Unveil from the Ground: Fengshui Burial Practices Through Texts and Archaeology in the Northern Song Dynasty

This study examines the discrepancies between the theoretical framework of Northern Song fengshui principles and their actual application in burial practices, using archaeological evidence and historical texts. While previous research has primarily attempted to interpret burial layouts through fengshui guidelines, few tombs strictly adhered to these normative principles, and the reasons for such deviations remain underexplored. Focusing on the Chao family of Chan County, a politically and culturally influential lineage, this paper investigates how family members selectively applied fengshui to serve their own strategic interests. By analyzing cemetery planning and written records, it reveals how elite families manipulated theoretical frameworks to secure burial sites and maintain lineage dominance. The study further categorizes common deviations in Northern Song burial practices, attributing them to local geomorphological constraints and kinship structures. Ultimately, it provides new insights into the interaction between ideology, social organization, and spatial planning in medieval China.