The Family tombs of the Song Dynasty

Geographical Location: Yuzhou, Henan Province

Period: 11th century AD

Excavated in 1951

Significance: It has provided important materials for the study of a special type of tombs in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), which was built with carved bricks and decorated with murals, intending to imitate wooden buildings.

Introduction

The Tombs at Baisha(白沙Báishā) are about three kindred graves of the late Song Dynasty. The master of the main bomb was called Zhao Daweng, and the other two tombs were for Zhao’s family members. Zhao Daweng’s Tomb was built of bricks, but its pattern was more like wooden structures. In front of the tomb is an arch over the gateway, inside the tomb are poles and wood brackets (dou gong), and on the inside walls of the tomb are abundant colorful murals — all these are typical patterns for wooden structures.