Marquis of Haihun tomb site bids for World Cultural Heritage

The tomb site for one of China’s most controversial emperors, Liu He, better known to history as the Marquis of Haihun, will one day be submitted as a candidate for World Cultural Heritage status, archeological team leader Yang Jun said on Wednesday.

Excavation began in 2011 on China’s best-preserved Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-25 AD) royal tomb.

China will apply when a national park for the tomb is completed around 2020 at the site on the outskirts of Nanchang in East China’s Jiangxi Province, Yang said.

At least 20,000 artifacts have been unearthed including 5,200 bamboo slips likely to be the long-lost Qi (475– 221 BC) version of Confucius’ Analects and 960 pieces of lacquerware.

In 2017, experts finished restoration of 302 pieces of jade and more than 150 metal objects.

A digital hall is planned for the park as archeologists are scanning the unearthed objects using visual reality and augmented reality technology.

The marquis’ remains were found and removed from an interior chamber coffin in January 2016.

Grandson of Emperor Wu of Han, Liu He became emperor in 74 BC, but was deposed 27 days later by Empress Dowager Shangguan.

She replaced Liu He with Liu Bingyi who became Emperor Xuan.

Emperor Xuan made Liu a marquis in 63BC.