In the history of the Western Han dynasty, there was a famous “deposed emperor.” According to historical records, he ascended the throne at the age of nineteen, but just twenty-seven days later, the ministers forced him to abdicate for his debauchery, cruelty, and wanton behavior. It is said that he committed more than a thousand misdeeds during those twenty-seven days! This deposed emperor was Liu He, the grandson of the famous Emperor Wu of Han. After his deposition, Liu He was demoted to the rank of Marquis of Haihun and eventually died in depression.
In 2011, after grave robbers damaged the site, archaeologists began an emergency excavation on Mount Guodun in Xinjian District, Nanchang. Five years later, experts officially announced that the remains on Mount Guodun were the family cemetery of the Western Han Marquis of Haihun. The main tomb, Tomb No. 1, yielded a vast quantity of exquisite artifacts. Written records found on bamboo slips, seals, and other objects confirmed that the tomb belonged to Liu He, the deposed Marquis of Haihun! It was a truly astonishing discovery. Liu He’s life and the archaeological findings from his tomb soon attracted widespread attention.
This book carefully examines and organizes historical sources to reconstruct the events leading up to Liu He’s deposition, what happened during it, and how it unfolded. It explores the origins of Liu He’s personal tragedy and the deeper causes behind the political situation of the time. From a professional perspective, it also offers an accessible archaeological interpretation of the Marquis of Haihun’s cemetery and its unearthed artifacts, helping readers learn about the excavation and its findings.
A very nice documentary book. I feel very emotional that when the Huo regime dominated the world, the Han royal family who was not selected by him to be emperor were also lucky. The former emperor was able to escape unscathed with regrets, and was never executed or hunted down. He was much luckier than the royal family of later dynasties. Even if he becomes the emperor, so what if he realizes his ideals and ambitions, the country will have changed three generations later! Why bother to persist for the rest of your life! Living well in the present is the best choice for yourself! ❤️Go with peace of mind, there is nothing to regret!
The introduction is detailed, the analysis is thorough, the language is easy to understand, and the annotations expand a lot of knowledge and are fascinating.