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Library>Travel in China>Protected Sites>Class Ⅲ>Tombs

Tomb Group of Leigudun

The Tomb Group of Leigudun is located in the northwest suburb of Suizhou City in Hubei Province.

Leigudun is the cemetery place for the Zeng Kingdom of the early Warring States Period (476-221BC). Altogether, 70 tombs in this area are being examined and excavated. The largest is the Tomb of the Duke Zeng Houyi, excavated in 1978, which contains many valuable antiques, particularly the
world-famous chime bells.

The Tomb of the Duke Zeng Houyi was built on a slope on the Hongsha Cliff and covers an area of 220 square meters. The tomb has four chambers in the east, west, north and south that are partitioned by huge timbers. The color-painted coffin has two layers — the inner and outer parts. Twenty-one
people were buried alive for the dead — mainly young girls aged 13 to 25 — including 7,000 objects, such as instruments, weapons, articles used by carts and horses, gold and silver containers, gold cups, gold spoons and jade containers.

TheZeng Houyibells is a three-tiered set which has 65 refined bronze bells, including a largeJiandrum (90cm in diameter, the drum was suspended from a framework in such a way that the drum head faced the striker), one set of bells and one set of chimes. They formed the three sides of a rectangle.
Buried for 2,400 years, the chime bells can still play music of both ancient and modern times. In 1981 many well-designed ancient instruments, including 30 chime bells, zithers, panpipes, drums and bamboo flutes, were unearthed at the No 2 Tomb of Leigudun. The instruments serve as material
references for the study of ancient China’s music history.

The numerous valuable antiques unearthed at the Tomb Group of Leigudun are exhibited at the Museum of Hubei Province, where a tomb pavilion was also erected. The tomb chambers and most of the coffins are under special protection. Replicas of the antiques are also on display.

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Library>Culture ABC>Sports>Athletes

Huang Zhihong

Huang Zhihong, one of China’s best women shot-putters, was born in the city of Lanxi in East China’s Zhejiang Province on May 7, 1965. She entered the Zhejiang Provincial Amateur Sports School to practice discus and javelin at the age of 13, but later turned to shot put.

In 1979, Huang entered the Zhejiang provincial team and became a member of the national team soon.

In 1984, she finished 2nd in the National Junior Track and Field Championships. The following year, she was a silver medallist in the National Track and Field Championships.

In 1986, she added a gold to China’s gold tally at the 10th Asian Games. Two years later, Huang made her Olympic debut in Seoul but only finished 8th in the competition.

In 1989, she ranked 1st in the 5th World Cup, 2nd in the World Indoor Track and Field Championships, 1st in the 15th World University Games and 1st in the 5th World Cup. Her excellent performance earned her the honor of the Asian Best Woman Track and Field Competitor. Huang was the first Asian
woman to win a gold in World Track and Field Cup.

In 1991, she won the 3rd World Track and Field Championships and the World Track and Field Grand Prix Final. The following year, Huang made her second appearance at the Olympics and collected the silver.

In 1994, she collected four golds and one silver in major international competitions, including the 7th World Cup. The following year, Huang kept her excellent form, grasping two golds, 2 silvers and 3 bronzes.

In 1996, after winning two championships in Japan, Huang entered the Tsinghua University to study MBA.

In 1999, Huang was voted into the 50 Best Athletes in New China.

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Library>China ABC>Religion>Buddhist Temples

Xuanzhong Temple

Xuanzhong Temple is situated on Shibi Mountain in the northwest of Jiaocheng County, Shanxi Province. It is one of birthplaces of Jingtu (Pure Land) Sect, one of important sects of Chinese Buddhism, and is also deemed the birthplace by Pure Land Sect and True Pure Land Sect in Japan. In 1983, it
was designated as one of national key temples in the areas of the Han nationality.

Xuanzhong Temple was built in the second year (472) of the Yanxing reign of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534). It was destroyed by fire, and rebuilt several times during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Since 1954, it has been renovated several times. The Main Hall, Thousand Buddha Hall, Patriarchal
Hall and Stele Pavilion have been rebuilt, and cultural relics in the temple have been rearranged.

Xuanzhong Temple after renovation shows a new appearance. The Buddha Hall is magnificent and solemn, with vivid statues of Buddha different from each other. But the more sightworthy thing in the temple is the stele inscription of the past dynasties. There stand steles of the Western Wei (386-534),
Western Qi (479-502), and Sui (581-618) dynasties. Moreover, there stand scores of steles of the Song (960-1279), Yuan (1271-1368), Ming (1368-1644), and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. All these ancient steles are not only artistic treasures, but also unique historical literatures. All stele
inscriptions here not only record the rise and decline of Xuanzhong Temple, but also provide precious materials for research on China’s history of Buddhism, especially the history of Buddhism’s Pure Land Sect.

In terms of Buddhism’s succession, Xuanzhong Temple has a close relationship with Buddhism’s Pure Land Sect and True Pure Land Sect in Japan. In the Western Wei Dynasty (386-534), Master Tanyuan founded Buddhism’s Pure Land Sect in the temple. In the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Yuanren, an
accomplished monk from Japan, came to China to study doctrines of Buddhism’s Tiantai Sect and Secret Sect. Meanwhile, he studied doctrines of Buddhism’s Pure Land Sect. Thereupon, Chinese Buddhism’s Pure Land Sect was introduced into Japan. Afterwards, Japanese monks, based on China’s Pure Land
Sect, founded two sects in Japan: Pure Land Sect and True Pure Land Sect. Disciples of both sects deem Xuanzhong Temple as their origin. Whenever Buddhists of these two sects visit China, they always go to Xuanzhong Temple and offer incense to Buddha. Xuanzhong Temple thus has become a link for
Sino-Japan cultural exchanges.

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