China’s Ming Dynasty tombs—a UNESCO World Heritage site—are a collection of mausoleums that were the final resting place for China’s emperors during the dynasty that lasted from 1368 to 1644. Most of the tombs, located in a cluster in Beijing that is known as the Ming Thirteen Mausoleums, contain jewelry and precious artifacts.
Those treasures proved too tempting for a group of tomb raiders.
Chinese state-run newspaper Beijing Youth Daily reported on July 10 that seven people in a tomb robbery ring received sentences by the Changping District in Beijing, ranging from four to 12 years. They were also fined amounts ranging from 50,000 yuan (about $7,500) to 400,000 yuan (about $60,300).
Citing court documents, the report said the ring stole and then resold 12 artifacts between 2010 and 2016, all from tombs, temples, and other culturally significant sites in Beijing. At the Ming mausoleums, the ring stole a pair of stone decorative elements similar to candle holders from the tomb where the last Ming emperor, known as Chongzhen, was buried.
Other pilfered items from previous exploits include a Ming-era stone door frame carved with a Taoist immortal, a Qing Dynasty (China’s last imperial dynasty, 1644–1911) stone incense burner, and Buddha sculptures from the Ten Thousand Buddhas temple in Beijing. They then sold their booty for profit, such as a stone vase sold to a Mr. Lin for 150,000 yuan (around $22,600) in 2016.
