Complete 2,000-Year-Old Edition of the Han Dynasty’s ‘Book of Songs’ Unearthed in China

Archaeologists in China have announced what is being hailed as one of the most crucial discoveries in recent memory: the finding of a complete, ancient manuscript of the “Book of Songs” (Shijing). This text stands as one of the oldest and most revered works within the canon of Chinese literature. The remarkable artifact was recovered from the tomb of Marquis Haihun, Liu He, who was the grandson of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. The burial site is situated in Nanchang city, Jiangxi province, and has been the focus of intensive archaeological research for over a decade.

The fragile manuscript is composed of hundreds of narrow bamboo slips, upon which ancient scribes meticulously applied ink to inscribe the characters. Each individual slip measures approximately twenty-three centimeters in length, typically containing between twenty and twenty-five signs written on one side. Given the delicate nature of the material, specialists employed advanced infrared scanning techniques to recover the content without causing damage to the fragile bamboo.

Analysis of the recovered text confirmed its immense historical value. Researchers determined that the manuscript contains 305 poems and 7274 lines. This exact count corresponds precisely to the classical, canonical version of the “Book of Songs.” Consequently, this newly discovered copy represents the first known complete edition of this literary monument to survive in its entirety down to the present day.

According to Yang Jun, the lead director of the excavation project, this discovery holds colossal significance for understanding the cultural and educational framework of the Western Han era. Scholars hypothesize that this specific textual variant might have functioned as a key teaching aid for Confucian education, considering that the “Book of Songs” was considered a mandatory component of instruction for the Chinese elite.

The tomb’s occupant, Marquis Liu He, holds a unique and somewhat dramatic place in the history of the Han Dynasty. He was the grandson of Emperor Wu, recognized as one of the most powerful rulers of his time. Following his grandfather’s death, Liu He briefly ascended to the throne, but his reign was cut short after only twenty-seven days when he was deposed. He was subsequently granted the title of Marquis Haihun. Despite his brief tenure as emperor, his elaborate burial site attests to the high degree of learning and cultural traditions prevalent among the aristocracy of that period.

The systematic excavation of the tomb, which commenced in 2011, has already yielded a wealth of priceless artifacts. These include exquisite gold ornaments, bronze vessels, musical instruments, ornate mirrors, and hundreds of other inscriptions etched onto bamboo slips. Nevertheless, the complete “Book of Songs” stands out as the central and most transformative discovery, potentially reshaping our understanding of the history of Chinese writing and the poetic canon.

The “Book of Songs” itself occupies a foundational position in Chinese culture. It is believed to have been compiled between the 11th and 7th centuries BC and was later edited by Confucius, who integrated it into the revered collection known as the “Five Classics.” The poems within this anthology vividly depict the daily life, rituals, and worldview of ancient society, reflecting a perceived harmony between nature, the state, and the individual. For centuries, the text served as the cornerstone of Confucian moral instruction and was considered a vital source of ethical values.

Modern technology played an indispensable role in both the preservation and decryption of the ancient text. Utilizing infrared and 3D scanners, researchers were able to decipher the barely visible characters and accurately reconstruct the original sequence of the slips. Plans are underway for a digital publication of the restored text in the coming years, enabling scholars globally to compare it with later versions and refine their understanding of the evolution of language and poetic forms in ancient China.

The uncovering of the full version of the “Book of Songs” in Liu He’s tomb is more than just an archaeological triumph; it serves as a powerful symbol of the continuity of Chinese civilization. It emphatically confirms that the intellectual and literary traditions established more than two millennia ago remain vibrant today, maintaining a tangible link between the past and the present.