Tomb of the notorious Emperor Yang of Sui found

Chinese archaeologists have reported in China’s state news agency Xinhua that the tomb they are currently excavating in east Jiangsu Province might be the final resting place of an infamous and tyrannical emperor killed during an uprising in AD 618.

Workers at a site in Yangzhou uncovered more than they bargained for: the tomb of Emperor Yang from the Sui dynasty. Image: CNTV

The grave of the notorious Emperor Yang of Sui would be an amazing discovery according to the Chinese archaeologists, though they do urge caution.

Tomb had been relocated

Shu Jiaping, who leads Yangzhou’s institute of archaeology, told Xinhua that researchers are “still not sure whether it was the Emperor’s final resting place, as historical records said his tomb had been relocated several times.”

However, a gravestone excavated from the tomb that measure 20 metres square, seems to confirm the emperor’s identity, while an inscription relating to the year of his death matches with historical accounts.

The tomb was discovered last year at a construction site and adjoined another tomb that archaeologists say may belong to the Empress.

Artefacts unearthed from the tomb included a gold-jade belt and a loop-shaped copper handle.

Sui Yangdi, Emperor of Sui. Yen Li-pen [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

A tyrant

Yang Guang, or Emperor Yang of Sui, was the second and last monarch of the short-lived Sui Dynasty (AD581-618).

Yang forced millions of workers to build palaces and luxurious pleasure gardens. His legacy does however include the Grand Canal, which was later extended to connect Beijing and Hangzhou in the world’s longest artificial waterway.

Known as a tyrant in China’s history, the emperor was killed during a mutiny in 618 AD, which marked the end of the Sui Dynasty and may explain the relatively small scale of the tomb, researchers said.

Shu did comment that the discovery does suggest that another mausoleum, 6 kilometres from the construction site is not the final resting place of the Emperor. It had long been thought to be Yang’s burial site since the Qing Dynasty (AD1644-1911)

Compared with this modest structure that has sadly been looted in the past, the “fake mausoleum” occupies an area of 30,000 sq metres and has magnificent memorial arches, tomb doors and walls.