Treasures tell tales of power and prestige

They were buried in darkness, meant to accompany nobles into the afterlife. Yet, about 2,000 years later, they have emerged into the light once again. This time, they arrive in the sweltering Beijing summer to tell stories of the political system, exquisite craftsmanship and the bygone dreams of dynastic glory.

A total of 100 rare relics have traveled from Xuzhou, Jiangsu province, to the capital for the ongoing exhibition, Han Jades of the Chu Royal House: Fine Artifacts from the Chu Principality of the Western Han Dynasty, at the Beijing Archaeological Site Museum, also known as the Beijing Dabaotai Site Museum.

Jointly organized by the Beijing Archaeological Site Museum and Xuzhou Museum, the exhibition running until Nov 8 showcases luxury objects from the Chu state of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220).

Unlike the Chu of popular historical imagination — the vassal state of the Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century-771 BC) that emerged about 3,000 years ago and became associated with many enduring legends — the Chu featured in this exhibition was a vassal state within the Han Dynasty, an administrative territory enfeoffed by the central government and placed under its oversight.

According to Yuan Feng, director of the Xuzhou Museum, Xuzhou was the hometown of Liu Bang, the founding emperor of Han. After ascending the throne, Liu Bang enfeoffed his younger brother Liu Jiao as the head of Chu. Over the reigns of 12 Chu rulers, the state survived for 190 years, becoming one of the most powerful fiefs within the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24).

The display is divided into two main sections. The first explores the rituals, military system and daily life of Chu, offering a glimpse into its material culture. The second turns to the spiritual world, exploring how the Chu people expressed their pursuit of aesthetics and immortality through jade, says Xu Chao, an associate researcher at the Beijing Archaeological Site Museum.

Among the highlights is a stone leopard-shaped weight unearthed from the mausoleum of a Chu ruler at the western foot of Shizi (Lion) Mountain in Xuzhou, says Liu Naitao, deputy director of the Beijing Archaeological Site Museum.

The leopard has a surprisingly gentle appearance, with its limbs tucked neatly beneath its body and a faint, almost smiling expression. A necklace encircles its neck.

Liu Naitao says that during the Han period, people commonly spread mats on the ground and sat on them with their knees bent. Weights were placed at the four corners to keep the mats in place. The leopard-shaped object served precisely this practical purpose.

Its form, however, may also offer a glimpse into the aristocratic tastes of the period. Leopards appear to have been kept as pets among the elite.

"The leopard has a necklace, indicating that it was raised as a pet. There is also a circular knob on the necklace, through which it could have been controlled with a rope, possibly for hunting," Liu Naitao says.

"This serves as evidence that the Han royal family kept leopards," he adds. "Rulers of the time, particularly those with powerful fiefs, often raised such animals. At the Dabaotai Western Han Mausoleum, where this museum is located, we also found the skeleton of a young leopard buried as a funerary object for Liu Jian, another vassal ruler of the Western Han period."

Jade was equally important to the aristocracy. During the Han period, wearing jade ornaments in life and being buried with them in death became fashionable among the nobility, lifting jade craftsmanship to new heights.

One of the exhibition's most prized objects is an S-shaped jade dragon, which is believed to be an example of the pinnacle of Han Dynasty jade craftsmanship. The dragon lies coiled, seemingly poised to spring into motion.

"The jade was carved with extreme delicacy. Its mouth is open, and you can even see its teeth. Its claws are extremely sharp. This is a highly typical image of the Han Dynasty dragon, exuding great strength and majesty," says Liu Naitao.

The dragon's body is decorated with patterns that scholars interpret as sprouting millet, a motif frequently found on Han Dynasty jade works.

"In an agrarian society, grain was the lifeblood of the nation. The sprouting millet probably symbolizes harvest and expresses people's wish for abundant food," says Liu Naitao.

According to Xu, the jade dragon was unearthed from the Shizi Mountain mausoleum together with four others of its kind, a discovery that caused a national sensation. The one on display is often seen as embodying the energetic spirit of the Han Dynasty, particularly the confidence and readiness for action associated with its early years. It stands in marked contrast to jade dragons produced after the mid-Western Han period, which tend to appear more restrained and graceful.