A Collection of China's Unsolved Historical Mysteries

China’s five thousand years of civilization have been turbulent and magnificent, yet they have also left behind countless baffling and fascinating unsolved mysteries. The book Collection of Unsolved Mysteries in Chinese History aims to systematically organize and thoroughly investigate these historical cases, preserved in the river of time.

The book selects the most representative and controversial historical mysteries from the pre-Qin period through the late Qing and early Republican eras. They include imperial secrets, such as the underground palace of Qin Shi Huang’s mausoleum, the whereabouts of the Jianwen Emperor, and the “candlelight and axe-shadow” incident; palace mysteries, such as the civet cat swapped for the crown prince, the three great cases of the late Ming, and the succession of the Yongzheng Emperor and the death of the Guangxu Emperor; the strange fates of famous ministers and generals, such as Han Xin’s death and the “unfounded charges” against Yue Fei; and cases surrounding major historical turning points, such as the whereabouts of the He Shi jade and the mystery of the sealing of the Dunhuang Library Cave. Drawing on official histories, archaeological discoveries, unofficial accounts, and scholarship from successive generations, the book adopts a rigorous yet open-minded approach to untangle each case and present its historical background, central questions, key clues, and the many competing interpretations.

Collection of Unsolved Mysteries in Chinese History does more than pursue historical details. Through these cases, it also seeks to reveal the political landscape, power structures, cultural values, and hidden depths of human nature in ancient society. It invites readers to part the mists of history and, through inquiry and reflection, experience history’s complex allure and enduring lessons.