Archaeologists identify oldest imperial edict found in China

The "Chuguozhaoshu" or Imperial Edict of Dethronement unearthed from the tomb of Liu He, who was a short-time emperor of the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD), was confirmed to be the oldest imperial edict of Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) found in China.

The edict was found by archaeologists from the Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology after more than four years of research.

The Imperial Edict of Dethronement was unearthed in October 2017 in the west room of Liu's tomb, which is located in east China's Jiangxi Province.

Liu was given the title "Haihunhou" (Marquis of Haihun) after he was deposed as emperor after only 27 days. He was dethroned by the royal clan because of his lack of ability and morality.

Archaeologists say that the imperial edict is of great value. It was transported from the imperial city of Chang'an located northwest of today's Xi'an City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province to the vassal state of "Haihunhou" during the Han dynasty.

"Two imperial edicts of the Western Han Dynasty were found in the Juyan Wooden Slips. One was dated the third year of Yong Shi and the other the fifth year of Yuan Kang. The imperial edict of Haihunhou should be the third one of the Western Han Dynasty ever discovered, and should be the oldest," said Yang Jun, researcher of the Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology.

The imperial edict records in detail the disposition of Liu's assets after his death, which further specifies the decision-making process of major political events in the imperial court of the Han Dynasty.

"There are a lot of names and official positions listed in the edict. Several people like Bing Ji and Xiao Wangzhi, among the Eleven Heroes in the Kylin Pavilion during the reign of Emperor Xuan of the Han Dynasty are also listed in it. It is probably this group of people, or people related to them who made the decision ten years after the dethronement of Liu He. We can see the continuity of politics during the reign of Emperor Xuan, and their position had been consistent on some major policies," said Yang Bo, associate researcher of the Institute of Ancient History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

In 2015, Chinese archeologists excavated the cemetery and confirmed the tomb of Liu He.