湖南省博物馆马王堆英文讲解词.docVIP

PAGE - PAGE 9 - An Introduction to Mawangdui Han Tombs Historic relics unearthed from Han Tombs at Mawangdui are relevant to many legendary and touching stories, therefore it’s not easy to introduce them thoroughly to our reverend visitors. But we can still enjoy the delicate articles of ancient civilization to our eyes’ content as well as to our heart’s content. Next, we are to explore the historical and artistic wonders made by ancient Chinese people more than 2100 years ago. This picture shows the outside scene of Han Tombs at Mawangdui. The Han Tombs are located at Wulipai in the eastern suburb of Changsha. They are about 4 kilometers from the downtown area. In the flat extending fields are two mounds of tombs. They are of similar size and are linked to form the shape of a saddle. It was recorded that this site was once the family graveyard for Ma Yin, King of the Chu State during the Five Dynasties Period, and therefore acquired the name Mawangdui meaning Mound of King Ma. But according to Tai Ping Huan Yu Ji’s recording about Changsha, Mawangdui was the graveyard of Lady Cheng and Lady Tang, two concubines of Emperor Jingdi of the Han Dynasty. They were buried by Liu Fa, Prince of the Changsha State. Thus this graveyard was called “Shuang Nv Zhong” meaning the Tomb of Two Ladies. The authentic owner of this mysterious graveyard has been uncertain before Mawangdui Tombs were unearthed. At the end of 1971, No.366 Hospital of Hunan Provincial Military Region was to construct underground wards and storerooms at Mawangdui. Before the construction, Hunan Provincial Museum excavated these tombs, revealing the myths buried in this thousand-year underground palace. Here are Models of Tomb pits of the three Han Tombs at Mawangdui. They are numbered in the sequence of excavation. Tomb No.1 and Tomb No.2 lie aside from east to west. Tomb No.3 is located to the south of Tomb No.1. The opening of Tomb No.1 is of square shape, measuring 19.5 meters by 17.8 meters, wit