Tomb of Ajall Shams al-Din Omar in Kunming
Location
The Tomb of Ajall Shams al-Din Omar (赛典赤·赡思丁墓) has two sites: the actual tomb is located in Majiayan Village (马家庵村), northern suburbs of Kunming City (昆明市), Yunnan Province (云南省); the commemorative mound is situated southwest of Minhang Road Primary School (民航路小学) in Guandu District (官渡区), Kunming, near the intersection of Minhang Road (民航路) and South Ring Road (环城南路).
Tomb Description
The actual tomb of Ajall Shams al-Din Omar is rectangular, oriented south-north, with a stone base and an earthen top. It is 1.8 meters high, 2.6 meters long, and 1.4 meters wide. The commemorative mound is also rectangular, built of stone, approximately 2.7 meters high, 2.3 meters long, and 1.3 meters wide. It features a stone eave cover and stone inscriptions on all sides. The tomb serves as an important red resource in Yunnan and provides valuable material for studying and inheriting the spirit of Ajall Shams al-Din Omar.
On October 7, 2019, the tomb was announced by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China (中华人民共和国国务院) as one of the Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units (第八批全国重点文物保护单位).
General Information
- Chinese Name: 赛典赤·赡思丁墓
- Geographical Location: Majiayan Village (马家庵村), northern suburbs of Kunming City (昆明市); southwest of Minhang Road Primary School (民航路小学), Guandu District (官渡区), Kunming.
- Historical Period: Yuan (元), Qing (清) to Republic of China (民国)
- Protection Level: Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units (第八批全国重点文物保护单位)
- Approval Unit: State Council of the People’s Republic of China (中华人民共和国国务院)
- Number: 8-0189-2-022
Historical Background
In the sixth year of the Republic of China (民国六年, 1917), Yunnan military and political officials, led by Tang Jiyao (唐继尧), rebuilt the commemorative mound on the original tomb site established during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty (清康熙年间) to honor Ajall Shams al-Din Omar.
In 1981, Wuliduo Primary School (五里多小学) contributed funds for renovations, restoring the base and stone steps of the commemorative mound and planting flowers around it. In 1984, the Yunnan Provincial People’s Government (云南省人民政府) allocated 30,000 yuan for the restoration of the tomb, completed in February 1986.
Site Characteristics
The Tomb of Ajall Shams al-Din Omar consists of two sites: the actual tomb located in Majiayan Village (马家庵村) in the northern suburbs of Kunming and the commemorative mound located southwest of Minhang Road Primary School (民航路小学). The commemorative mound was rebuilt in 1917, based on the original tomb from the Kangxi era.
In February 1986, after restoration, the actual tomb was surrounded by stone, measuring 2.9 meters in length, 1.4 meters in width, and 1.8 meters in height. The top of the tomb is rounded, with a gravestone on the south side. The upper part of the gravestone is semicircular, engraved with Arabic script, while the lower center features the inscription “Tomb of Ajall Shams al-Din Omar, King of Xianyang, Yuan Dynasty” (元咸阳王赛典赤赡思丁墓) in Chinese. On the upper left, there are two small lines stating “Born in 1210, died in 1279” (生于一二一O年，卒于一二七九年), and on the lower right, it reads “Established by the Yunnan Provincial People’s Government in February 1986” (云南省人民政府，一九八六年二月立). The area is surrounded by a fence, and various trees and flowers are planted around the tomb.
The commemorative mound, rebuilt in the sixth year of the Republic of China (1917), is a rectangular stone structure about 2.7 meters high, 2.3 meters long, and 1.3 meters wide, featuring a stone eave cover and stone inscriptions on all sides. In 1981, Wuliduo Primary School funded further restoration of the mound’s base and steps, enhancing its surroundings with flowers.
Cultural Relics
The commemorative mound of Ajall Shams al-Din Omar features stone inscriptions on all four sides. The front inscription reads “King Shams al-Din of Xianyang, Yuan Dynasty” (元咸阳王赡思丁). The left side contains excerpts from the “History of the Yuan” (《元史·赛典赤赡思丁传》), while the right side features a record of the rebuilding, written by Yuan Jiagu (袁嘉谷) in the sixth year of the Republic of China (1917), stating, “Recently, the people of Yunnan yearn for the King, often coming to pay respects, lingering under the mound, reluctant to leave” (近，滇人思慕于王，瞻拜凭眺，往往徘徊陵下，不忍去).
Historical and Cultural Significance
Ajall Shams al-Din Omar (赛典赤·赡思丁, 1211-1279) was a prominent politician during the early Yuan Dynasty (元朝). Also known as Wumaar (乌马儿), he was of Hui ethnicity, originally from Bukhara (布哈拉), Uzbekistan (乌兹别克斯坦). His family was influential (the Arabic term “赛典赤” means “noble holy offspring”), and he was highly regarded by Kublai Khan (忽必烈). During the reign of Emperor Yingzong (宪宗), he served as the chief governor of Yanji Road (燕京路), where he significantly aided Kublai Khan in pacifying Yunnan.
In the first year of the Yuan Dynasty (至元元年, 1264), he was appointed as the chief minister of Shaanxi and Sichuan provinces (陕西四川行省平章政事), preparing the Yuan army for the campaign against the Southern Song (南宋). His three years in office were marked by outstanding achievements. By the eleventh year of the Yuan Dynasty (至元十一年, 1274), he served as the chief minister of Yunnan Province (云南行省平章政事). During his five years in Yunnan, he reorganized the administration, promoted cultural governance, reformed local customs, encouraged agriculture, developed water conservancy, and improved relations with neighboring countries such as Annan (安南) and Myanmar (缅甸). After his death, Kublai Khan posthumously honored him with the title King of Xianyang (咸阳王).
Research Value
The tomb of Ajall Shams al-Din Omar is an important red resource in Yunnan, providing valuable material for studying and inheriting the spirit of Ajall Shams al-Din Omar.
Protection Measures
On October 7, 2019, the tomb was designated as one of the Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units (第八批全国重点文物保护单位) by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.
Tourist Information
Geographical Location
The actual tomb of Ajall Shams al-Din Omar is located in Majiayan Village (马家庵村), northern suburbs of Kunming City (昆明市); the commemorative mound is situated southwest of Minhang Road Primary School (民航路小学) in Guandu District (官渡区), Kunming.
Travel Information
- By Car: From the People’s Government of Kunming City (昆明市人民政府) to the actual tomb, it is approximately 47.9 kilometers and takes about 48 minutes. To reach the commemorative mound, it is about 22.9 kilometers and takes about 38 minutes.
