Yinan Stone Relief Museum of the Han Dynasty

The museum is situated in Beizhai Village, Jiehu Town, Yinan County, Shandong Province. The ancient tombs here date back more than 1,800 years. Representing the most intact Han Dynasty tomb complex discovered in China to date with unparalleled academic research value, the site is listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

Funded by the People’s Government of Yinan County, the museum was constructed in 1994 and officially opened to the public in April 1996. Six ancient tombs have been verified, three of which have been excavated.

Tomb No.1 is a large stone relief tomb. It was uncovered by local villagers fetching earth in 1947 and scientifically excavated jointly by the East China Cultural Relics Team and Shandong Cultural Relics Administration in March 1954. The tomb features an intricate and rigorously structured layout, consisting of three main chambers (front, middle and rear), four side chambers and one rear-eastern annex chamber. Covering a floor area of 88.2 square meters, it was built with 280 stone slabs, 42 of which bear carved stone reliefs.

The reliefs depict varied themes including battle scenes, sacrificial rituals, official processions, harvest feasts, and musical and acrobatic performances. Carved with exquisite craftsmanship and diverse techniques, these reliefs are magnificent in momentum, standing as masterpieces representative of the flourishing peak of Han stone relief art. This stone relief tomb also marks an outstanding integrated work of architecture, painting and carving crafted by folk artisans of the Han Dynasty.

Tomb No.2, a large multi-chamber tomb built of brick and stone, was unearthed in the spring of 1994. Over 80 artifacts were recovered, including pottery, stoneware, bronze and silver wares, many of which are rare cultural treasures.

Tomb No.3 lies 12 meters to the west of Tomb No.1. It was discovered during local housing construction but left untouched and has been well preserved ever since.

Tomb No.4, a small brick-and-stone tomb located 100 meters southwest of Tomb No.1, was found by villagers digging an underground cellar in October 1994. Emergency excavation yielded more than 50 cultural relics.

Through exploratory drilling carried out by the Shandong Cultural Relics Science and Technology Conservation Center in 1994, two additional small stone and brick tombs and other historical remains were also identified.

The stone reliefs and unearthed artifacts from the Beizhai Tomb Group offer vital reference materials for the research of social economy, class conflicts, folk customs, institutions, architecture, painting, religion and philosophy of the Han Dynasty.