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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.
“Cao Cao’s Tomb”Babaylan 1990 cloth drawPhoto of the former staff of Babaylan 1990 cloth draw Photo/Xinhuanet
As a household name in China, Cao Cao’s past and afterlife, all the topics were discussed. Especially after his death, coupled with the legendary renderings of literary works and historical legends, it became more confusing. Legends such as “The Golden Captain” and “72 Suspicious Tombs” are the most talked about.
Stills/Data Pictures of TV series “Jingjue Ancient City”
It has been 10 years since the initial discovery of the “Cao Cao Tomb”. Cao Cao’s tomb was questioned from the beginning, but it was officially recognized. Later, with the discovery of the new Cao Wei tomb, the chain of evidence became more and more complete, and the voices of doubt gradually weakened.
The arch of the front room of the “Cao Cao’s Tomb”Cinema 1950 witch cloth draw Photo/Xinhuanet
After the ten years of exploration and controversy, we look back and think about: Why did the process of discovering and identifying Cao Cao’s tomb bend be full of twists and turns? We shouldWhat do you think of the legends in history? How did the mysteries surrounding Cao Cao’s tomb come into being?
Cao Cao in film and television dramas/data picture
The discovery of “Komiks 1960 witch cloth drawGaoling”, but it 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 and Archaeology, the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology carried out a protective excavation. At the archaeological discovery briefing held in Beijing in 2009, shocking 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”. In 2013, it became a national cultural and cultural protection unit. But at the same time, various doubts are like floods, and there are also voices of criticism from well-known professors and scholars.
Some of these questions went beyond the scope of academic discussions, pointing out that the local government rashly concluded the “Cao Cao’s tomb” in order to seek economic interests.
Photo of Cao Cao was painted in the Ming Dynasty/data picture
The tomb was severely stolen during the archaeological excavation, but fortunately more than 200 objects were left. Among them, there are 7 of the most important ones Babaylan 1990 cloth draw, engraved with “King Wu of Wei”Inscriptions such as “Tiger Eagle” and “Tiger Eagle” are often used, “Tiger Eagle Spike is often used in Cinema 1950 witch cloth draw” are also used inscriptions. Among the cultural relics recovered by the police from the tomb robbers, there is also a stone pillow engraved with “Tiger Eagle Stone is often used by King Wu of Wei”.
These are key cultural relics to determine the identity of the tomb owner. But some people questioned that there were no stone plaques for each burial object? In ancient times, bamboo slips were used to register burial objects, and Cao Wei also used stone plaques. Could it be that history was reversed? Some people proposed the title of “Tiger Eagle” to mix the Yin and Yang names, and some even questioned that the stone plaque 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. Therefore, some people questioned that this was inconsistent with the historical records of Cao Cao’s advocacy of burial, and it was inferred from this that this was not Cao Cao’s tomb.
Faced with various invasive 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. When the evidence is insufficient, anyone can express different opinions.
Celadon jars unearthed from the tomb Photo/Henan Business Daily
In 2016, another Cao Wei tomb was discovered in Xizhu Village, Luoyang. However, due to serious excavation, the identity of the tomb owner has not been determined. The tomb was built in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. draw, but it is different from the north-south direction of the Eastern Han imperial tombs, but it is the same as the “Cao Cao’s tomb”.
Xizhu Village Tomb Excavation Site Photo/Luoyang Evening News
Confirmed with the Xizhu Village TombAlso, in 2009, a tomb of the Cao Wei nobles was found in the Han imperial tombs in Shandong, Luoyang. The unearthed bronze seals indicate that the owner of the tomb was Cao Xiu, a famous general of Cao Wei and the Grand Marshal of Cao Cao, who was the nephew of Cao Cao.
Cao Xiu/data picture in the TV series “Military Advisors Alliance”
The “Cao Xiu” bronze seal that proves the identity of the tomb owner Photo/Xinhuanet
The most important information is that a large number of stone plaques like the “Cao Cao Tomb” were unearthed from the Xizhu Village tomb. Komiks 1960 witch cloth draw This clears 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 plaque in the Cao Wei tomb may be just a name and Cinema 1950 witch cloth draw has not been buried.
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 cauldron is made of ceramic pictures/@Henan Business Daily
The ritual vessels are made of stone pictures/Today’s Morning News
Gold and silver ware and Cinema 1950 witch clothes draw Jade unearthed from “Cao Cao’s tomb”. Is it against the style of burial? Archaeological experts explained that these are all jewelry 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 in line with Cao Cao’s orders “being in the clothes of the time.Babaylan 1990 clothes The theory of draw” is consistent with the theory of draw.
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”?
When the archaeological community identified the “Cao Cao’s tomb”, there were many doubts from all walks of life, which was also in line with the Cinema 1950 witch clothes of Cao Cao’s tomb itself drawMysteriousness is related – Legend has it that there are “72 doubtful tombs” in Cao Cao’s tomb. How can such a secret tomb be easily found? Therefore, there are natural opposition in the official recognition of the people, and even doubts about the accuracy and objectivity of archaeological excavation information.
The tomb passage of the “Cao Cao’s Tomb” Photo/China News Service
Cao Cao Cao is famous in Chinese history and culture. There are many factors in this, from historical facts on the one hand, and from literary legends on the other.
