北魏元融墓誌小札

Notes on Yuan Rong Epitaph of the Northern Wei Dynasty

This paper presents a deep analysis of the historical information contained in the texts of the Northern Wei Dynasty epitaph belonging to Yuan Rong and other epitaphs from the Zhang Wu Wang clan and the Nan An Wang clan. It is explained how from the era of Emperor Xiao Wen, the Zhang Wu Wang clan formed a dependent relationship with the Nan An Wang clan. This relationship continued after the Heyin incident. Correspondingly, Yuan Rong himself was buried in the Nan An Wang clan cemetery on Mt. Mang in Luoyang. In addition, the paper describes how the fact that the princess of the Nan An Wang clan came from a criminal family brings to light the leading role played in social reproduction by the kingship of Tuo Ba.