Northern Qi Tomb of Ku Di Ye at Taiyuan Taiyuan Municipal Institute of Antiquity and Archaeology Keywords: Taiyuan Northern Qi Ku Di Ye tomb In March of 1984, while constructing the foundation for chamber. It is 0.8 m long, 2.2 m high, and 1.1 m wide. the local School of Coal Management, workers stumbled Further north is the tomb chamber. upon several ancient tombs. About a dozen tombs dating The tomb chamber is also dug out of the surrounding from the Northern Qi to Song, Jin periods have since earth. The floor plan is trapezoidal-shaped, 4.2 m long, been excavated. The most important tomb is that of Ku 2.6 m wide at the south end, 2.1 m wide at the north end, Di Ye 库狄业, described as follows. and at the east and west ends are earthen platforms, 0.6 m high, 0.35–0.4 m wide. The ceiling has collapsed, but I. Tomb Structure and Coffin remaining fragments indicate that the original ceiling Ku Di Ye’s tomb has a single dug-out chamber aligned was vaulted, 2.5 m high in front, 2.4 m wide at the rear. at 180 degrees. The tomb floor is 6.4 m below the present Judging from the two corners of the south wall, one can ground level. The ramp is to south of the tomb chamber, surmise that the tomb was cave-shaped with a vaulted 15 m long, 1.5 m wide at the top, 1 m wide at the bottom, ceiling. There is a robber’s hole, 0.5 m in diameter, at the inclining at an angle of 28 degrees. An area of 7–8 m at northeast corner of the tomb chamber (see Fig. 1). the front part of the ramp had been altered by construc- The scattered remains of iron hinges and door fit- tion and could not be recovered. tings at the chamber entrance indicate that there was once The rear section (north) of the ramp turns into a dug- a wooden door, also largely symbolic in function. out vaulted passage chamber, 1.2 m long, 2.2 m high, and Water that came through the collapsed ceiling was 0.9 m wide. Its west wall is flush with the wall of the mixed with pieces of rotted timber, but the original ramp. Ceramic shards have been recovered from both the structure of the coffin can no longer be reconstructed. In ramp and passage chamber. the middle of the tomb chamber, slightly to the west, The north side of the passage chamber leads into a there are two human skeletons, heads pointing south, courtyard, 1.4 m long, 0.65 m wide. It has a stone door with torsos and limbs stretched out straight and facing fashioned out of conglomerate rock, uneven in size and up. The bodies have extensively decomposed, and only crudely incised with patterns. They are no tenon and are a few teeth remain. A rough estimate suggests that the fitted together like toy bricks. The lintel is shaped like a one on the east side with larger bones would be the male, semi-circle, the lower edge carved into a raised ridge 18 while the one on the west side would be the female cm high, 4 cm thick, framing the door. Above are three spouse. A barely discernible wood frame must have been plate-like ornaments with nipples. The two panels of the part of the original coffin, 1.85 m long, 0.65 m wide. stone door are rough on the back but smooth in front. The Based on the existing evidence, it can be concluded that stone door is 150 cm high, and the front has three rows the two skeletons were placed in the same coffin (See of nipple ornaments, four in each row. The hinges at the Fig. 1). top of the two panels are uneven in size, and there are no II. Tomb Furnishings hinges at the base. This stone door is clearly symbolic in function. It can be speculated that the stone door was Over 120 objects have been recovered from this tomb. made after the burial and was immediately sealed and All of them were once placed inside the tomb chamber. compacted with dirt in order to hold them in place (Fig. They consist of ceramics, metal objects, bronzes, one set 1). of stone epitaph, etc.. North of the stone door is a tunnel. It is also dug out 1. There are over 80 tomb figurines, and can be of the earth and is slightly wider than the passage identified as guardian figurines, figurines wearing three- Volume 4 123 N 0 1 m Fig. 1 Plan and elevation of Ku Di Ye tomb cornered hoods with flaps, figurines with shields, figu- Figurines with round helmets, twelve, T84QS46-1, rines with armor, figurines with helmets, etc.. 23.2 cm tall. He