Dahuting

In December 1959, construction workers digging west of Dahuting Village in Mi County (now Xinmi), Henan Province, encountered the southern limits of two subterranean tombs built of stone and brick.

Dahuting M1 was a gift from the throne presented to Zhang in recognition of service to the emperor during the power struggle that led to the establishment of the Eastern Han.

After Liu ascended to the throne as Emperor Guangwu (r. 25–57 CE), he ordered that Zhang be buried near his ancestral home in a tomb constructed at imperial expense.

In this way, the emperor accomplished a return of grace or baoen, repaying Zhang's act in life with posthumous reward affecting his afterlife.

Tombs M1 (in the west) and M2 (in the east) house matching subterranean burial structures of Zhang Boya and his wife, with mounds rising 10 and 7.5 meters respectively above the ground.

The three main chambers of the structures are laid out along a south–north axis connected by paved paths and separated by carved stone doors with thresholds.

Banquet scene with jugglers
Mural detail of a woman
Banquet scene
Mural of chariots and cavalry