- Index - Exhibition
- The Exhibition OF Mawangdui Han Tombs
- 1.A Great Archaeological Discovery
- 2.Walking into the Family of the Marquis of Dai
- --Li Cang’s Family
- --An Extravagant Life
- --The Beauty of Lacquerware
- --The Brilliance of the Silk Country
- --The Treasure on Silk and Inscribed Slips
- 3.Set of Painted Coffins with a Big Outer Coffin
- 4.Everlasting Remains
- 5.Gallery
- The Exhibition of Shang and Zhou Bronzes Found in Hunan
- The Exhibition of Ceramics from Famous Kilns in Hunan
- Exhibition of Calligraphies in the Ming and Qing Dynasty
- Exhibition of Paintings Created in the Ming and Qing Dynasties
- Exhibition of Ten New Major Archaeological Discoveries in Hunan
Li Cang’s Family
In the second year of the reign of Emperor Huidi(193 B.C.) of the Han dynasty, Li Cang, the prime minister of the Changsha State was conferred the rank of Marquis of Dai. Since then, the title was inherited through four generations, until the first year of Yuanfeng reign of Emperor Wudi (110 B.C.),when Li Zhi, the last Marquis of Dai and procurator of Donghai, was relieved of the title because of some wrongdoing.
Jade Seal displaying “Li Cang”
Bronze Seal displaying “Seal of the Marquis of Dai”
Bronze Seal displaying “Prime Minister of Changsha State”
Side length: 2-2.2cm Height: 1.4-1.7cmUnearthed from Tomb No.2
They are respectively the personal seal, conferment seal and official seal of the tomb owner.
Map of the territory of the Western Han Dynasty showing Changsha Kingdom and manor of Marquis of Dai.
Emperor Liu Bang, the founder of the Western Han Dynasty, awarded Wu Rui, the former District Magistrate of Poyang and the King of the Changsha Kingdom, for his military merit. The territory of Changsha Kingdom stretched north to the southern part of present day Hubei, south to Lian County, east to Poyang Lake and west to present day Guizhou.Li Cang
Li Cang, the first Marquis of Dai, is the occupant of Tomb No.2. He was born in late Warring States period and died in the second year of the region of Empress Gao (186 B.C.). He took part in the peasant uprising at the end of Qin Dynasty and the war between Chu State and Han State. In early Han Dynasty he was appointed Chancellor of Changsha Kingdom, and was conferred the rank of Marquis of Dai, who had a manor of 700 households in the region of Emperor Hui. Dai, his manor, is located in between Luoshan County and Guangshan County, Henan Province, today.
Gold Inlaid Bronze Crossbow Trigger
Length 15cmUnearthed from Tomb No.2
Bearing an carved inscription (廿三年私工室), it was made in the twenty-third year of Qin’s King Zheng’s reign (224 B.C), which accompanied Li Cang to see action in the peasant uprising at the end of Qin Dynasty and the war between Chu State and Han State.
Wife of Li Cang — XIn Zhui
Although her birthday was not known, Xin Zhui, wife of Li Cang and owner of Tomb No.1, died around the first year of the reign of Emperor Wen in Han Dynasty when she was about 50 years old. Her corpse was still well preserved when it was unearthed.
The Reconstruction Statue of Xin Zhui, Wife Of Marquis of Dai
It is 158cm tall and was reconstructed according to her corpse and related materials.Son of Li Cang
The owner of Tomb No.3 is a son of Li Cang, who died in the 12th year of the region of Emperor Wen (168 B.C.) when he was over 30 years old. He was supposed to be a general who directed the War against the Southern Yue Kingdom. When it was unearthed, only his skeleton remained in the tomb.
The Portrait of the Tomb-owner done on the T-shaped Painting on Silk from Tomb No.3 Painting on Silk from Tomb No.3
Lacquered Crossbow with Incised Patterns
Length: 70cmUnearthed from Tomb No.3
It is a funerary wooden object.
The crossbow was a kind of long-range weapon. This one is much longer than those made before the Qin Dynasty, which measured about 52cm in length, so it would range a greater distance than ever before. In general the range of the crossbows made during Han Dynasty was about 167-278m. This one has an advanced aiming device.
Map of Garrison
Length 98cm width 78cmUnearthed from Tomb No.3
Unlike a modern map, the south is shown at the top and the north at the bottom. This region was located in between Mount Jiuyi and the Southern Ridges in Ningyuan in southern Hunan province. The map shows mountains, rivers and residential quarters, and in particular it indicates the locations of the garrisons, defense regions, military facilities and progression routes of nine troops. In the late years of Empress Gao, the central government and the Changsha Kingdom sent troops to fight against the invasion of the Southern Yue Kingdom. The war lasted to the early years of Emperor Wen. This map maybe was used by the tomb-owner who directed the war.