In the 1970s, archaeologists in China’s Hunan Province unearthed three tombs dating back to the early Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 24 CE) containing the remains and possessions of the Marquis of the Changsha Kingdom and his family. Over 3,000 cultural relics reflecting the opulent life of this noble family were recovered from the site. Noble Tombs at Mawangdui: Art and Life in the Changsha Kingdom, Third Century BCE to First Century CE presents 68 treasures including silk costumes, wood carvings, bronze objects, lacquer ware, jade ornaments, and seals, as well as sections of the Yang Sheng Fang manuscript, a medical text that outlines various techniques of enhancing vitality and lengthening life. These works of art, portraying aspects of daily life ranging from food to cosmetics and fashion, from entertainment to healthcare and exercise, provide a fascinating picture of reverence to the afterlife imparted by the ancients more than 2,000 years ago. Noble Tombs at Mawangdui represents the most extensive collection of items from Mawangdui ever on view in the United States. A fully-illustrated bilingual catalogue accompanies the exhibition.

Curator: Chen Jianming