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Ancient China – Xia
The Wet Mummy of Lady Dai
Changsha, Capital of Hunan Province
Changsha, Capital of Hunan Province
The Site
• Known as Mawangduifrom Ma’andui(‘saddles’)
• Old maps show it as the tomb of Ma Yin, king of Chu State during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (9th
Century AD)
The Discovery
• 1971: troops were excavating for a new underground hospital
• When drilling pungent, flammable gas emerged
• Locals thought it might be a ‘fire tomb’
• 1972-3: Archaeological excavation begins – using a bulldozer and many labourers
• Identified 3 tombs
Tomb 1 Tomb 2 Tomb 3
Shovel & Burial Tablet
“On the first Wuchen day of Yisi, the second month of the twelfth year, the chamberlain in charge of funeral service, holding a memorial with funeral articles, presents a list of the delivery for inspection.”
= twelfth year in the reign of Emperor Wendi of Han (168 B.C.)
A Powerful Family
Li Cang‘Li Cang’‘Seal of Marquis of Dai’‘Prime Minister of Changsha State’Tomb 2
Xin Zhui‘Concubine to Dai’Tomb 1
Li Xi‘Chamberlin of Marquis Dai’Tomb 3
Texts: Philosophy, Divination, Medicine, Military Arts
Maps: Prefecture, Topographic & Military
Who was Lady Dai?
• Xin Zhui, also known as Lady Dai or Marquise of Dai
• Widow of Li Cang, the Marquis of Dai, during the Han Dynasty
• Died 163 BC
• Exceptionally well preserved body