Yang Mausoleum of the Han Dynasty

The co-burial mausoleum of Emperor Jing (the fourth emperor of West Han Dynasty) and his empress Wang, Yang Mausoleum is located in Xianyangyuan of the Weicheng District of Xianyang. Initially built in 153 B.C. and finished in 126 B.C., Yang Mausoleum covers an area of 20 square kilometers. Today it has become the largest museum in China combining landscaping, modern technology, and the relics of ancient history perfectly as one, and is considered a key cultural relic under state protection. The fragile cultural artifacts represent the palace culture and social life of the Western Han Dynasty, and the mausoleum’s discovery was considered a major archaeological finding in the 20th century.

The mausoleum is in the shape of an irregular gourd 6 kilometers wide from west to east and 3 kilometers long from north to south. It is mainly composed of the emperor’s mausoleum, empress’ mausoleum, ritual architecture, funerary tombs, and criminals’ tombs. As the main part of Yang Mausoleum, the emperor’s mausoleum is 31 meters high with 81 minor tombs scattering around it where many cultural artifacts have been unearthed. The 25.5-meter high empress’ mausoleum is 450 meters east from the emperor’s mausoleum, with 28 minor tombs in the north and the east. The criminals’ tombs are 1.5 kilometers northwest of the emperor’s mausoleum, covering an area of 80,000 square meters in total; it is estimated that more than 10,000 criminals were buried in the tombs, with chains in their hands.

Many colorful terracotta warriors and vivid porcelains have been found within, including copper and iron weapons, agricultural tools, dress decorations, as well as currencies. The terracotta warriors are formidably armed with amours and weapons, seemingly prepared to kill enemies. They are all males, naked, and their hairs, beards, eyebrows, and eyes are painted black, with bodies painted orange. Besides, many ceramics such as pigs and bulls have been unearthed from the mausoleum, which are very true to life in detail. The remaining porcelains are often decorated with delicate silk fabrics.