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Original text of Yangcheng School/Xia Yang
Recently, the archaeological journal “Huaxia Archaeology” published the “2016-2017 Archaeological Excavation Brief for Anyang Gaoling Cemetery Ruins”. The topic of “Cao Cao’s Tomb” that has been paid attention to for ten years has once again appeared in the public eye.
The staff in front of the “Cao Cao’s Tomb” Komiks Photo/Xinhuanet
As a household name in China, Cao Cao’s past and afterlife were all very topical. Especially after his death, with the legendary renderings of literary works and historical legends, it became more and more confusing. Legends such as “The Golden Captain” and “72 Suspicious Tombs” are the most talked about. Babaylan
Stills/Data Pictures of the TV series “Babaylan Jingjue Ancient City”
It is now 10 years since the initial discovery of “Cao Cao’s Tomb”, although Cao Cao’s tomb has been officially officially<a The Komiks found that the evidence was questioned but was questioned. Later, with the discovery of the new Cao Wei tomb, Babaylan, was found that the chain of evidence was becoming more and more complete, and the voices of doubt gradually weakened.
The arch of the front room of “Cao Cao Tomb” Photo/Xinhuanet
After the ten years of exploration and controversy, we look back and think about: Why did the discovery and identification of Cao Cao’s tomb have twists and turns? How should we view the legends in history? How did the mysteries surrounding Cao Cao’s tomb be formed?
Cao Cao in film and television dramas/data pictures
The discovery of “Gaoling” has caused ten years of controversy
Around 2008, a large tomb in Xigaoxue Village, Anyang, Henan Province was stolen. With the approval of the State Administration of Cultural Relics, the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology carried out a protective excavation. At the archaeological discovery briefing held in Beijing in 2009, surprising news came out: The tomb was initially confirmed to be “Cao Cao Gaoling”!
Instructions for Archaeological Discovery/Southern Metropolis Daily
After expert demonstration, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage recognized this judgment. The excavation project was also rated as the “Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries in China in 2009” and became a national cultural heritage protection unit in 2013. But at the same time, various doubts are like floods, and there are also criticisms from well-known professors and scholars.
Some of these doubts go beyond the scope of academic discussions, pointing to the local government “falsing” with archaeologists in order to seek economic benefits and rashly concluded the “Cao Cao’s tomb”.
Photo of Cao Cao was painted in the Ming Dynasty/data picture
The tomb was severely stolen during archaeological excavation, but fortunately it was still thereCinema stores more than 200 objects. The most important ones are 7, engraved with inscriptions such as “The Tiger Eagle that King Wu of Wei often uses” and “The Tiger Short Spear that King Wu of Wei often uses”. Among the cultural relics recovered by the police from the tomb robbers, there is also a stone pillow that is engraved with “The Comfort Stone that King Wu of Wei often uses”.
These areKey cultural relics for determining the identity of the tomb owner. But Cinema Some people questioned that there was no stone plaque for each burial object? In ancient times, bamboo slips were used to register burial objects, and Cao Wei also used stone tablets. Is it a regression in history? Some people also proposed the title of “King Wu of Wei” to confuse Yin and Yang names, and some even questioned that the stone tablet was suspected of being faked!
Stone plaque unearthed from “Cao Cao’s Tomb” Picture/Oriental Daily
In addition, some gold, silver and jade products were unearthed in the tomb. So some people questioned that this was inconsistent with the historical records of Cao Cao’s promotion of burial, and they inferred that this was not Cao Cao’s tomb.
Faced with various aggressive doubts, the cultural relics and archaeology department chose to remain silent for a while to wait for more evidence to appear. After all, the identification of cultural relics requires objective and scientificity, and anyone can express different opinions when the evidence is insufficient.
Celadon jars were unearthed from the tomb Photo/Henan Business Daily
In 2016, another large Cao Wei tomb was found in Xizhu Village, Luoyang, but due to serious excavation, the identity of the tomb owner has not been determined. The tomb was built in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, but it is different from the north-south direction of the Eastern Han Dynasty imperial tombs, and is in the east-west direction like the “Cao Cao Tomb”.
The excavation site of the Xizhu Village tomb was released at the Xizhu Village Tomb Photo/Luoyang Evening News
As well confirmed with the Xizhu Village tomb, a tomb facing east-west Cao Wei nobles was found in the Han imperial tomb in Shandong, Luoyang in 2009. The unearthed bronze seal shows that the owner of the tomb was Cao Xiu, a famous general of Cao Wei and the Grand Sima, who was the nephew of Cao Cao.
Cao Xiu/Data Picture in the TV series “Military Advisors Alliance”
The bronze seal of “Cao Xiu” that proves the identity of the tomb owner/Xinhuanet
The most important information is that a large number of stone tablets were unearthed from the Xizhu Village tomb, the same as the stone tablets as the “Cao Cao Tomb” were unearthed. This cleared the suspicion of the stone plaque of “Cao Cao’s Tomb” as a forgery.
