Jade burial suit unearthed in Henan reflects ancient hierarchy

The Han Dynasty (202 BC-220) marked the golden age of jade burials in ancient China. Among the most striking burial artifacts from this period is the jade suit – crafted specifically for entombment – used to encase the bodies of emperors and high-ranking nobles.

On display at the Henan Museum is a remarkable example – a jade suit sewn with gold thread, composed of 2,008 individual jade plaques. This artifact was unearthed in 1985 from a tomb in Shangqiu, Henan Province, and dates back to the Han Dynasty some 2,000 years ago.

The use of such jade suits reflected the rigid hierarchical structure of Han Dynasty society. As burial garments reserved for the elite, these suits were not merely decorative but also symbolized power, purity, and immortality. While the Henan Museum's jade suit is neither the earliest discovered nor the best-preserved, it stands out as the only fully restored jade suit in the province, with the highest number of intact jade pieces found to date.