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Jade burial suit unearthed from Han Dynasty tomb
Updated: Apr 24, 2022
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In the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), jade burial suits were used to encase the deceased emperors and aristocrats. Unearthed from a Han Dynasty tomb in Shangqiu, Henan province in 1985, a jade suit sewn with gold wire is now in the collection of the Henan Museum.
The suit consists of five parts covering the head, upper body, trouser legs, hands and feet. A total of 2,008 jade plaques of varied shapes are connected by gold wire. Attached also are a jade pig in hand, a jade cicada in mouth, jade plug for ears and nose. It protects the corpse and is believed to help the deceased reach immortality.