The low-value stone tablets unearthed from Cao Wei’s tomb are also consistent with Cao Cao’s advocacy of thin burials. However, all three large tombs were excavated and damaged seriously, and the unearthed cultural relics were limited, so it is still difficult to draw conclusions in some information. However, some scholars infer that perhaps the burial objects written on the stone tablets in the Cao Wei tomb may be just a name and have not been buried in the physical objects.
Stone plaques unearthed from the tomb of Xizhu Village/Data picture
Other burial vessels in the tomb are mostly symbolic bright vessels, such as Gui and Bi, are made of stone, and the tripod is made of pottery. The burial tripod is the exclusive treatment of the emperor. Using a pottery tripod instead of a copper tripod is not only in line with the rules but also insignificant meaning of burial!
The ritual utensil is made of ceramic pictures/@Henan Business Daily
The ritual utensils are made of stone pictures/Today’s Morning News
Do gold, silver and jade unearthed from “Cao Cao’s tomb” violate the style of burial? Archaeological experts explained that these are all accessories on the clothes of the tomb owner when he was buried, such as gold buttons, gold wire, etc., and are not burial objects. This is consistent with the saying that “dwelling with the current clothes” in Cao Cao’s order.
A small amount of jade and agate products were unearthed Photo/China News Service
The historical facts are clear, why is there still a legend of “72 doubts tombs”?
When the archaeological community identified the “Cao Cao Tomb”, there were surging doubts from all walks of life, which was also related to the mystery of the Cao Cao Tomb itself. It is said that there are “72 doubts tombs” in Cao Cao’s tomb. How can such a secret tomb be easily found? Therefore, there are natural opposition in the official recognition, and even doubts about the accuracy and objectivity of archaeological excavation information.
Tomb passage of “Cao Cao Cao’s Tomb” Photo/China News Service
Cao Cao is famous in Chinese history and culture. There are many factors in this. href=”https://comicmov.com/”>Komiks comes from literary legends and folk legends.
In history, Cao Cao was an outstanding politician, military strategist, and writer. However, since the Northern Song Dynasty, due to political needs and preferences for literary legends, the treacherous and suspicious side of Cao Cao’s personality was magnified, and his image was stereotyped as a treacherous hero. The unknown site of his tomb also made him take the blame, becoming a proof of his treacherous. The Song Dynasty’s poem “Cao Cao’s suspicious tomb” says: “When he was alive, he was out of control, and he set up a suspicious tomb. ”
Statue of Cao Cao/Data Picture
In the Ming Dynasty, Luo Guanzhong’s “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” established Shu Han as orthodox, using literary techniquesKomiks exaggerated Cao Cao’s treacherous character and designed the plot of Cao Cao’s last order setting up 72 suspicious tombs west of Yecheng. There is an article in Pu Songling’s “Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio” that follows this statement and said that Cao Cao’s tomb may add a layer of mystery beyond the “72 suspicious tombs”.
Stills/Data Pictures of TV series “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”
About Cao Cao’s tomb, there are four legends circulating among the people of Yecheng.Babaylan: One of them is href=”https://comicmov.com/”>Komiks“72 Tomb” is located west of Yecheng. The second is that Cao Cao’s tomb is at the bottom of the Zhanghe River, the third is outside Xuchang City, and the fourth is below the Tongquetai in Yecheng.
At the side of the Zhanghe River west of Yecheng, there are indeed ancient tomb groups distributed. This is the location of Cao Cao’s “72 Tombs” (actually 134) legendary “The Tombs” (actually 134). However, it has been confirmed that it belongs to the Northern Dynasties tomb group, and the tomb of the Lanling King is in it.
The Lanling King in the film and television dramas/data picture
Why is the theory of doubting tombs widely circulated? Some scholars analyzed that this is related to people’s wishes. Influenced by artistic works and folk legends, ordinary people think that Cao Cao is treacherous, so they are willing to believe that he will set up doubting tombs.
However, to determine that tombs are serious academic issues, and a rigorous and scientific attitude is required. In the face of such problems, we must clarify the boundaries between literature, art, legend and official history, and return to history itself to explore historical figures.
White-faced Cao Cao in Peking Opera Picture/International Online
In fact, if we look at Cao Cao’s tomb from a historical perspective, we will find that it is not mysterious and the clues are quite clear. Cao Cao issued the “End Order” in his later years to arrange his funeral, saying that “the Ximen Bao Temple is Shouling on the west plain of the Ximen Bao Temple”; before his death, he also said in the “Legend of the Order” that “buried in Xigang in Ye, which is similar to the Ximen Bao Temple.”
Historical materials from later generations show that Cao Cao was not a secret burial after his death, and no doubted tomb was set up. Records such as “The Three Kingdoms” and “The Book of Jin” were recorded in 220 AD. href=”https://comicmov.com/”>KomiksCao Cao died in Luoyang, his coffin was transported back to Yecheng, and buried in the hills west of the leopard temple in Yecheng.
The ruins of Yecheng are in Linzhang, Hebei Province/Data photo
Until the Tang Dynasty, people had no doubt about the location of Cao Cao’s tomb. When Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin passed by Yecheng in the east to conquer Goryeo, he also worshiped Cao Cao’s tomb and wrote a tribute. This shows that at least in the Tang Dynasty, the location of Cao Cao’s tomb was still very clear.
