Archaeologists speculate that the 2,200-year-old large and high-status tomb from the Warring States period may belong to King Zhao of Chu, who reigned from 262 to 238 BC.
Gong Xicheng, a researcher at the Anhui Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, shared that experts are working to complete the excavation of the Wuwangdun tomb, which covers an area of about 1.5 m2 in the province this year. According to him, the mystery of the tomb’s owner’s identity may be revealed at that time, Global News reported.
Artifacts from the Wuwangdun tomb. (Photo: Xinhua).
The tomb dates back to the Warring States period and is the largest and most prestigious tomb from the Chu state. During its peak, the Chu state ruled a vast area along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The Chu state existed for about 800 years before being conquered in 223 BC by Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who later unified China. Over the years, researchers have debated who the tomb was built for.
Among the most likely candidates, the research team leans towards King Zhao of Chu, who ruled the Chu state for over 20 years during the Warring States period. His real name was Xiong Huan, and he reigned from 262 to 238 BC. As a prince, King Zhao of Chu was taken to the more powerful Qin state as a hostage at the age of 17. He lived in the capital of the Qin state for ten years and married the daughter of the Qin king before escaping back to Chu to claim the throne.
In 241 BC, during the final days of the Chu state, King Zhao of Chu moved the capital east to Shouchun, which is now located in Huainan City, Anhui Province. Shouchun was the last capital of the Chu state, and the Wuwangdun tomb is situated about 15 km from the ruins of the ancient capital. According to Chinese historical texts such as Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian, King Zhao of Chu had no sons. His successor was Xiong Han, the son of an official.
Research efforts have been ongoing to protect the Wuwangdun tomb since 2020. To date, the archaeological team has unearthed more than 1,000 artifacts, ranging from bronze vessels and household items to lacquerware, wooden objects, musical instruments, and statues. They also discovered a large number of inscriptions within the tomb, which may reveal insights into society during the Chu state and the late Warring States period.
