The elite men and women of China’s second imperial dynasty enjoyed an opulent lifestyle that continued into the afterlife.
206 B.C.E.–220 C.E.
Beginner's Guide
What is the Han dynasty?
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Mirror with game board design and animals of the four directions
This ancient bronze mirror features elaborate designs representing immortality and the cosmos.
Tomb model of a watchtower
Buried in an Eastern Han tomb, this watchtower model represents the ideal world of the tomb occupant's afterlife in miniature.
The search for immortality: The Tomb of Lady Dai
Upon its discovery, Lady Dai’s tomb was in a remarkable state of preservation with wooden objects and silks in near perfect condition, as though immune to the ravages of time
Disk (bi) with knobs, feline, and dragon
Chinese artisans produced plain perforated disks, but their origin and purpose is not entirely known.
Han dynasty (206 B.C.E.–220 C.E.), an introduction
The Han dynasty was a pivotal period in the history of China—many foundations were laid for enduring aspects of Chinese society.
Funeral banner of Lady Dai (Xin Zhui)
Excavated from an ancient tomb, this opulent silk banner features the earliest known portrait in Chinese painting.