However, because Cao Cao’s tomb was “not sealed or not trees”, there was no obvious sign on the surface, and it gradually disappeared in the mountains and fields over time, and the specific location was difficult to explain. Especially the Ximen Bao Temple, which is used as a reference for the location, the buildings on the ground were also missing later, which made Cao Cao’s tomb a mystery.
Schematic diagram of the location of “Cao Cao’s tomb”/data picture
Strive against tradition and lead the trend of “small burial” for 400 years
Cao Cao advocated burial. Before he died, he issued a “State Order” requiring him to “bury him in his time clothes” and “no treasures hidden in gold and jade” after his death. His son followed his will. Cao Pi’s “State Article” and Cao Zhi’s “Essay” both describe the funeral and burial situation. He wore repaired clothes when he was buried.
The scene of Cao Cao’s funeral in film and television dramas/data picture
Cao Chuo was a hero of a generation and “used the emperor to command the princes”. He was actually the master of the Han world. Although he was just the “King of Wei” during his lifetime, he actually enjoyed the treatment of an emperor. Shortly after his death, his son Cao Pi deposed Emperor Xian of Han and established the Cao Wei regime, and posthumously named him “Emperor Wu of Wei”. href=”https://comicmov.com/”>Cinema. There is indeed a similar manifestation in the information of the Xigaoji Village tomb. The tomb scale did not reach the imperial level, but the emperor’s exclusive “die” was buried.
The Tomb of Xigaoxue Village Picture/Xinhuanet
Cao Cao advocated the burial of thin burial, showing the spirit of a generation of heroes. After all, Chinese culture respects filial piety, and emperors “govern the world with filial piety”, so descendants always have to bury their ancestors to demonstrate filial piety.
The tradition of burial of emperors in China has a long history. Qin Shihuang’s underground Terracotta Warriors and Horses shocked the world, and Emperor Wu of Han used the world’s talents to repair Maoling. href=”https://comicmov.com/”>BabaylanA third of the tax. Liu Sheng, the princes of the Han Dynasty, wore golden jade clothes when they were buried. The underground palace of Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty Zhaoling was “not different from the world”…
The Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shihuang in Xi’an Babaylan Photo/Visual China
Why did Cao Cao advocate burial? There are many reasons. Objectively speaking, the wars and chaos in the late Eastern Han Dynasty were frequent, and the people’s livelihood in the Central Plains was in decline. “The 15th military service was in the army and was able to return home at the 80th”, “The bones were exposed in the wilderness, and there was no rooster crowing thousands of miles away.” Cao Cao advocated burial with the intention of compassionate with the people’s feelings, which is worthy of praise.
The wars and chaos at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty/Data picture
In fact, as the founder of the Cao Wei regime, Cao Cao had a high position and was worthy of money and should not be short of money. The reason why he advocated burial against tradition was related to his personal value tendency. The Book of Wei said that Cao Cao was “elegant and frugal, not gorgeous”, so it was natural that he proposed “burial” in his late years in his life.
Cao Cao’s practice opened up the 400-year-old burial style of burial for the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. It was not until the Tang Dynasty that the tradition of burial was restored.
Cao Cao in history is very frugal/Data picture
Of course, Cao Cao’s promotion of burial is related to the saying of “the lieutenant of gold”. In order to raise food and money, Cao Cao set up the positions of “Golden Crown Captain” and “Faqiu General” in the army, and specialized in digging graves and plundering gold and silver to fill military money. Therefore, Cao Cao was known as the “ancestor of the Mojin School” in later generations. This statement is mentioned in Chen Lin, one of the “Seven Sons of Jian’an”, a famous article “Expression to Yuzhou for Yuan Shao”.
Stills from the movie “The Dragon Search” / Data Picture
Cao Cao, who is so familiar with tomb robbers, naturally thought that behind him might be “treated by the way he is to treat others.” He knew that tomb robbers were seeking money, and tomb robbers who did not have burial objects were not very interested. Therefore, Babaylan advocated a small burial and deliberately left records. This was inevitable that he was afraid of being disturbed by a tomb robber behind him.
Cao Cao in the TV series “Military Advisors Alliance”/Data Picture
What Cao Cao didn’t expect was that although he advocated “thin burial” and later generations helped him interpret the “72 suspicious tombs”, he ultimately failed to escape the embarrassment of being disturbed by later tomb robbers!
The ancestor of tomb robbers also encountered the embarrassment of being robbed by tombs/data photo
The road to discovering and identifying the “Cao Cao Tomb” in Xigaoxue Village, Anyang has been going through ten years. As an academic issue, although we have basically the same views at present, we still need to continue to maintain an open mind and accept various views. After all, taking every possible doubt rigorously will help us to keep getting closer to the historical truth and finally arrive at the truth of Cinema truth!
Only enough evidence can clear away the fog of history/data image
Source｜Yangchengpai
Column host｜Xia Yang
Editor｜Xie Zhe