gems, jade, China, archaic jade, nephrite, amphibole jade

During the past twenty-five years, an overwhelming number of Han tombs have been unearthed—some thirty thousand as estimated in 1999—and many regional archaeological journals have been established to document these excavations. In all but a few cases, the tombs have been plundered, but grave robbers usually leave some funerary goods behind, and generally, they do not significantly disturb the tomb structure. Tomb preparation during the Han dynasty varied depending on the status of the deceased, the period of construction, and the region. In general, tombs became more permanent structures, made either of durable materials like brick or stone or by laboriously cutting directly into stone to form a pit or cave. Tombs of these kinds were made possible by increased efficiency in the production of bricks and perhaps in the manufacture of iron and steel tools. Another major characteristic of Han tombs is the elaboration of their interiors with architectural elements borrowed from buildings used by the living (but with discrepant features as well). Admittedly, the earliest evidence of this practice can be found at pre-Han sites, but during the Han dynasty, the imitation is more distinct, and there is a marked preference for the organization of the tomb space along a horizontal axis. Various types of tomb construction will be examined in this essay, as well as the grave goods placed within. Some cited examples emphatically confirm longstanding views regarding burials of the period, but others reveal a much greater array of possibilities in tomb design and outfitting than was previously known. The tombs and artifacts considered in this essay are associated with people of means, and those without such resources would have had simple graves and few, if any, goods.