Is There Really Mercury in the Underground Palace of Qin Shihuang’s Mausoleum?

The Historical Records record that the underground palace of Qin Shi Huang’s tomb contains a hundred rivers and seas made of mercury that flow incessantly. In order to figure out the authenticity of the mercury in the underground palace, archaeologists used soil sample testing and new technologies such as remote sensing and physical exploration to measure the Qin tombs in 1982 and 2002, respectively. It was proved that mercury was indeed present and the amount was very large. According to the abnormal reaction area of mercury volatilized into the sealing soil, there are 12,000 square meters. Experts calculate that the mercury content in the underground palace could be hundreds of tons.

Why was a large amount of mercury used in the underground palace of Qin Shi Huang’s tomb?

Mercury is an extremely volatile metal that appears in liquid form at room temperature, and the mercury vapor that evaporates is highly toxic. Experts believe that the mercury in the underground palace may be used for anti-corrosion and anti-theft. In addition, it is recorded in “The Historical Records” that the Duke of Qi Huan and King Helu of Wu used mercury as a pool in their tombs after their deaths. So the placement of mercury in ancient tombs may be a burial custom, it is used to embalm, but also used to indicate the geographic image.

Where Do Large Amounts of Mercury Come From?

Mercury in its free state is very rare in nature and is usually extracted artificially from ores containing mercury sulfide. Ancient people often used mercury to make gilt bronze, but at the same time used it to make potions. According to “The Historical Records”, there was a widow named Qing in Ba Shu who made a fortune by making mercury and became rich beyond her means. Qin Shi Huang, who was obsessed with finding the elixir of immortality, considered her a chaste woman and treated her with courtesy, and built a “Female Huai Qing Terrace” in her honor.

In Xunyang County, Shaanxi Province, about 100 kilometers from the Qinling, there is a bronze ditch. Archaeologists have found more than 1,000 ancient mining caves of various sizes here. Among the excavated mining tools from the Warring States period to the Qin and Han dynasties prove that mercury was mined in Xunyang County as early as the Warring States period for the use of mercury. Xunyang County historically belonged to the scope of the State of Ba, after the unification of Qin established Ba County. Therefore, experts speculate that the Ba Shu widow Qing may also be a native of Xunyang County. The mercury she refined was transported to the tomb of Qin Shi Huang in a steady stream, which was rewarded by Qin Shi Huang’s recognition.

It is also thought that the mercury may have come from the borderlands of present-day Chongqing, Guizhou and Hunan. A large number of ancient mining caves have also been found there. However, according to relevant experts, alchemy should have started here only during the Tang and Song dynasties, more than 1,000 years after Qin in terms of age. Therefore, it is likely that the mercury in the underground palace of Qin Shi Huang’s tomb came from the closer Ba County, that is, Xunyang County, this place. The refined mercury was transported to the tomb of the First Emperor of Qin through several roads such as Ziwu Road and Kugu Road in the Qinling Mountains on the backs of people and horses.