Zhu Zhanji (1411-1441), the Prince Liangzhuang, was the 9th son of Emperor Ren. He lived in the years of Yongle, Xuande and Zhengtong in the Ming Dynasty, which were the most powerful and prosperous time of the later China’s feudal society. According to documents, Prince Liangzhuang had no outstanding contributions in battlefield and political career in his lifetime. Therefore, judging from common sense, there should be no surprising discoveries in the tomb of this obscure prince.
Haunted by the grave robbery, workers of cultural relics explored it for salvage in 2001 approved by the state. The unearthed relics from the tomb are abundant. Among the more than 5300 art pieces, there were 1400 gold, silver and jade relics and more then 3400 jewelries, consuming more than 16 kg gold and 14 kg jade and 700 gemstones. It is a great discovery with the most unearthed relics in the explored tombs of princes in the Ming Dynasty.
Among the exhibition of the cultural relics from the tomb, hat top decorated by gold-mounted gemstone, gem-inlaid gold filigree belt, gold bracelets and handleless porcelain cup with design of blue flowers are the top-quality cultural relics found in the Ming tombs, so are the utensils of Tantrism. In particular, a gold bullion is an important evidence of Zheng He’s voyages to the Western Seas.
1. Gold Bullion
The bullion is 13 cm long, 9.8 cm wide, 1 cm thick, with a weight of 1937 g.
Inscribed with “April, 1419 (17th year of Yongle period). An 80 percent ingot weighing 50 liang (1 liang = 50 grams), bought from the Western Seas” on the facade.
2. Hat Top Decorated by Gold-mounted Gemstone
7.5cm high with a diameter of 4.8cm
It is made up of a gold 5-petal-lotus-shape base and a sapphire on the top. There remain 10 gemstones. A piece of 200 carats oval colorless sapphire is mounted on the top of the base, which is the biggest sapphire found in archaeological works.
3. Gold Bracelet and Gold Bracelet Inlaid with Gems
They are formed by winding 12 flat gold bars which are 0.7cm wide, 0.1cm thick, 12.5 cm long, and weigh 295.5 g and 292.5 g respectively. It was women’s accessories which have been found in the past. However, it is the first time to be found in prince’s tombs in the Ming Dynasty. Gold bracelet inlaid with gems consists of two semicircle gold pieces with one end connected as “loose-leaf” which can open freely. The two gold bracelets respectively inlaid with 6 (3 rubies, 2 sapphires and 1 green aventurine) and 7 (4 rubies, 2 sapphires and 1 emerald) gems. The gold bracelet and gold bracelet inlaid with gems are a complete set of accessories, with the former one for arm accessory, and the latter for wrist.
4. Gilded Silver Conferring Document
It consists of two silver rectangular plates buckled with each other. There are 88 characters inscribed inside. It was the conferring document of concubine Wei in 1433. It is rare to find conferring documents in tombs, and this is the first one found in the excavated Ming prince tombs.
5. Falcon-Shape White Jade Belt
It is 12 cm long and composed of 15 pieces of belt accessories.
It is so far the only integral falcon-shape belt that has been found. The swan in relief on the facade soars to the height with its neck stretching and its wings spreading. The falcon lies on swan’s head trying to hunt it. The jade ornament is lifelike and dynamic.
6. Gem-inlaid Gold Filigree Belt
The belt has 24 pieces of ornaments, 2 pieces of belt buckles and a gold bolt, with a total weight of 646.4 g.
Each gemstone mounted gold ornaments is pierced plate made by filigree craft. The facade of gemstone mounted gold ornaments has 3-5 gold supports of bending-claw shape, with gemstones mounted in the claws by means of tiffany setting. The belt is mounted with 84 pieces of gemstones consisting of rubies, sapphires.
7. Porcelain Cup with Design of Blue Flowers and Dragon
It is for the imperial concubine’s daily use. It is composed of a porcelain cup, a gold lid and a gilded silver tray. This porcelain cup was called “High-feet Porcelain Bowl” before, but according to the inscription inside the lid of gold cup, it should be porcelain cup. On the surface there are dragon-chasing-ball and cloud patterns and inscriptions reading “245 grams of gold cup lid made in the second year of Zhengtong”.