Cao Cao in history 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 tomb site also made him take the blame, becoming a proof of his treacherous. The Song people Yu Yingfu’s poem “Cao Cao’s suspicious tomb” says: “I deceived the heavens and the Han dynasty during my lifetime, and deceived people and set up suspicious tombs after my death. ”
Statue of Cao Cao/Data Picture
In the Ming Dynasty, Luo Guanzhong’s “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” established Shu Han as orthodox, used literary techniques to exaggerate 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 from the TV series “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”/Data picture
About Cao Cao’s tomb, four types are still circulated among the people in Yecheng. Draw Legend: One says that “72 suspicious tombs” is located west of Yecheng, the second says that Cao Cao’s tomb is at the bottom of the Zhanghe River, the third says that it is outside Xuchang City, and the fourth says that it is under the Tongquetai in Yecheng.
At the side of the Zhanghe River west of Yecheng, there are indeed ancient tomb groups distributed, which is the location of Cao Cao’s “72 suspicious tombs” (actually 134) legends. However, it has been confirmed here that Komiks 1960 witch cloth draw 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 the tomb widely circulated? Some scholars analyzed that this is related to people’s wishes. Due to the influence of artistic works and folk legendsBabaylan 1990 clothes draw, ordinary people think Cao Cao is treacherous, so they are willing to believe that he will set up suspicious tombs.
However, deciding tombs is a serious academic issue, we need to maintain a rigorous and scientific attitude. In the face of such issues, we must clarify the boundaries between literature, art, legend and official history, and return to history itself to explore historical figures.
The 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. In his later years, Cao Cao issued the “End Order” to arrange his funeral, saying that “the west of Ximen Bao Temple is Shouling”; before his death, he also said in the “Legend Order” that “buried in Xigang in Ye, 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 doubt was set up. Records of “The Three Kingdoms” and “Book of Jin” and other records that in 220 AD, Cao Cao died in Luoyang, and his coffin was transported back to Yecheng and buried in the hills west of the Leopard Temple in the West Gate of Yecheng.
The ruins of Yecheng are in Linzhang, Hebei Province today/Data map
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 when he passed by the tomb of Goryeo, he also worshiped Cao Cao’s tomb. Komiks 1960 witch clothes draw and wrote a tribute. This shows that at least in the Tang Dynasty, the location of Cao Cao’s tomb was very clear.
However, because Cao Cao’s tomb is “not sealed or treed”, there is no obvious sign on the surface, and it gradually disappeared in the mountains and fields over time, and the specific location is difficult to explain. Especially the Ximen Bao Temple, which is used as a reference for its location, was later found in the ground buildings, which made Cao Cao’s tomb a mystery.
Schematic diagram of the location of “Cao Cao’s tomb”/data picture
Strive to counter tradition and lead the trend of “thin burial” for 400 years
Cao Cao advocated thin burial. Before he died, he issued the “Legislative Order”, requiring him to “bury with his time clothes” and “no gold and jade treasures” after his death. His son followed his will, Cao PiThe “Cewen” and Cao Zhi’s “Empression” both describe the funeral and burial situation, and the clothes they wore were repaired during the burial.
The scene of Cao Cao’s burial in film and television dramas/data picture
Cao Shuo was a hero of a generation and “used the emperor to command the princes”, but 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”. There is indeed a similar manifestation in the information of the tomb in Xigaoxue Village. The scale of the tomb did not reach the imperial level, but it was buried with the emperor’s exclusive “die”.
The Tomb of Xigaoxue Village Photo/Xinhuanet
Cao Cao advocates thin burial, showing the spirit of a generation of heroes. After all, Chinese culture respects filial piety, and the emperor Cinema 1950 witch cloth draw “govern the world with filial piety”, Komiks 1960 witch cloth draw Therefore, descendants always have to bury their ancestors with great filial piety and righteousness.
The tradition of grand burials of emperors in China has a long history. Qin ShiBabaylan 1990 cloth drawThe underground Terracotta Warriors and Horses of the Emperor of Han shocked the world. Emperor Wu of Han used one-third of the world’s taxes to repair Maoling. Liu Sheng, the princes of the Han Dynasty, wore golden jade clothes to be 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 Picture/Visual China
Why did Cao Cao advocate thin burial? There are many reasons. Objectively speaking, there were many wars and chaos in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and the people’s livelihood in the Central Plains was in decline. “The army was in the fifteenth and the army was in the eightyth,” and “the bones were exposed in the wild, and there was no rooster crowing thousands of miles away.” Cao CaoAdvocating a poor burial is to be sympathetic to the people and is worthy of praise.
The wars and chaos in 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, so he should not lack money. His Komiks 1960 witch cloth draw promotes thin burial by force against tradition, which is related to his personal value tendency. “Book of Wei” says that Cao Cao is “elegant and frugal, not gorgeous”, so it is natural that he proposed “small burial” in his late years.
Cao Cao’s practice has opened up the 400-year burial style of burial for the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. It was not until the Tang Dynasty that the tradition of grand funeral was restored.
Cao Cao in history is very frugal/Data picture
Of course, Cao Cao’s advocacy of burial is not unrelated 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”.
Cinema 1950 witch cloth drawThe movie “Looking for Dragons”Stills/Data Photo
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, it is recommended to bury the poor and deliberately leave records. This is inevitable that there is the consideration of fear of being disturbed by tomb robbers behind me.
Cao Cao in the TV series “Military Advisors Alliance”/Data Picture
What Cao Cao did not 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 the tomb robbers of his long sleep!
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 reach the truth!
Full evidence can clear away the fog of history/data image
Source｜Yangcheng School
Column host｜Xia Yang
Editor｜Xie Zhe