Jade clothes are the aristocratic burial clothes that prevailed in the two Han Dynasties. In order to facilitate wearing on the body, it is generally divided into multiple parts according to the structure of the human body. Each component consists of jade chips, which are drilled and connected in series with wires. At present, among the jade clothes that have been completely restored, the smallest number of jade pieces is more than 1,000, and the largest is more than 4,000 pieces.
According to the material of the wire connecting the jade sheets, jade clothing is generally divided into three types: gold strands, silver strands and copper wisps. In addition, there is a solitary jade robe, connected by silk thread, which is a silk jade robe unearthed in 1983 at the tomb of King Zhao Wei of Nanyue, Guangzhou.
Nanyue King Zhao Wei silk jade clothes
Among the many noble tombs unearthed in jade, Zhao Wei, the king of Nanyue, was the only king with a different surname.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, there were strict regulations on the use of jade clothing, and the golden jade clothing was used exclusively by the emperor, and no golden jade clothing has been found in Eastern Han tombs. In some Western Han tombs currently cleaned up and excavated, gold strands of jade clothes or jade clothing fragments have been unearthed.
Most of the tombs of the Two Han Dynasty, which lasted for more than 2,000 years, were stolen. Therefore, very few complete jade clothes, especially golden jade clothes, can be preserved.
However, after a long period of time, even after the complete jade clothes are unearthed, they must be repaired. Some tombs have unearthed a large number of scattered jade clothing pieces, and there is also the possibility of repairing into complete jade clothing.
Here is an introduction to the golden jade clothes collected by several museums in China.
Zhongshan Jing King Liu Sheng and Queen Dou Jiu, gold strands of jade clothes - Hebei Museum collection
It was unearthed in 1968 in Manchengling Mountain, Baoding, Hebei Province, and is completely preserved. Neither tomb was excavated and was discovered during construction by the army.
These two sets of golden jade clothes are the earliest and most complete sets of golden jade clothes found in China.
Liu Sheng's golden jade coat, after restoration, is 1.88 meters long, the number of jade pieces is 2498 pieces, and 1100 grams of gold wire. The jade pieces are mainly Xiuyan jade. This jade garment has been restored many times in subsequent exhibitions.
Dou Yi gold strand jade coat, after repair, 1.72 meters long, 2160 pieces of jade pieces, 700 grams of gold wire. The jade pieces on the top part of the jade robe are not connected with gold wire, but are pasted with silk fabric. The jade piece is also Xiuyan jade.
Zhongshan Huaiwang Liu Xiu's golden jade coat - collection of the National Museum of China
It was unearthed in 1973 in Bajiaolang Village, Dingxian County (now Dingzhou City), Hebei Province, and is completely preserved. The tomb was stolen and the coffin was burned.
This piece of gold strands of jade clothing, after repair, is 1.82 meters long, 1203 pieces of jade, and 2567 grams of gold wire.
Liu Xiu was Liu Sheng's fifth grandson, and Liu Sheng was the first king of Zhongshan. Because Liu Xiu had no son, Liu Sheng's line of Zhongshan King ended from him.
Lion Mountain, King Chu's tomb gold wisp jade coat - Xuzhou Museum
In 1995, it was unearthed in the tomb of the Western Han Chu King in Lion Mountain, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, and the tomb was stolen. Most of the gold silk of the golden jade coat was withdrawn, and the jade pieces were scattered on the tomb gate plug stone, and the number of jade pieces exceeded 4,000.
The restored gold strand jade coat, 1.74 meters long, 4248 pieces of jade, of which 432 pieces are supplemented, with 1770 grams of gold wire.
This piece of golden jade clothing, jade pieces made of Xinjiang Hetian green and white jade, high quality, fine workmanship. Moreover, the number of jade pieces used is the largest among the various types of jade clothing unearthed so far.
The jury is still out on the owner of the tomb.
Dayunshan Han Tomb Golden Jade Clothes - Nanjing Museum Collection
In 2009, the Nanjing Museum received a basket of gold strands of jade clothing, which was later confirmed to have been stolen from Tomb No. 2 of the Dayunshan Han Tomb Group. Dayunshan Han tomb complex, excavated from September 2009 to December 2011. Tomb No. 1 was stolen during the Wei and Jin dynasties, and Tomb No. 2 was stolen by modern people.
After restoration, it is 1.70 meters long and has 2381 jade pieces, including 1738 original jade pieces and 643 new pieces. With gold wire 760 g.
The Dayunshan Han Tomb Group is the mausoleum of Liu Fei, the king of the Western Han River, of which the No. 1 tomb is Liu Fei's tomb, and the No. 2 tomb is the tomb of his second queen, the specific name is unknown.
More than 10,000 cultural relics have been unearthed in the Dayunshan Han tomb group, and the Dayunshan Han King Mausoleum Museum has been built, which was officially opened in January this year.
Tomb No. 1 of Xishan - Henan Museum
In 1986, it was unearthed in Tomb No. 1 of Xishan in Yongcheng, Henan, and the tomb was stolen, and more than 1,000 pieces of jade clothes were found.
After restoration, it is 1.80 meters long and jade pieces 2008.
The owner of the tomb is a certain king of Liang in the Western Han Dynasty.
The Tianjin Museum has a collection of gold strands of jade
The location of the land is unknown, with 3124 pieces of jade and 1350 grams of gold wire.
In the eighth issue of "Collecting Circle" magazine in 2006, an article on the restoration of gold strands of jade clothes was published, which mentioned that the restored gold strands of jade clothes were consistent with the set of gold strands and jade clothes in the collection of Tianjin Museum, in terms of the number of jade pieces and the weight of gold wires, which also mentioned that the jade clothes were 1.65 meters long. The article mentioned that this set of golden jade clothes was obtained overseas by Taiwan compatriots Chen Junhong and Xu Wuji in 2005.
These two sets of jade clothes should refer to the same set.
The Shangqiu Museum houses gold strands of jade
It is said to be unearthed in the 90s of last century in Tomb No. 1 of Yaoshan in Yongcheng, Henan. Tomb No. 1 cleared more than 300 pieces of jade clothing at that time.
The jade suit on display in the museum is 1.70 meters long and has 2,010 jade pieces.
In addition, the Linyi Museum has a set of golden jade sets, which are incomplete golden jade clothes, only the head, two gloves, and two foot covers. After repair, 1140 pieces of jade. This set of gold-stranded jade sets was unearthed in May 1978 in Hongjiadian, Linyi, Shandong, and the tomb owner's name is Liu Wei, who lived around the early Western Han Dynasty, and the specific identity cannot be determined.
There are also some museums exhibiting golden-stranded jade clothing, which are replicas. In the tombs of the nobles of the Western Han Dynasty found locally, only scattered pieces of gold strands of jade clothes were unearthed.