Ancient tomb engraved with the words "whoever opens it will suffer", experts are surprised to see the person lying inside

Many 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 "no opening" sign outside.

Throughout thousands of years of history, Chinese culture has always been closely associated with the concept of the afterlife. For the ancients, death was not the end, but a transition to a new journey in the underworld. Therefore, building tombs, burying precious objects, and holding solemn ceremonies all had the meaning of ensuring that the deceased would continue to enjoy glory and wealth in the afterlife.

But because of that, ancient tombs often become lucrative targets for tomb robbers. To protect the eternal sleep of their relatives, ancient aristocrats not only built solid tomb systems but also set up countless mechanisms, traps and even mysterious curses, spreading fear to anyone who intended to invade.

One of the most shocking discoveries of the 20th century related to ancient tombs was in 1957, in Xi'an - the cradle of many powerful dynasties. At a construction site, workers accidentally hit an unusual green stone slab. On this stone slab were carved intricate patterns, completely different from ordinary stone. Realizing that this could be an important relic, they quickly reported it to the authorities.

Explore the strange tomb

An archaeological team was immediately dispatched to the site. Through preliminary research, experts determined that this was a tomb from the Sui Dynasty (581–619). What surprised them was that the structure of this tomb was very different from many tombs of the same period that had been excavated before. The solid architecture, the arrangement of stone slabs and patterns showed that the tomb's owner must have been a person of extremely special status.

The deeper they went, the more fascinated the excavators became. Finally, they discovered a stone coffin carved with dragons and phoenixes – symbols of royalty and nobility. But the most chilling thing was the inscription emblazoned on the coffin lid:

This was clearly an ancient curse. In Chinese belief, such curses were often used to deter tomb robbers, instill fear, and protect the souls of the deceased. However, in the face of scientific responsibility and the desire to explore, the archaeologists decided to continue opening the coffin after careful preparation.

Secret in the coffin

The moment the coffin lid was opened, the entire excavation team was stunned. They did not find the body of a king, queen or adult noble, but instead a girl of about 8-9 years old. Even though it had been over a thousand years, the remains were still quite intact, especially the layer of sparkling jewelry covering her body.

On the girl’s body, experts discovered a series of jewelry made of gold, silver, jade, glass and rare ceramics. Most notably, the phoenix crown and gold necklace were still intact, shining under the excavation lights. In total, there were more than 230 artifacts buried with the girl, all of which were luxury items that only the royal class could own.

The scene before their eyes left the archaeologists both moved and confused. Why was a young girl buried as a princess? What was her true identity?

Decoding the mystery of the little princess's identity

Fortunately, a 370-word epitaph was also found in the tomb. This was the key to deciphering the secret. The epitaph's content revealed the girl's true identity: Ly Tinh Huan.

Li Jingxun is no ordinary character. She has the dual blood of two powerful dynasties: Northern Zhou and Sui. Specifically, her maternal grandmother is Yang Lihua, the empress of Northern Zhou Xuandi. Her father is Yang Jian, the founder of Sui and later Emperor Wendi.

With such a noble origin, Ly Tinh Huan was both the granddaughter of an empress and the daughter of a founding emperor. It was not difficult to understand why she was loved and pampered by the royal family.

However, cruel fate took her life too soon. According to the stele, in 608, during a long trip, Ly Tinh Huan suddenly fell seriously ill and passed away at the age of 9. This sudden departure caused the entire royal court and especially her grandmother – Empress Duong Le Hoa – to be extremely sad.

To commemorate and protect her niece, Duong Le Hoa built a lavish mausoleum and buried her with a solemn ceremony no less than any princess. She was also the one who carved a curse on the coffin lid with the hope of preventing evil people from disturbing her, so that her niece could rest in peace.

Cultural and historical significance

Discovering Li Jingxun's tomb not only helps to clarify a tragic story in the Sui Dynasty royal family, but also brings great archaeological and cultural values. It reflects the belief in death. The ancient Chinese believed that death was the continuation of life. Therefore, they prepared full jewelry and utensils for the deceased to continue "living" in the afterlife.

In addition, it also represents power and social status. Although she was just a little girl, Li Jingxuan was buried with more than 230 treasures, proving her special position in the royal family. Not only that, it has inspired research on funeral customs. The tomb shows that the funeral rites of the Sui Dynasty were maintained and developed from the traditions of previous dynasties, while emphasizing the bond between family and political power. Finally, it guarantees family affection. The fact that the grandmother had a curse engraved to protect her grandchild shows a sacred bond that transcends the strict political standards of the royal family.

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