Jin-Yuan Octagonal Brick Tombs with Murals Found in Shanxi
Two octagonal brick tombs featuring intricate brick carvings and painted murals from the Jin (Jurchen) and Yuan (Mongol) dynasties have been uncovered in Shanxi Province, offering archaeologists and art historians a rare comparative window into medieval Chinese funerary practices, according to CCTV News.
The Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology released excavation data on June 15 for the two tombs — designated M1 and M2 — discovered in Yuci District, Jinzhong City. Both tombs are imitation-wood-structure octagonal brick-carved mural tombs, a distinctive architectural tradition that flourished in northern China during the Song, Liao, Jin, and Yuan periods.
Context and Discovery
The tombs were initially discovered in May 2022 during construction of supporting infrastructure for the Taiyuan Wusu International Airport expansion project, specifically along the eastern extension of Longcheng Avenue in Yuci. Following their discovery, the Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology conducted salvage excavations over several years before publicly releasing the findings this week.
As China News Service reported, both tombs feature exquisite painted decorations, providing new material for studying the regional characteristics of Jin-Yuan period tombs in Shanxi.
Tomb M1: A Dated Yuan Dynasty Burial
Tomb M1 is a Yuan dynasty octagonal brick-and-stone mixed-construction tomb, with its roof located approximately 1.4 meters below the original ground surface. Its most significant feature is a clear inscription reading “至正十六年” (Zhizheng 16th year), corresponding to 1356 CE during the late Yuan dynasty under Emperor Shun (Toghon Temür), the last Yuan emperor.
The southern entrance bears an ink-written hall name — “喜庆堂” (Xiqing Tang, meaning “Hall of Celebration”). Inside, archaeologists recovered six burial items: five ceramic pieces including black-glazed bowls, white-glazed cups, and brown-glazed jars, along with one bronze coin.
Scholars speculate that the tomb owner was either a mid-to-low-ranking official or a wealthy landlord or merchant, suggesting the tomb reflects burial practices of the non-elite propertied class. The interior features brick carvings combined with painted murals, including four-season flower screen paintings depicting peonies and lotuses.
Tomb M2: A Jin Dynasty Counterpart
Located approximately one kilometer east of M1, Tomb M2 is an octagonal brick-chambered tomb tentatively identified as dating from the mid-to-late Jin dynasty (c. 12th-13th century). No dated inscription was found, so archaeologists determined its age based on tomb structure, artifacts, and decorative style.
M2 yielded six burial items or sets: two ceramic pieces, three bronze coins, and one pair of earrings. The coins include “天圣元宝” (Tiansheng yuanbao, Song dynasty) and “开元通宝” (Kaiyuan tongbao, Tang dynasty), reflecting the circulation of earlier coinage in later periods.
A particularly notable feature is the brick-carved “妇人启门图” (woman opening door scene) on the eastern wall. The motif, which depicts a woman with her hair in a bun wearing a traditional beizi garment, is a well-known element in Chinese funerary art from the Song through Yuan periods, often interpreted as a symbolic gateway between the worlds of the living and the dead. According to the research findings, this motif appears in a significantly higher proportion of Jin dynasty tombs compared to Song dynasty tombs in Shanxi.
Archaeological Significance
The paired discovery of a Jin and a Yuan tomb in close proximity offers a rare opportunity for comparative study of funerary practices across these two consecutive dynasties in the same geographic area. M1’s clear inscription of 1356 provides a crucial chronological anchor for dating similar undated tombs in the region.
As CCTV News quoted the Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology: “The excavation of these two tombs enriches our understanding of Jin-Yuan tombs in Taiyuan and the surrounding areas, and also provides new material for further research on the regional characteristics of Jin-Yuan period tombs in Shanxi.”
Historical Context
The year 1356 was a period of intense turmoil in the late Yuan dynasty, with widespread rebellions including the Red Turban Rebellion that would eventually lead to the dynasty’s fall in 1368. The construction of a tomb of this quality during such turbulent times is noteworthy.
Despite the dynastic transition from Jin to Yuan — both non-Han ruling dynasties — the funerary traditions show strong continuity with Han Chinese practices, reflecting cultural assimilation and the persistence of local traditions in Shanxi, one of China’s richest regions for Jin and Yuan period archaeology.
What’s Next
The Shanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology is expected to conduct further analysis on the artifacts and murals. Questions remain about whether the tombs are part of a larger cemetery and what long-term preservation plans exist for the site. The discovery adds to a growing body of Jin-Yuan period finds in Shanxi, including recent discoveries in Yangqu County, Xiyang, and Xiangyuan.