wears round helmet, beige cape, maroon Tomb guardian warriors, two. One of them, T84QS2 tunic, black shoulder shield, white trousers, and round- is 51.6 cm tall, with raised chest, protruding belly, and a tipped shoes. The right arm is bent forward and lowered, ferocious countenance. On his head is a hat with an the left hand is clasping the belt. upturned brim, and he wears a fish-scale shiny armor, Figurines with hoods and flaps, eleven, T84QS41-6, black belt, white trousers and shoes. His left hand holds 23.2 cm tall. He wears hood with flap, right collared a shield, and his right hand seems to have held a weapon maroon vests, white trousers, and round-tipped shoes. as the palm of his hand is pierced with a hole (Fig. 2). His both arms raised and bent as if wielding weapons as Figurines with three-cornered hoods fall into two their palms are pierced with a hole (Fig. 6). types. Eighteen of them belong to Type I, T84QS37-5, Figurines with shields. They can be grouped into two 27.5 cm in height. He wears black three-cornered hood types. Six belong to Type I, T84QS45-1, 27 cm tall. He with flap, red vest, black belt, white trousers and round- wears red three-cornered hood with flap, red shiny armor, tipped shoes. Covering his shoulder is white fur cape. His white trousers, and black boots. He has protruding eyes right arm is raised as if wielding a weapon while his left and knitted brows. The left hand holds the shield, the arm is slightly lowered and bent (Fig. 3). Eleven of them right hand is raised and bent as if wielding a weapon (Fig. belong to Type II, T84QS35-1, 25.5 cm in height. He 7). There are 20 examples of Type II, T84QS39-6, 22.4 wears black three-cornered hood with flap, maroon vest, cm tall. He wears a beige head scarf, maroon inner belt, white trousers and black shoes (Fig. 4). garment, vest, and the right shoulder is bare. He also Armored figurines, three. T84QS38-2, 27.3 cm tall. wears white trousers and round-tipped shoes. A bag is He wears round helmet, fish-scale armor, maroon fur slung over the left shoulder, the left hand holds the shield, cape, white trousers, and round-tipped shoes. On the left and the right hand is bent in front as if carrying an object. side of the chest is a hole where a weapon would have Female officials, six. T84QS43-1. The clay body is been held. The right arm is slightly lowered in front while finely textured and sturdy, and measures 21.8 cm in the left arm rests on the stomach (Fig. 5). height. She has a narrow waist and a long neck, wearing 124 Chinese Archaeology Fig. 2 Ceramic tomb guardian (T84QS2) Fig. 3 Ceramic figurine with a three- Fig. 4 Ceramic figurine with a three-cor- cornered hood (T84QS37-5) nered hood (T84QS35-1) Fig. 5 Ceramic figurine with armor (T84 Fig. 6 Ceramic figurine with a round top Fig. 7 Ceramic figurine with a shield QS38-2) hood (T84QS41-6) (T84QS45-1) Volume 4 125 Fig. 8 Ceramic female official (T84QS43-1) Fig. 9 Ceramic female official with a sword Fig. 10 Ceramic attendant (T84QS44-1) (T84QS42-1) small maroon hood and wide-sleeved tunic; her hands are clasped together in front of the chest (Fig. 8). Female officials with swords, three. T84QS42-1, 25.8 cm tall. She wears small black hood, wide-sleeved tunic, and belt. The right hand is holding a sword erected upright on the ground, and the left hand is lowered in front (Fig. 9). Female attendants, two, both broken, T84QS44 -1, headless, and the fragments measure 16 cm in height. She wears wide-sleeved jacket. The right hand rests on the stomach, and the left arm is bent downward (Fig. 10). 2. Animal figurines consisting of one guardian beast, one clay horse, and one clay chicken. Guardian beast, one (T84QS8), 36 cm tall, with human face, horse’s ears, animal torso, horse’s hooves. It is in a crouching position (Fig. 11). Earthenware chicken, one (T84QS5), 10 cm long and 9 cm tall. Earthenware horse, one, damaged with only the head. 3. Ceramic vessels Eight ceramic vessels include a ceramic lamp, Fig. 11 Ceramic guardian beast (T84QS8) chicken-headed ewer, tall-neck vase, and such. The body is fashioned out of Gaoling 高岭 clay, slightly grainy in 126 Chinese Archaeology Fig. 12 Ceramic lamp (T84QS12) Fig. 13 Ceramic chicken-headed ewer (T84QS13) texture, porous, and highly water-absorbent.