| This fragmented convict epitaph is believed to be the earliest epitaph discovered in China, and was found covering some human bones during excavation. The inscriptions on the tile read "Yu, the deceased, had the fourth order of nobility, came from Yongli Hamlet, Bochang County, and was sentenced to perform manual labour in lieu of fine", proving that many labourers from the former six states of the east were deployed to construct the Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang. This tile provided the prototype for later epitaphs in history, and they represent an important resource for research into the historical development of epitaphs in China and Chinese characters. This is a collection of the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum. |
