Jiuliandun of introduction

Jiuliandun, an ancient tomb complex, lies on a mound stretching from north to south between Wudian Town and Xinglong Town in Zaoyang, Hubei. It was named after the nine tombs standing on the mound. In 1992 it was listed among major historic site under provincial protection. From September 2002 till January 2003, before the construction of the expressway between Xiaogan and Xiangfan, archeologists excavated tombs No. 1 and No. 2 and chariot pits. Specialists on the protection of fabrics and wooden lacquered articles, musical archeology, Museology, and the reinforcement of chariots were invited to the site to provide professional guidance. Hot-air balloons were used for taking photos, aero models for shooting, and total stations for surveying. More than 7,300 burial articles were unearthed from the tombs—over 4,500 from Tomb 1, and over 2,800 from Tomb 2. Chariot pits No. 1 and No. 2 lie to the west of the tombs. Pit 1, in which chariots were arranged two in a row, contained 33 chariots and 72 horses; Pit 2 contained seven chariots and 16 horses. Remains above the tombs, large chariot pits and integral sets of wooden ritual articles had rarely been found in other Chu tombs. Judging from the shapes and sizes of the tombs and features of burial articles, the two tombs contained a couple, with the husband and wife buried in different pits. The male occupant of Tomb 1 was a senior official (dafu) in the Chu State, who was buried in the mid or late Warring States Period; the occupants of Tomb 2 were buried a bit later than Tomb 1.

Lacquered dou with petal-shaped tray and dragon-snake base, from Tomb 1

The tray is shaped into sixteen petals, and the base into a dragon and a snake twisting round each other.

Lacquered round case with designs of dragon, phoenix and snake, from Tomb 1

Carved out of an entire wood block, the case is adorned with sixteen dragons, eight phoenixes and eight snakes entwining each other on the lid and body in relief.

Bronze square pot with dragon-shaped ears, from Tomb 1

The pot is carved into openwork petals on top, with dragon-shaped ears on opposite sides of the shoulder.

Wooden crossbow with hunting scene painted with lacquer, from Tomb 1

A chariot drawn by four horses and a man drawing a crossbow are painted with colored lacquer.

Ladle-shaped cup with colored lacquer, from Tomb 2

The cup is shaped into a phoenix holding a pearl in its beak, with a bird spreading its wings and three snakes carved in relief on the lid.

Lacquered square pot with dragon-shaped ears, from Tomb 2

Lacquered wooden body, with colored drawing. There are two dragon-shaped ears on opposite sides of the shoulder, and four beast-shaped feet.

Jade pendant shaped into three men with a pig under their feet, from Tomb 2