King who died in a foreign land -- Unveiling the Secrets of the Nanyue King's Tombs

Author: Liu Zhenle and Tan Qingzhi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1996-01-01
Features: After the founding of New China, with the acceleration of national basic construction, an increasing number of ancient tombs were unearthed and excavated in conjunction with the construction projects. Famous tombs such as the Han Dynasty tombs of Mancheng in Hebei, Mawangdui in Changsha, Hunan, and DabaoTai in Beijing were discovered and excavated for this reason. The Nan Yue King's Tomb in Guangzhou, which is the focus of this book, was also discovered amidst the roar of construction machinery. Funerary systems were an important part of the ceremonial traditions in ancient feudal societies. From emperors to commoners, regardless of wealth or status, there was a set of burial specifications that matched their social standing. The highest level of the Western Han Dynasty's funerary system was the imperial standard, which was recorded in historical texts in relatively detailed accounts, and this book will also mention it. The second-highest level was the burial rites of feudal lords, which were briefly documented in related literature, and this book aims to provide a more detailed description. The Nan Yue King's Tomb belongs to a unique type of feudal lord's tomb. It is considered unique because it is located far from the Central Plains, in the Lingnan region, and the Nan Yue King once declared himself emperor, effectively becoming the ruler of the local separatist state—the Kingdom of Nan Yue. This is reflected in the tomb, which exhibits characteristics of Han culture from the Central Plains, traces of Chu culture from the Jianghan region, and cultural elements of the Baiyue ethnic minorities in the Lingnan region. At the same time, it fully reflects the historical fact that the Nan Yue King declared himself emperor. The purpose of this book is to present a general overview of the funerary practices of feudal lords during the Han Dynasty through the discovery, excavation, and research of the Nan Yue King's Tomb. Using the valuable artifacts unearthed from the tomb, such as rare treasures, as vivid and tangible materials, the book aims to enrich people's knowledge of cultural relics and archaeology, thereby fostering a greater appreciation and protection of cultural relics. Ultimately, it seeks to deepen people's love for the profound history and splendid ancient culture of our motherland.