Fit for a King: Royals of Ancient China Buried in Jade Ceremonial Suits

Perceptions of the afterlife have inspired thousands of weird ideas for burial rituals around the world. One example comes in form of the remarkably beautiful and fascinating ceremonial suits created with jade pieces during the reign of the Han dynasty in China.

The cold and smooth jade stones put in the incredibly beautiful mosaic symbolizing the wealth of the Han Dynasty covered the remains of royal family members. Their ceremonial suits made of polished pieces of jade are one of the most surprising elements of ancient Chinese burial traditions.

Symbols of Chinese Wealth

In Chinese, they are called 玉衣; pinyin: yù yī, meaning ”jade suit”. For centuries, people believed that the jade burials were just a legend. People couldn’t imagine that the rulers were so wealthy to have covered their bodies with precious jade. However, in 1968 researchers announced the discovery of a tomb described in old texts. It was a huge sensation in China and around the world. After centuries of confusion regarding the Han dynasty’s legendary burials, the truth was finally revealed.