Jade burial suit: 2,000-year-old 'immortality' armor worn by Chinese royalty

A burial suit comprised of thousands of pieces of jade on display at a museum.

Name: Jade burial suit

What it is: A type of ceremonial suit constructed of jade pieces and worn by royal members of China's Han dynasty (ruled from 206 B.C. to A.D. 220), as well as later rulers and elites, when they were buried.

Where it is from: China

When it was made: Approximately 2,000 years ago

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What it tells us about the past: Each burial suit was made using thousands of uniquely shaped pieces of jade, which artisans stitched together using gold thread. The masterfully crafted suits were "built as armor" to protect the deceased in the afterlife and to "prevent mortal decay," according to UNESCO. It appears ancient Han royalty also believed the suits protected the soul.

"The ensemble of jades protected the body and the soul in their entirety, enabling the deceased to attain immortality," according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

While ancient texts had referenced the suits, it wasn't until 1968 that archaeologists found real-life examples when they discovered two in Hebei province in northeastern China. The suits were used in the burials of Han dynasty ruler Liu Sheng, the Prince of Zhongshan, and his wife, Princess Dou Wan.

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In addition to the armor, both individuals were found with jade pieces covering their eyes and plugs in their ears and other bodily orifices. Sheng's suit contained an incredible 2,498 individual pieces of jade. Researchers estimate it would have taken 10 years to create his suit, UNESCO reported.

Researchers also discovered a set of rules titled "The Book of Later Han," which describes in detail how the suits were made and how different types of thread should be used depending on a person's social status. For example, an emperor's suit used only gold thread, whereas lower-ranking elites' suits were crafted with silk thread.

However, the elaborate burial practice was halted in the 500s during the reign of Emperor Wen of Western Wei, since the highly valued suits were being targeted by looters.