The Wanyan Digunai (Wanyan Zhong, Esikui) funerary complex in Primorye

The article outlines the findings of studies of a funerary complex with a stone sculpture of a bixi turtle, discovered in 1893 on the territory of the O.V. Lindholm’s mill in Primorye. The present research is based on unpublished diaries (kept in 1893 and 1894) by F.F. Busse, who had carried out rescue excavations on the hill under the sculpture and unearthed a stone cist buried nearby. A rounded stele top with 20 hieroglyphs was found at the same place. The translation demonstrates that the burial was that of a prominent Jurchen military leader belonging to a noble Wanyan clan-Wanyan Digunai (Chinese name Wanyan Zhong, 完颜忠, nicknamed Esikui/Asukui, 阿思魁). The burial itself was largely neglected because scholars focused on translating and interpreting the inscription, whereas the burial was believed to have been looted long ago, and the Busse’s diaries remained unpublished. The focus of the present study, therefore, is on the description of all available sources relating to the Wanyan Digunai’s funerary complex. Based on the analysis of excavation findings, features of the funerary rite are reconstructed. The architectural design and layout of the complex are shown to follow the local East Asian tradition.