In 1968 two tombs were found in present-day Mancheng County in Hebei province. The first undisturbed royal Western Han tombs ever discovered, they belong to the prince Liu Sheng (d. 113 BC), who was a son of Emperor Jing Di, and Liu Sheng's consort Dou Wan.

The tombs are included in the list of the Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries in China during the 20th century. Most of the funerary objects are unique, including two sets of complete jade clothes sewn with gold thread, a famous Changxin Palace Lantern, and a brilliant and delicate gold-inlaid furnace. All these objects demonstrate the advanced techniques of the Western Han Dynasty in handicrafts and arts.

Changxin Palace Lantern

Hight: 48 cm

Weight: 16 kg

Oil-burning lamps were a common means of night-time illumination in this and later periods.

Textual research shows this lantern was used by the mother of Emperor Jingdi (156-140BC) of the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) and sent as a wedding gift to Dou Wan. The lantern has an ingenious design and as a whole, it is the shape of a maid of honor on her knees holding a lantern. The lamp she holds is pivoted so that light could be directed as her mistress might wish. Smoke from the candle within passes up through the girl's sleeve and on into the hollow body, so no soot would dirty the room. The lamp holder can store water, dissolving soot from the smoke. The girl's face is a paradigm of portraiture, her gaze at once attentive and suitably deferential.

Jade Clothes Sewn With Golden Thread

Empress Dou Wan's Burial Suit, 1.72 m High, made of 2160 pieces of jade, sewed with 700 grams of gold thread.

Although their coffins had collapsed, Liu Sheng and Dou Wan were each found in a well-preserved jade suit -- the earliest and finest specimen unearthed so far. Ancient Chinese believed jade could prevent the body from decay and safeguard the soul in the afterlife.