BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Three tombs of court eunuchs of the
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) have been discovered by archaeologists at
Beijing Industry and Commerce Universityrecently, Wednesday's
Beijing Daily reports.
   According to the tomb epitaph, the three brick-built tombs
belonged to Zhao Fen, and two other eunuchs surnamed Dong and Hua.
   Archaeologists unearthed a bronze Lei, a kind of drinking
vessel, some funeral objects like porcelain pots, two purple clay
kettles, four purple clay cups and more than 1,000 coins from Zhao
Fen's tomb. A jade belt carved with designs of a peach, which
symbolizes longevity, and clouds was also excavated from the tomb.
   From Dong's tomb, archaeologists unearthed two stone tomb
figures, each one meter tall and standing on a square stone
pedestal. A jade belt was also found.
   In Hua's tomb, the largest of the three, archaeologists found a
jade belt consisting of 13 pieces of jade carved with the designs
of dragons and clouds.
   Experts with the Beijing Municipal Relics Research Institute
said bronze ware, made in the Shang Dynasty (16th century B.C. -
11th century B.C.), and stone tomb figures, unearthed from these
tombs, were first discovered in Ming tombs in the Beijing area.
   The discovery of the three tombs provided material evidence of
funeral customs during the Ming Dynasty, they said.   Enditem