The mysterious mercury river in the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang: Until now there is no explanation

After the tomb of Qin Shi Huang was excavated, mankind witnessed the most magnificent and mysterious things in human history, related to the terracotta army and the magical mercury river.

Legend has it that when night falls on the top of Ly Son, amidst the eerie howling wind and pounding rain, the tomb guards often shiver when they see ghostly lights flickering from the heart of the giant tomb mound. Those lights flicker like thousands of invisible eyes, watching every human movement. To the ancients, it was a sign of the wrath of Qin Shi Huang – the first emperor to unify China. And to us today, those legends are the introduction to one of the greatest mysteries in human history: Qin Shi Huang’s tomb and the “mercury river” flowing underground inside.

The origin of this story is not just a folk rumor. Sima Qian's "Historical Records - Qin Shi Huang Benji" - the most voluminous official history of ancient China - has left clear and detailed descriptions. In it, the mausoleum is described as a miniature universe: "astronomy above, geography below", stars and constellations are reproduced on the ceiling, and rivers, mountains and land are reproduced below. In particular, Sima Qian mentioned the use of mercury to symbolize rivers and seas, pumped and operated by mechanical mechanisms.

This detail has fascinated generations of readers. Many people have asked: did Sima Qian really witness it, or was it just a fantasy to exaggerate the greatness of the first emperor in Chinese history? Thousands of years passed, the mystery still hung like a layer of fog, until modern science entered the picture.

In 1981, a Chinese archaeological team first used mercury measuring equipment to survey the burial mound. The result was surprising: they discovered mercury anomalies spread over an area of nearly 12,000 square meters, far exceeding the natural level. In other words, there was a huge amount of mercury underground – certainly a man-made product. The discovery was like suddenly smelling a strange scent in a closed room and finding the secret box that emitted that scent.

In 2002, within the framework of the "863 Project" - a key scientific research program of the Chinese government - remote sensing and geophysical exploration technology were further applied. The results once again stunned the academic world. Scientists not only confirmed the existence of mercury in the tomb, but also pointed out the different distribution levels: highest in the center of the mound, strong anomalies in the southeast, and gradually weaker in the northwest. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the mercury here was of the low-temperature absorbing type, originating from deep within the underground palace.

These evidences strongly support Sima Qian's account, turning the "legend of the mercury river" into a scientifically confirmed fact. The first hypothesis mentioned by many scholars is that mercury was considered a defense mechanism. In ancient times, mercury was known as a dangerous poison. Arranging a huge amount of mercury in a tomb was like setting up a "poison screen" ready to destroy any tomb robbers. With that calculation, Qin Shi Huang ensured that those who dared to offend would pay with their lives.

Another haunting theory relates to the belief in immortality. Throughout his life, Qin Shi Huang searched for the elixir of life, sending messengers across the sea to find a cure for longevity. Mercury, in ancient medicine, was once considered a magical ingredient. The construction of a "mercury river" in the mausoleum may have been part of his ambition to create a miniature world where he would continue to rule after his death. That silvery liquid became a symbol of eternity, of power that would not be erased by time.

In ancient times, refining mercury was extremely difficult. Cinnabar (HgS) ore mines could only produce a few hundred kilograms a year. However, history still recorded an important clue. "Historical Records: The Biography of the Grand Historian" tells of a widow named Qing, who lived in Ba County, who became rich thanks to her cinnabar mine. She became a major supplier to the imperial court, and was even respected by Qin Shi Huang to the point of building a tower in her honor.

However, scientists believe that the cinnabar source from Ms. Thanh is not enough. Modern archaeological research has discovered many more mercury mines dating back to the Qin-Han Dynasty in the Xunyang area (Shaanxi), not far from the mausoleum. The estimated reserves here are up to 17,400 tons, which could be the main source to build the "mercury river" for the mausoleum.

Although surveys have proven the existence of mercury, countless mysteries still hang in the air. Is that mercury still in a liquid state today, or has it transformed and seeped deep into the ground after more than 2,000 years? Was Qin Shi Huang’s real purpose defensive, or was it a desire for immortality? And most importantly, are there secrets hidden inside the mausoleum that we have never imagined?

Archaeologists remain extremely cautious. Modern technology allows exploration, but direct excavation could permanently damage the underground structures and the artifacts inside. Aside from the scientific reasons, there is also respect for the world’s most historic site – a place where the power, luxury and obsession of an emperor were crystallized.

To this day, the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum remains one of the greatest archaeological projects in the world. The hundreds of thousands of terracotta warriors and horses that have been excavated are only the “periphery”, while the central underground palace has yet to be seen by anyone. The river of mercury, according to both legend and scientific evidence, still flows somewhere underground, remaining silent as a challenge.

Ancient tomb engraved with the words "whoever opens it will suffer", experts are surprised to see the person lying inside Linh Trần19:33:52 22/09/2025Many scientists were surprised when they successfully excavated an ancient tomb in Xi'an (China). The identity of the person inside surprised everyone even more than the forbidden sign outside.