Mausoleums of the Marquis of Jin in the early period of State of Jin, the Western Zhou Dynasty (11th century-771BC)

Location: Quwo County, Shanxi Province

Period: About 1,000-800 BC

Excavated in 1991

Significance: The finds have offered important material objects for clarifying the original territory of State of Jin, as well as the study of the history of the state.

 Introduction 

Bronze He (vessel with closed spout, handle, cover and three or four legs) with the cover in the shape of bird and feet in the shape of naked man: wine vessel or water vessel (height 34.6 cm)

It is the most significant archaeological find in recent years. So far a total of 17 tombs belonging to eight marquises of Jin have been excavated, from Marquis Wu, the third ruler, to Marquis Wen, the tenth ruler, and their wives. Ten of these tombs have remained intact and provide reliable first-hand data for the state research project on the periodization of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties (21st century-256BC).

A large amount of jade wares of highest class during the period has been discovered here. The custom of wearing jade pendants during the Western Zhou Dynasty, which had been long buried in oblivion, can be traced from the original combination of jade tablets, discs, beads and tubes found in these intact tombs. The more jade pendants, the higher the rank of the occupant of the tomb.

Besides, the ingeniously cast bronze ware found in the mausoleum of the Marquis of Jin have inestimable value for historical research.

 Cultural Heritage

A set of chimes was unearthed from the No. 8 tomb, the tomb of Marquis Xian of Jin. The 355-character inscriptions on the 16 chimes, with dates clearly recorded, narrate the marquis' expedition to expel invading tribes.

Many of the bronzes found in the cemetery are supported by human figures: A bronze crane supported by two naked half-kneeling human figures; a rectangular bronze cylinder supported by four naked human figures with bent knees and their hands behind their backs; a rectangular bronze tripod casket resting on kneeling human figures, which probably represents slaves.