• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Archaeology News
  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum
Archaeology News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Archaeology

Sixth-century tomb reveals ancient Chinese power struggle

by Dario Radley
September 28, 2023

A 1,400-year-old tomb in northwestern China has provided new evidence of a political power struggle between royal brothers and a warlord during a turbulent period in Chinese history.

Sixth-century tomb reveals ancient Chinese power struggle
Part of the tomb. Credit: Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology

The tomb, uncovered near the city of Xianyang in Shaanxi province, holds the remains of Emperor Xiaomin, also known as Yuwen Jue, regarded as the founder of the Northern Zhou dynasty in 557.

The tomb was confirmed to be the final resting place of Emperor Xiaomin, also known by his personal name, Yuwen Jue. He is considered the founder of the Northern Zhou dynasty, which was established in 557. However, historical records reveal that his reign was brief, and he was deposed and executed after only a few months. It took several decades for him to be officially proclaimed an emperor.

The tomb, approximately 184 feet (56 meters) long and 33 feet (10 meters) deep, was found in an area northwest of Xianyang known for its high-status tombs from the era. Nearby tombs belonging to Jue’s younger brother and another brother, Yuwen Yong, Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou, further attest to the significance of this region during that time.

Although the tomb had been disturbed by grave robbers at some point, 146 artifacts, including terra-cotta figurines and pottery, were uncovered by archaeologists. The epitaph on the tomb, written in cinnabar, referred to its occupant as the Duke of Lueyang, a confirmation of the historical records.

RelatedStories

Ancient Xiaohe boat burials reveal symbolic water journey into the afterlife, new study finds. (Illustration by Anja Schorneck). Credit: Caspari, G., Asian Archaeology (2025)

Ancient Xiaohe boat burials reveal symbolic water journey into the afterlife, new study finds

June 14, 2025
Ancient DNA reveals prehistoric matrilineal society shaped Neolithic China’s burial practices

Ancient DNA reveals prehistoric matrilineal society shaped Neolithic China’s burial practices

June 10, 2025

Historian Albert Dien, a professor emeritus of Chinese at Stanford University, who was not involved with the tomb’s discovery, told Live Science that Jue’s ascent to the throne was orchestrated by his cousin and guardian, the warlord Yuwen Hu. Yuwen Hu used Jue as a puppet ruler, but Jue’s rebellion led to his deposition and execution within a few months. He was succeeded by another brother, Yuwen Yu, who took the title of Emperor Ming.

However, Yuwen Hu continued to manipulate the dynasty through puppet rulers, and he met his end in 572 at the hands of a faction loyal to yet another brother, Yuwen Yong, who then became Emperor Wu. It was only after Yuwen Hu’s demise, roughly 37 years after Jue’s death, that Jue was proclaimed the first emperor of the Northern Zhou dynasty. Consequently, the epitaph on the recently discovered tomb unequivocally portrays Jue as having been buried as a duke rather than as an emperor.

The tomb is one of many high-status burials from the Northern, Sui, and Tang Dynasties in the region, with the tombs of Xiaomin’s brothers, Emperor Ming and Emperor Wu, located within 10 kilometers of this site.

This discovery enhances our understanding of a complex and tumultuous period in Chinese history, with the tomb epitaph serving as the first physical evidence of the political intrigue during the founding of the Northern Zhou dynasty, previously known only through written historical accounts.

ShareTweetShareShareSend

You May Also Like...

1,600-year-old tomb of Caracol’s founding king Te K’ab Chaak unearthed in Belize jungle
Anthropology

1,600-year-old tomb of Caracol’s founding king Te K’ab Chaak unearthed in Belize jungle

July 12, 2025
11,000-year-old feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains reveals long-distance animal transport and early Neolithic social rituals
Archaeology

11,000-year-old feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains reveals long-distance animal transport and early Neolithic social rituals

July 12, 2025
UNESCO adds Iran’s Khorramabad Valley to World Heritage List, highlighting 60,000 years of human history
Anthropology

UNESCO adds Iran’s Khorramabad Valley to World Heritage List, highlighting 60,000 years of human history

July 12, 2025
5,500-year-old 'Polish pyramids' discovered in western Poland reveal Neolithic engineering
Anthropology

5,500-year-old ‘Polish pyramids’ discovered in western Poland reveal Neolithic engineering

July 11, 2025
17th-century Gullberg’s fortress in Gothenburg brought to life through 3D reconstruction
Archaeology

17th-century Gullberg’s fortress in Gothenburg brought to life through 3D reconstruction

July 11, 2025
Neanderthals turned cave lion bones into multifunctional tools 130,000 years ago, study reveals
Anthropology

Neanderthals turned cave lion bones into multifunctional tools 130,000 years ago, study reveals

July 10, 2025

Follow us


Instagram
247K

Facebook
110K

Threads
43K

LinkedIn
12K

Twitter
6K

YouTube
1K
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Shipwreck Salvage. Credit: rawpixel.com / Public Domain

2,000-year-old shipwreck discovered off Turkish coast with remarkably preserved stacked ceramics

July 2, 2025
Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

May 18, 2025
Neanderthals operated prehistoric “fat factory” 125,000 years ago on German lakeshore, study finds

Neanderthals operated prehistoric “fat factory” 125,000 years ago on German lakeshore

July 3, 2025
Exceptionally large Roman shoes discovered at Magna fort near Hadrian’s Wall

Exceptionally large Roman shoes discovered at Magna fort near Hadrian’s Wall

July 3, 2025
Genetic study reveals the origin and diversity of the Huns

European Huns were not of Turkic origin but had ancient Siberian roots, linguistic study reveals

June 24, 2025
$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius' eruption

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius’ eruption

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado's expedition

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado’s expedition

1,600-year-old tomb of Caracol’s founding king Te K’ab Chaak unearthed in Belize jungle

1,600-year-old tomb of Caracol’s founding king Te K’ab Chaak unearthed in Belize jungle

July 12, 2025
11,000-year-old feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains reveals long-distance animal transport and early Neolithic social rituals

11,000-year-old feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains reveals long-distance animal transport and early Neolithic social rituals

July 12, 2025
UNESCO adds Iran’s Khorramabad Valley to World Heritage List, highlighting 60,000 years of human history

UNESCO adds Iran’s Khorramabad Valley to World Heritage List, highlighting 60,000 years of human history

July 12, 2025
5,500-year-old 'Polish pyramids' discovered in western Poland reveal Neolithic engineering

5,500-year-old ‘Polish pyramids’ discovered in western Poland reveal Neolithic engineering

July 11, 2025
17th-century Gullberg’s fortress in Gothenburg brought to life through 3D reconstruction

17th-century Gullberg’s fortress in Gothenburg brought to life through 3D reconstruction

July 11, 2025

Archaeology News online magazine

Archaeology News is an international online magazine that covers all aspects of archaeology.











Categories

  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • Download
  • Game
  • News
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Paleontology
  • Quiz
  • Tours

Subscribe to our newsletter

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum

About  .  Contact  .  Donation

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to improve your experience and enable functionality and security of this site. Further detail is available in our Privacy Policy. By accepting all cookies, you consent to our use of cookies and use of data.