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Plate 18.5 Plaque of Mahākāla, excavated from
the tomb of Prince Zhuang of Liang (1411–41)
and Lady Wei (d. 1451) at Zhongxiang, Hubei
province. Gold, height 3.1cm, weight 27.4g.
Hubei Provincial Museum

discovery. The consumption of elixirs is related to Daoism, and passed away and was interred in the same tomb. From April
it provides evidence of the prince’s belief in the religion. It may to May 2001, a rescue excavation was conducted on the tomb
also offer a reason for the prince’s premature death. under the supervision of the Hubei Provincial Institute of
10
Lady Guo’s burial objects contain relatively more Cultural Relics and Archaeology.
Buddhist items, such as vájra (stylised thunderbolt) and Prince Zhuang of Liang lived during the Yongle to the
Buddhist prayer beads. These show that Lady Guo, and Zhengtong periods, while Lady Guo lived into the Jingtai
probably Prince Jing of Ying, venerated Buddhism as well. reign – a time when the Ming economy was at its peak. A
large number and variety of high-quality gold, silver and jade
Buddhist elements in the tomb of Prince Zhuang of vessels, as well as jewellery and precious stones, have been
Liang found in the tomb. These have survived in good condition.
Prince Zhuang of Liang, Zhu Zhanji , was the ninth son of Among the many gold objects buried in the tomb, some
the Hongxi emperor. Born in 1411, he was made the Prince of the most striking are Tibetan Buddhist objects: images of
of Liang in 1424, and was enfeoffed in Anlu (present-day the deities Mahākāla (Pl. 18.5; see also Pl. 17.3) and
Zhongxiang) in 1429. In 1441, he passed away due to illness. Garuda, Sanskrit bījas (seed syllables) (Pl. 18.6), a mantra
Ten years after his death, his consort Lady Wei 魏氏 (d. 1451) tablet (Pl. 18.7) and vájra thunderbolts (Pl. 18.8). There are

Plate 18.6 Seed syllables, excavated from the tomb of Prince Plate 18.7 Mantra tablet, excavated from the tomb of Prince Zhuang of
Zhuang of Liang (1411–41) and Lady Wei (d. 1451) at Zhongxiang, Liang (1411–41) and Lady Wei (d. 1451) at Zhongxiang, Hubei
Hubei province. Gold, left: height 2.8cm, width 2cm; right: height province. Gold, weight 9.4g, diameter 5.3cm. Hubei Provincial
2.9cm, width 2.1cm. Hubei Provincial Museum Museum

Religious Consciousness and Beliefs in the Ming Tombs of Princes and Royal Family Members in Hubei Province | 167