Topic: Miraculous Mawangdui

Speaker: Yu Yanjiao, director of research center for Mawangdui and its collection, Hunan Museum

Date: at 3:00pm on May 29

Location: Multi-function hall 

How to Attend: Please scan the code below to skip to the Museum's WeChat official account , and make your reservation!

Tel: 0371-63582521

The tomb masters of Mawangdui Han Tombs are Li Cang, the prime minister of Changsha state in Western Han dynasty, and his family members.

The excavation of the three Western Han Dynasty Tombs at Mawangdui, Changsha, which took place between 1972 and 1974, was one of the world’s most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. The fully preserved tomb structure as well as a wealth of funerary items served to fully embody everyday life and funeral concepts during the Han Dynasty. Over 700 exquisite lacquer items with intricate workmanship reflect the brilliant accomplishments of Han Dynasty lacquerware, and over 500 exquisite textile garments fully attest to the “Kingdom of Silk” (Seres) in the Western historical records. More than 50 bamboo slips and silk manuscripts serve as “encyclopedias”, demonstrating the knowledge and wisdom of the ancient sages. The Mawangdui Han Dynasty Tombs are renowned as the exemplar of the history and civilization in the early Han Dynasty, providing a window to understand society in China over 2,100 years ago.

How were the Mawangdui Han tombs excavated? And why the female corpse never got decayed after 2000 years of time? Why we call the excavation of Mawangdui Han Tombs as a "significant discovery"? Join this lecture and you shall find the answers!