Twenty kilometers (12 miles) northeast of Jiayùguan,
this is sometimes misleadingly called the Dìxià
Huàláng (Underground Art Gallery). There
are thousands of tombs in this area dating from the
Wèi (220-65 B.C.) and Jìn (A.D. 265-420),
but only one is open to the public. You will see the
tomb of a sixth-rank official, the lowest rank in the
imperial pecking order. The valuables were plundered
soon after the tomb was sealed, probably by the builder,
judging from the accuracy of the thief's tunnel.
Compared with Buddhist art, the murals in the tomb are
crude cartoons. Detailed instructions on slaughtering
pigs, goats, and cows leave no doubt as to what the
owner was hoping for in the next world. There is evidence
that sericulture had already spread to this part of
the empire, that barbecues were enjoyed before Australia
was colonized, and that officials were plumper than
their servants. Murals detail the official's trip to
the capital in Luòyáng, doubtless the
highlight of his career. The remaining contents of the
tomb are on display in an exhibition center, and include
black stone pigs found in the hands and the mouth of
the official's corpse |
