude: 24.716666

Chinese PinYin : Shi Zhai Shan Gu Mu Qun