Brief Introduction: The Wei and Jin Tombs are located in the Gobi desert northeast of Jiayuguan city 22 km. They were all built in Wei and Jin dynasty (220 A.D.-419 A.D.), where its name come. The first tomb was discovered by two shepherds in 1970. In 1972 the first tomb was formally excavated by local government. After that the local cultural relics department carried out an archaeological survey in surrounding area of the first tomb. They discovered a lot of ancient tombs more than 1400 tombs. But they just excavated 18 of them. In 9 of the excavated tombs, archaeologists also discovered a great deal of colorful murals, totally over 760 pieces. So Wei and Jin tombs got a famous reputation as “the world largest underground murals gallery “.

The content of the murals involved in many aspects of life and production in ancient China. Mural paintings include various contents such as farming, banquet, feast, dancing, music and hunting etc. What catches attentions particularly was that there were many paintings describing mulberry picking, mulberry protection, mulberry tree cultivating and silk making. Had Hexi corridor  region in northwest desert ever been prosperous with silkworm breeding industry and silk industry? In Cao Wei and Western Jin periods, (due to) the impact of government policies, at that time household-based levy system was implemented by requiring that each household had to donate grain, cloth and a kilo of cotton, so that it prompted local people virtually to grow mulberry and breed silkworm. Around Xincheng Town in Jiayuguan, it can still be seen that there are surviving ancient mulberries which is the witness of the history of growing mulberry trees and breeding silkworm in this region.

Feast scenes are contents mainly presented on mural paintings of Wei and Jin tombs, such as killing chickens, barbecue, making pancakes, feast and other scenes which were depicted with very vivid images. It can be seen that typical eating habits of nomadic people like eating barbecue and pancakes had been incorporated into the lives of local people at that time.

Experts say that mural paintings of tombs of Wei and Jin dynasties reflect the tomb owners enjoyed very rich life. They asked painters to portray their production and life experience on the walls of the tombs. It showed good wishes that ancient people treated death as living. The murals depict truly life scenes of the tomb owners before death and represent social outlook of Hexi Corridor region 1700 years ago, so they have valuable historical and artistic value.

So far only tomb No.6 is opened to visitors. The owner of the tomb was one couple. The tomb was a joint burial built underground around 13m with bricks. Through a sloping passage with 20 mlong, you will reach to the gatehouse of the tomb. On the gatehouse built with bricks, there carved a character of Joist Hercules. There were also many paintings of tomb-guardians, which mean to protect the tomb. The coffin chamber was divided into three parts which are antechamber, medial chamber and posterior chamber. The three parts were connected with a corridor. The whole tomb was built with gray bricks. There was no sticking material between any two bricks,while they were bonding seamlessly. Almost all the brick walls were painted with murals paintings of ancient characters. They were in various attitudes with different facial expression, vividly.

       

     The Stamp with Painting of Messenger                     China Postal Bank Green Card with Painting of Messenger    

The Typical  Brick Painting: Among the murals paintings,the most eye-catching one was the"Painting of Messenger "brick. It was 35 cm long and 17cm wide.The messenger on the picture wears a black hat in a gown of black-edge collarand sleeve. He is speeding ahead on a horse with red mane with document written on a bamboo slips in hands.However, why was not his mouth showed on the painting? According to experts, the aiming of the ancient painter was to show that a messenger must comply with his professional ethic to be tight-lipped. The character on the painting is the earliest image of messenger ever discovered in China so far. China was one of countries to earliestly set up posthouse and to deliver official document and information by messengers. As early as when ZhangQian in West Han Dynasty ( 202 B.C.-8 A.D.) went to western regions as a diplomat, the mail route from the Central Plains to west Asia and Europe was created. The"Painting of Messenger" is currently collected in Gansu Provincial Museum. Iconic designs on China Postal Savings Passbook and Postal Green Card are from this mural painting. Chinese postal service department has issued special commemorative stamps of"Painting of Messenger". The "Painting of Messenger" can be the symbol of Chinese post.

The other exampled brick paintings:

Besides the"Painting of Messenger", there were still many other paintings reflecting the life of local people in the tomb.

       

        Painting of Removing Chicken Feather                                             Painting  of  Eating                                

"Painting of Removing Chicken Feather"---Two maidens were sitting on their knees oppositely with their sleeves rolled high and put a chicken in hot water to remove its feather. The painter depicted the devoted labor image of two maidens vividly with simple expression.

"Painting of Eating”---The host was sitting on bed while a male servant wearing high hat in long gown was holding grilled meat, handing to his host. The painting reproduced the life of rich people vividly.       

