Tomb of Kang Ye

Tomb of Kang Ye
Tomb of Kangye, 571 CE. Northern Zhou, China.
Created571 CE
DiscoveredNorthern China
Present locationXi'an City Museum
Xi'an is located in Continental Asia
Xi'an
Xi'an
Xi'an is located in China
Xi'an
Xi'an
Sogdian tombs in China
Anyang funerary bed550–577 CE
Tomb of Kang Ye571 CE
Miho funerary couchc. 570 CE
Tomb of An Jia579 CE
Tomb of Wirkak580 CE
Tomb of An Bei589 CE
Tomb of Yu Hong592 CE
Kooros couch557–618 CE
Tianshui tomb581–624 CE

The Tomb of Kang Ye (traditional Chinese: 康業墓; simplified Chinese: 康业墓; pinyin: Kāng Yè mù) is a Northern Zhou (Northern Dynasties 439-589 CE) period funeral monument to a Sogdian nobleman and official in northern China named Kang Ye in his epitaph. The tomb was discovered in the northern suburbs of Xi'an in 2004.[1] It is now located in the collections of the Xi'an City Museum. It is dated to 571 CE, from the epitaph.[1]

The stone couch is composed of stone slabs, decorated with reliefs showing the life of the deceased and scene of the afterlife.[1] Contrary to the other known Sogdian funerary monuments, the decorations of the tomb do not have Zoroastrianism elements, and they follow Chinese stylistics traditions, with the use of shallow engraved lines.[1]

According to the epitaph, Kang Ye was a descendant of the king of Kangju (Sogdiana).[2] His father was once an official in China with the title of "Grand Heavenly Master" (大天主) during the Wei dynasty, a title possibly related to a ministerial position in the Zoroastrian religion.[1][2] Kang Ye then inherited the title of "Grand Heavenly Master" with the agreement of the Chinese emperor.[2] Kang Ye died at the age of 60.[2] His corpse was placed on top of the tomb and wrapped in a Chinese silk robe.[2]

The tomb was probably decorated by Chinese engravers, as suggested by the somewhat grotesque features of some of the Sogdians individuals on the tomb panels (large noses, bulging eyes...).[3]

  • Original location of the tomb of Kangye (red dot), in Xi'an.[4]
    Original location of the tomb of Kangye (red dot), in Xi'an.[4]
  • Epitaph
    Epitaph
  • Tomb of Kang Ye, Sogdian groom
    Tomb of Kang Ye, Sogdian groom
  • Decorated panels
    Decorated panels
  • Decorated panels
    Decorated panels
  • Tomb of Kang Ye, panel with the master on horseback.[5]
    Tomb of Kang Ye, panel with the master on horseback.[5]
  • Tomb of Kang Ye, the master on horseback.[5]
    Tomb of Kang Ye, the master on horseback.[5]
  • Coin of Justinian I of the type found in the tomb.[5]
    Coin of Justinian I of the type found in the tomb.[5]
  1. ^ a b c d e Zheng, Yan. "Notes on the Stone Couch Pictures from the Tomb of Kang Ye in Northern Zhou" (PDF). Chinese Archaeology.
  2. ^ a b c d e Wu, Mandy Jui-man (2015). "Contact and Exchange in Northern China: A Case Study on the Tomb of a Zoroastrian-Sogdian, Kang Ye (512-571 CE)". Asian Archaeology. 3.
  3. ^ Bellemare, Julie; Lerner, Judith A. "The Sogdians Abroad The Sogdians". sogdians.si.edu.
  4. ^ Li, Yusheng (2016). "STUDY OF TOMBS OF HU PEOPLE IN LATE 6TH CENTURY NORTHERN CHINA". Newsletter di Archeologia. 7: 115, Fig.2.
  5. ^ a b c "Tomb of Kang Ye of the Northern Zhou in Xi'an, Shaanxi" (PDF). Xi'an Municipal Institute of Archaeology and Preservation of Cultural Relics.