Background

The Western Xia Tombs, known "Oriental Pyramids", is located in east Mount Helan, west of Yinchuan City of Ningsia Hui Autonomous Region. Scattered in the 50 square-kilometer area, there are 9 emperors' tombs and more than 200 tombs containing figurines or objects buried with the emperors.

The Western Xia regime was a Dangsiang nationality dominated feudal kingdom, founded in northwestern China in about the beginning of 11th century to the beginning of 13th century. A branch of the ancient Qiang Nationality, Dangxiang became booming during the turning period of the Sui and Tang dynasties and set up a strong separatist regime by force of arms. In 1038, Li Yuanhao proclaimed himself emperor, with a reigning title of "DaXia", and built capital in Xingqing Prefecture (today's Yinchuan City); thus formally established a separatist regime. In 1227 it was overthrown and perished by the Mongolian troops.

At its zenith, Western Xia's territory covered "thousands of square kilometers, including sands to the east of the Yellow River, Yumen Pass in the west; in the south it bordered the Xiaoguan Pass, and controlled the great deserts in the north". The regime constituted its unique systems of politics, military, education and law, and forged coins as its own currency and invented its own written language. The glorious history and splendid culture Western Xia created were exemplified in the grandiose emperors tombs and in the cultural relics and ancient books and records scattered in various areas.

Each of the emperor's tombs is in fact a separate complex facing south, with surrounding city walls, side towers and god walls. On the center of the south end of the god walls there were symmetrical watch platforms on the left and right sides, with towers built on them. There are still destroyed tablets remained in a tablet pavilion in the north of the tombs, describing the life story of the dead in both Chinese and Western Xia languages. The far west side of the Western Xia Tombs was the ruined site of the God Palace, where sacrifice ceremonies were held. On the rear of the palace were tall and grand funeral parks, eight-side, five or seven-storied pavilion style buildings, which are unique among Chinese cemetery architecture. The Western Xia was submerged by the Yuan Dynasty, only leaving the dilapidated walls and pyramid-like grave mounds, reminding people of the historical Western Xia regime.

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