CELEBRITY CRIMES
CRIME ARCHIVES
TRUE CRIME
LATEST NEWS
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Editors Notes Cookie Policy
© Copyright 2024 Empire Media Group, Inc. Front Page Detectives is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
WWW.FRONTPAGEDETECTIVES.COM / LATEST NEWS

Researchers Uncover a 700-Yr-Old Octagon-Shaped Tomb of a Couple With Fascinating Murals About Life

Researchers did not find any skeletons inside the tomb, but through examinations determined that it was the resting place of a couple.
PUBLISHED FEB 3, 2025
Sultan Mohammad Telai Tomb in Afghanistan (Representative Cover Image Source: Wikimedia Commons | Photo by AhmadElhan)
Sultan Mohammad Telai Tomb in Afghanistan (Representative Cover Image Source: Wikimedia Commons | Photo by AhmadElhan)

In 2012, researchers uncovered a tomb in China, possibly made during the rule of Genghis Khan's descendants. The tomb dating back 700 years, was spotted in Yangquan and featured many illustrations describing life and values in those times, stated All That's Interesting. Some illustrations reflected the strict principles of the time. These illustrations were done on murals in the octagon-shaped tomb. Seven murals featured on the eight walls of the tomb, while one had an entryway, according to Live Science. The roof also carries illustrations of the sun, moon, and stars.

Tomb of the Gilberts of Compton (Representative Image Source: Wikimedia Commons/Photo by Rob Farrow)
Tomb of the Gilberts of Compton (Representative Image Source: Wikimedia Commons |
Photo by Rob Farrow)

Researchers did not find any skeletons inside the tomb, but through examinations were able to determine that it was the resting place of a couple, stated ATI. Experts believe that the painting on the northernmost wall of the tomb features the husband and wife laid to rest in the tomb. The artifact has a pyramid-shaped roof whose walls are adorned with murals.

Experts were fascinated by one of the murals that portrayed a terrifying urban legend. In this urban legend, a man named Guo Ju and his wife facing financial difficulties can only take care of their son or Ju's mother. The duo ultimately chose the old parent and decided to bury their kid in the ground. The mural depicts this digging and does not go into the later part of the story. During the digging, the couple finds some gold coins. The couple viewed these coins as a reward for showing filial piety. There was no more reason to sacrifice their son after the discovery of gold coins.

Blue Mosaics in The City Palace in Jaipur, India (Representative Image Source: Pexels | Photo by AXP Photography)
Blue mosaics in the City Palace in Jaipur, India (Representative Image Source: Pexels |
Photo by AXP Photography)

Another mural was located in the tomb, which highlighted another urban legend. This one centered around a young child, Yuan Jue. He and his family were suffering through a terrible famine. Jue's father decided to wheel his father into the woods and leave him there so there would be fewer mouths to feed. Jue protested against this decision and ultimately stopped his father by saying he would do the same thing after getting older. After this call, things started becoming easy for the family, and the whole bunch survived the famine. Researchers believe the story reflected the importance of filial respect in the Mongolian empire and Chinese culture.

"There is near unanimity among early Chinese thinkers about the importance of xiao [a word that means "filial piety"] in the Chinese ethos," added Alan K. L. Chan, professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, according to Live Science.


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by پادکست پاراگراف (@paragraphpodcast)


 

Experts also spotted illustrations reflecting the segregation prevalent in the society of those times, according to ATI. The subjects in the murals were sporting Mongol-style clothes and not typical Chinese fashion. In 1314, Mongolian authorities passed an order, giving Han Chinese and Mongolian officials different dress codes, with the objective of racial segregation. Mongolian officers were instructed to wear long jackets and hats featuring four edges. Such hats have been noted in several subjects of these murals. Other ways in which the murals showcased daily life in Mongolian establishments were by highlighting musician bands, activities like the preparation of tea, and animals transporting goods.

POPULAR ON Front Page Detectives
MORE ON Front Page Detectives