Tomb of Lady Dai

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