Introduction: The Eastern Han Aristocratic Burial Tradition

The Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 CE) inherited and refined the Western Han system of enfeoffing regional princes (zhuhou wang) and marquises (liehou). Archaeological discoveries of their tombs reveal a fascinating blend of continuity and evolution in funerary customs. This article examines the architectural features, burial goods, and social significance of these elite tombs, drawing on key examples from Hebei, Shandong, Henan, and Jiangsu provinces.

Historical Context: The Eastern Han Succession System

Following the Western Han’s collapse, the Eastern Han maintained the practice of granting noble titles to imperial relatives and meritorious officials. However, political centralization reduced the princes’ autonomy, reflecting in their burial practices. While Western Han princes built lavish underground palaces (e.g., the Mancheng tombs), Eastern Han nobles adopted scaled-down but symbolically rich brick-and-stone structures.

Key Archaeological Discoveries

Eight confirmed Eastern Han princely tombs have been excavated (Table 7-3), including:

1. Dingxian Beizhuang Tomb (Hebei) – Belonging to Liu Yan, King of Zhongshan (d. 90 CE), this tomb featured a stone-reinforced brick structure with a rear chamber surrounded by a corridor. Two sets of gilded bronze-threaded jade burial suits (yuyi) were found.
2. Ganquan No. 2 Tomb (Jiangsu) – The resting place of Liu Jing, King of Guangling (d. 67 CE), this unique above-ground mausoleum contained a gold seal inscribed “Seal of the King of Guangling.”
3. Huaiyang Beiguan No. 1 Tomb (Henan) – This tomb for King Liu Chong of Chen (d. 124 CE) included a silver-threaded jade suit and a stone granary model carved with intricate reliefs.

Architectural Innovations

### Tomb Layouts
Eastern Han princely tombs standardized a brick/stone axial design with:
– A single entrance ramp (daogou)
– Front and rear chambers (the latter for coffins)
– Perimeter corridors (huilang) mimicking Western Han’s huangchang ticou (cypress-wood enclosures)
– Side chambers for ritual objects (e.g., Dingxian’s pottery vessels)

Notably, couples were buried together either in:
– Side-by-side chambers (e.g., Ganquan No. 2’s dual rear rooms)
– Adjacent tombs (e.g., Huaiyang’s paired mounds for Liu Chong and his consort)

### Above-Ground Features
Surviving tomb mounds measured 10–20m tall, comparable to Western Han standards. The absence of enclosing walls (yuanqiang) suggests adoption of imperial “mobile barriers” (xingma).

Material Culture and Status Symbols

### Jade Burial Suits
The Eastern Han enforced strict hierarchical regulations for yuyi:
– Silver threads for princes (e.g., Liu Chong’s suit)
– Gilded bronze threads as gold-substitutes (Dingxian tombs)
– Copper threads for consorts (Puyu School Tomb)

### Grave Goods
Despite looting, excavations reveal:
– Miniaturized models replacing real chariots (e.g., Dingxian’s bronze chariot fittings)
– Agricultural miniatures reflecting estate economies (stone pig figurines, pottery mills)
– Epigraphic artifacts like the “Guangling King Seal” and inscribed jade pieces

Social and Ritual Implications

The shift from Western Han’s wooden chambers to brick/stone structures mirrored:
1. Economic changes – Cheaper brick production enabled elites to emulate imperial styles
2. Religious trends – Corridor designs facilitated posthumous “journeys” in Daoist belief
3. Status anxiety – Lavish tombs countered reduced political power under centralized rule

Legacy and Modern Study

These tombs provide critical insights into:
– Early Chinese funerary laws – The Hou Hanshu records jade suit regulations now verified archaeologically
– Regional diversity – Shandong’s carved stone tombs contrast with Jiangsu’s above-ground variants
– Conservation challenges – Looting and urbanization threaten sites like Xuzhou’s Tushan Tomb

Ongoing research on lesser-known marquis tombs (e.g., Luoyang’s White Horse Temple site) may further illuminate Han aristocracy’s twilight years.

Conclusion

Eastern Han noble tombs embody a transitional era where ritual tradition adapted to new materials and political realities. Their hybrid architectures and regulated luxury goods offer a window into how Han China’s elite negotiated identity in life and death. As excavations continue, each discovery adds nuance to our understanding of China’s first sustained imperial dynasty.

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Note: All archaeological terms are rendered in standard English translations with pinyin in parentheses where first introduced. Tomb names follow Chinese archaeological reporting conventions (Location + Site Name).