Museum of the Western Han Dynasty Mausoleum of the Nanyue King

Located in Jiefangbei Road, Yuexue District, Guangzhou, Museum of the Western Han Dynasty Mausoleum of the Nanyue King, with an area of 1,4000 sq. m, is the witness of Guangzhou’s history of more than 2000 years. It is well known across the China for its well-preserved original site of tomb and research-worthy funerary antiquity in Han Dynasty as well as the elegant and grand architecture in Lingnan (South of the Nanling Mountain) Area.The owner of the tomb is the second king, Zhao Mei of Nanyue State of the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-24 A.D.). Hidden 20 meters (65.6 feet) underground, the tomb is made up of 750 huge stones with colorful murals. The over 1,000 pieces of cultural relics, bronze ware and terra cotta ware in particular, feature the Yue Culture of south China(Nanyue Culture). Represented also are traces of central Chinese culture, the Chu culture of south China, the Bashu culture of southwest China, the Hun culture from the northern grassland, and even foreign cultures.

A silk-jade garment made up of 2,291 pieces of jade is the spotlight of the Mausoleum. It is acknowledged that jade garments with pieces connected by gold, silver, or copper are not uncommon. But this garment is unique for its jade pieces connected by silk which makes it the only one of its kind in the world. Nor are historical records available to verify other jade garments connected by silk thread. In addition, the style of buttons down the front is unique among unearthed jade garments. This silk-sewn-jade garment shows the early development of jade garments as well as development of the Nanyue culture.

Three sets of bronze serial bells, thirty-six bronze vessels, thirty-six bronze mirrors, and three gold seals is the historical thumb made by intellectual Nanyue people in China and well presents the Nanyue Culture.

[ cite web
title = Museum of the Western Han Dynasty Mausoleum of the Nanyue King
url=http://www.gzwh.gov.cn/whw/channel/whmc/bwg/nywmbwg/index.htm
accessdate = 2008-02-14 ] [ cite web
title = History of Museum of the Western Han Dynasty Mausoleum of the Nanyue King
url=http://www.gznywmuseum.com/index_1.htm
accessdate = 2008-02-14 ]

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