                Painting of Picking Mulberry                                                 The Mural Paintings of Wei and Jin Tomb              

"Painting of Picking Mulberry"--- A woman was carrying a basket with her right hand and picking mulberry with left hand. A teenager with a bow and arrows in his hand next to her was driving finch away which was greedy in eating mulberry fruits. The whole mural painting was full of life sentiment. Silk was taken as currency in circulation in Cao Wei and Western Jin period of China. Then had Hexi corridor region in northwest desert ever been prosperous with silkworm breeding industry and silk industry? In Cao Wei and Western Jin periods, (due to) the impact of government policies, at that time household-based levy system was implemented by requiring that each household had to donate grain, cloth and a kilo of cotton, so that it prompted local people virtually to grow mulberry and breed silkworm. Around Xincheng Town in Jiayuguan, it can still be seen that there are surviving ancient mulberries which is the witness of the history of growing mulberry trees and breeding silkworm in this region. 

How was the first tomb discovered ?

One day in July,1970, an old shepherd of Xincheng village in Xincheng Town of Jiayuguan City,  Gansu Province, China, herded a flock of sheep of his production team in Gobi desert outside the  village as usual. It was noon when the sunshine was scorching. It was hot in Gobi desert under the baking of the sun.When the sheep were eating grass on the grass flat of a broad vision. He leaned on a dune where was shady, intending to have a rest. Just at that time, he found that there was a hole larger than arat hole in the sand pile aside him. Out of curiosity, he inserted the sheep whip in his hands into the hole subconsciously. The whip of more than a meter long unexpectedly couldn't reach the bottom of the hole. The shepherd stamped on the ground with his foot, hearing hollow sound coming from underground. He increasingly thought that the mysterious hole was unusual. So he hided the holewell and made a mark. When he went back home after work, he told another shepherd in the village with whom he had a very good relationship that he discovered a mysterious hole. After analysis between the two shepherds, they inferred that under the hole it was probably an ancient tomb which elders inthe village had mentioned. Without further delay to avoid dread in the long night, driven by curiosity and interest, they decided to excavate the mysterious hole at that night to see what was in it. The night in Gobi desert was deserted and mystical. With cover of the dark night, the two shepherds found the hole he marked in daylight with simple tools such as spade, bamboo basket and rope, starting excavation. As they excavated deeper and deeper, they increasingly thought that seemed to be an ancient tomb. After effort of most of the night, they finally excavated the entry of tomb more than 10 meters deep under the ground. They removed the sealing bricks and climbed into the tomb with weak light of barn lantern. With eager to get rich, they couldn't hide themselves from joy, desiring to see what was in the tomb on earth. When they lifted barn lantern and illuminated the whole tomb, they were shocked by what they saw. The walls of the tomb were painted with mural paintings of various characters. It seemed that characters on the walls were staring at the two intruders. Shepherds were somewhat scared. They didn't know the value of those mural paintings. Soon after, they looked for valuables in the tomb. The following discoveries disappointed them very much. The tomb was in a mess. Except the bones of the owners and some broken pottery articles, they found nothing which they thought valuable. Obviously, articles in the tomb they excavated had been stolen before.The two shepherds were not reconciled to leave without any gain. So they took pottery tubs and jars in the tomb back home to feed pigs and chickens. After that, they also took some bricks of the tomb back home. When one of the two shepherds was idle, he built a pigpen with those bricks and raised pigs. At that time, his son, a student in middle school, reported the event to leaders.When leaders came and made a detailed investigation, they gave a report about the event to experts of cultural relics and organization. After the report, the tomb was started to be excavated in 1972. 

How did  archaeologists know when the tombs were built?

Unfortunately almost all of these excavated tombs were stolen in the past time. There was no epigraph discovered in the tombs. What's more,some of the tombs were even damaged to various extents.  Because the true identities of the tomb owners were not able to be verified, experts had to look for answer to find out which dynasty those tombs belong to from murals and unearthed pottery articles in the tombs. After excavation, they discovered that there were some inscriptions on some pottery pots and in some tombs. Through the pottery pots, they could infer that it was a tomb of dynasties from Cao Wei to Western Jin .

The Level: the world largest underground murals gallery

Admission Fee: 31 yuan RMB

Opening Time:  08:00—17：30（April—October）; 09:00—17:00(November—March)

Better Seasons to Visit: all the seasons

Visiting Time Normally: 20-40 minutes (depending on your interest)

Travel Tips:1, The tomb No. 6 is underground around 13 m, so the temperature in the tomb must be different from outside. It might be cold, so wear proper clothing in different seasons before you step into thetomb;

2,The room of the tomb is limited. At most 11 people can be accepted to visit at the same time;

3, In the tomb taking pictures and videos are not allowed. Touching and scratching the murals are strictly prohibited;

4, Although the electric lights were installed in the tomb, prepare a flashlight when you go in , just in case.

5, Do not forget to visit the museum which is opposite to ticket office.

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