Tomb of King You of Chu

Tomb of King You of Chu

The Tomb of King You of Chu is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Tomb of King You of Chu is located near Zhujiaji (now part of Changfeng County), about 25 kilometers southeast of Shouxian County. Before excavation, it was known as Lisan Gudui. The earthen mound rises over 2 meters above the ground, with a diameter of approximately 100 meters and a circumference of about 400 meters.

In the 12th year of the Republic of China (1923), local farmers accidentally discovered bronze artifacts such as tripods, wine vessels, food containers, axes, belt hooks, mirrors, and chariot ornaments while working in nearby fields. These were later acquired by the Swedish expatriate Carl Beck in Bengbu and are now housed in the Royal Collections Department in Stockholm, Sweden. In the 22nd and 24th years of the Republic of China (1933 and 1935), locals conducted two separate excavations. Although these digs did not reach the burial chamber, they unearthed numerous artifacts, all of which were divided and sold. The famous “Princess Zeng Wuxue” (a pair) was excavated during the second dig.

In the 27th year of the Republic of China (1938), Li Pinxian, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth War Zone and Commander of the 11th Army Group, ordered his troops stationed in Shouxian to conduct a thorough excavation. This organized, large-scale operation uncovered the coffin chamber. According to Guo Zhongyi’s *Eyewitness Account* and testimonies from on-site witnesses: after digging approximately 10 meters deep, they finally reached the bottom of the tomb. There were nine coffin chambers in total, with the central main chamber flanked by two side chambers on each side. The wooden coffin was placed in the central main chamber, measuring about 3 meters in length, and 1 meter in both width and height. It was bright vermilion in color, glossy and as vivid as new. Both the coffin lid and the four walls were adorned with carved dragon reliefs and were not nailed shut. When the coffin lid was lifted, the interior was as white as snow, but the skeletal remains had turned to ash, leaving only a bundle of hair. Inside the coffin chamber were over 30 bronze chimes (possibly small bianzhong), each weighing between 1.5 and 2 kilograms. There were also over 70 colorful patterned stone slabs, each about 25 cm long, 10 cm wide, and 5 cm thick, likely representing bianqing (stone chimes). On either side of the coffin were large bronze lamps, each weighing 50–60 kilograms. In front of the coffin were three bronze tripods, each weighing 100–150 kilograms. At the center was a bronze sword about 1 meter long, with a carved dragon on the hilt. Once the dirt was wiped off, its luster remained dazzling, far surpassing that of an ordinary sword. There was also a single green jadeite ball about 34 cm in diameter. The eight side chambers surrounding the main room all contained artifacts, especially the two eastern side chambers, which held the most. These items provide valuable insight into the burial customs of Chu kings.

This excavation yielded a significant number of cultural relics, estimated at no fewer than 4,000 pieces, including over 1,000 bronze artifacts, among which more than 200 were major pieces. Only a small portion has been collected on the mainland, with some also housed in Taiwan. Among the artifacts collected by the Anhui Provincial Museum, representative pieces include the Great Tripod of Chu and the Four-Beast Flat-Bottomed Tripod.

King You of Chu (268 BC – 228 BC), of the Mi surname and Xiong clan, personal name Han, was a ruler of the State of Chu during the Warring States period and the son of King Kaolie of Chu (some say he was actually the illegitimate son of Lord Chunshen, following a scheme by Li Yuan).

In the 10th year of his reign (228 BC), in the third month, King You died. His full brother, Xiong You, succeeded him as King Ai of Chu. In the 1930s, the Tomb of King You of Chu in Shouxian, Anhui, was looted by warlords.

The *Strategies of the Warring States* records: King Kaolie of Chu had no sons, which greatly worried Prime Minister Lord Chunshen. Although he presented many women, none bore a son. This… More details about Xiong Han ++