Empress Cixi, born Yehenara in 1835 during the Qing Dynasty, rose from a humble palace maid to become a powerful figure who controlled the fate of the Qing Dynasty. After the death of Emperor Xianfeng, she became the center of power, dominating the political landscape. Not only did Empress Cixi live a life of unparalleled luxury, but her tomb was also filled with treasures.
The decorations within her tomb were extravagantly lavish, with the coffin adorned with pearls and gold-threaded embroidered silk. At the head of the coffin lay a jade lotus leaf, while a large lotus flower rested at its foot. She wore a phoenix crown and a colorful embroidered robe, with her bedding embroidered with large peony flowers. On her hands were bracelets made of diamonds, shaped like chrysanthemums and plum blossoms. Surrounding her body were 27 jade Buddha statues, and at her feet were jade fruits, including a watermelon, cabbage, and loofah, all crafted from precious stones. Additionally, her coffin contained over 700 treasures, including jade statues of the Eighteen Arhats and fine horses.
However, these treasures could not protect her from the tomb raiding led by Sun Dianying. In 1928, Sun and his men shocked the world by excavating Empress Cixi's tomb. They blasted open the underground palace, discovering her body and countless treasures, but ultimately only a portion of the treasures were handed over to the Kuomintang leadership, while the rest remains missing.
