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Original text of Yangcheng School/Xia Yang
Recently, the archaeological journal “HuaxiaBabaylan 1990 cloth drawArchaeology” 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.
Staff in front of “Cao Cao’s Tomb” Photo/Xinhuanet
As a household name in China, Cao Cao’s past and afterlife were all very topical. Especially after his death, the legend of literary works and historical legends is more confusing. Legends such as “The Golden Captain” and “72 Suspicious Tombs” are the most talked about.
Stills/Data Pictures of the TV series “Jingjue Ancient City”
It has been 10 years since the initial discovery of the “Cao Cao’s Tomb”. Cinema 1950 witch cloth draw Cao Cao’s tomb was officially recognized, but was questioned. Later, with the discovery of the new Cao Wei tomb, the evidence link became more and more complete, and the voices of doubt gradually weakened.
The arch of the front room of “Cao Cao’s Tomb” Photo/Xinhuanet
After the past 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? How should we view 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 “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, the tomb was initially confirmed to be “Cao Cao Gaoling”!
Instructions for Archaeological Discovery/Southern Metropolis Daily
Komiks 1960 witch cloth draw After experts’ 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.
Komiks 1960 witch cloth draw Some of the questions went beyond the scope of academic discussions, pointing out that the local government colluded with archaeologists to “falsize” the interests of economics and made a rash conclusion on “Cao Cao’s tomb”.
Photo of Cao Cao painted in the Ming Dynasty/data picture
The tomb was severely robbed during the archaeological excavation, but fortunately more than 200 objects were left. The most important of these were 7, engraved with inscriptions such as “The Tiger Halberds that King Wu of Wei often used” and “The Tiger Short Spear that King Wu of Wei often used” and other inscriptions. Among the cultural relics recovered by the police from the tomb robbers, there is also a stone pillow that carved with “The Tiger Stone that King Wu of Wei often used” engraved with.
These are key cultural relics to determine the identity of the tomb owner. But some people questioned, how could I hold stone cards for every funeral item? 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!
“Cao Cao’s Tomb”Babaylan 1990 cloth drawStone plaque unearthed from Dongfang Jinbao
In addition, some gold, silver and jade products were unearthed from 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 the fierce and aggressive Cinema 1950 witch cloth draw various questions, 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”.
Xizhu Village TombKomiks 1960 witch cloth drawExcavation site Photo/Luoyang Evening News
As confirmed with the large tomb of Xizhu Village, a east-west Cao Wei noble tomb was found in the Han imperial tomb in Shandong, Luoyang in 2009. The unearthed bronze seal indicates that the owner of the tomb was a famous general of Cao Wei and the Grand Sima Cao Xiu, that is, Cao Cao’s nephew.
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. 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 vessel is made of ceramic picture/@Henan Business Daily
The ritual vessel is made of stone Photo/Today’s Morning News
Does 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 agate products was 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’s tomb”, there were many doubts from all walks of life, which was also related to the mystery of the Cao Cao’s tomb itself. It is said that there are “72 doubtful tombs” in Cao Cao’s tomb. How can such a secret tomb be easily found? Therefore, there is 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 “Cao Cao Cao’s Tomb” Picture/In the pictureKomiks 1960 witch cloth drawNew Net
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 and folk 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 literary preferences, 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 caused him to take the blame, becoming a proof of his treacherous. The poem “Cao Cao’s suspicion tomb” by Yu Yingfu of the Song Dynasty says: “I deceived the heavens and the Han dynasty during my lifetime, and deceived others and set up suspicion 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 suspicion tombs west of Yecheng. There is an article in Pu Songling’s “Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio” “Cao Cao Tomb”, which follows this statement and says that Cao Cao’s tomb may add a layer of mystery to the “72 doubts tombs”.
Stills from the TV series “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”/Data picture
About Cao Cao’s tomb, there are four legends circulating among the people in Yecheng: one says that “72 suspicious tomb” 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 of Yecheng City.
At the side of the Zhanghe River to the west of Yecheng, there are indeed groups of ancient tombs distributed. This is the legend of Cao Cao’s “72 suspicious tomb” (actually 13Babaylan 1990 4) locations. However, it has been confirmed to belong to the Northern Dynasties tomb group, and the tomb of the Lanling King is among them.
Lanling King/Information in film and television dramasCinema 1950 witch clothes drawPicture
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 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. Cao Cao issued the “End Order” in his later years to arrange his funeral, saying that “the west of Ximen Bao Temple was Komiks 1960 witch cloth drawShouling”; before his death, he also called Babaylan 1990 cloth draw “Buried in Xigang in Ye, it is similar to Ximen Bao Temple.”
Historical materials from later generations show that Cinema 1950 witch cloth draw, after Cao Cao’s death, he was not a secret burial, 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. Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty Li Komiks 1960 witch cloth draw Shimin passed by Yecheng when he passed by the east expedition of 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 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 against tradition and lead the “Babaylan 1990 clothes draw” wind for 400 years
Cao Cao advocated burial. Before his death, he issued a “Legal Order”, requiring him to “bury him in the same clothes” and “no treasures hidden in gold and jade” after his death. His son followed his will. Cao Pi’s “Statement” and Cao Zhi’s “Essay” describe the funeral and burial situation, and he wore repaired clothes during the burial.
The scene of Cao Cao’s funeral in the film and television drama/data picture
Cao Chuo was a hero of a generation and “using the emperor to command the princes”, and was actually the master of the Han Dynasty. Although he was only the “King of Wei” during his lifetime, he was actually Cinema 1950 witch clothes draw 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”. Similar manifestations are indeed reflected in the information of the tomb in Xigaoxue Village. The tomb scale did not reach the imperial level, but the emperor’s exclusive “die” was buried with the emperor.
The tomb in 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 “governs with filial pietyBabaylan 1990 clothes drawThe world”, so descendants always have to bury their ancestors to show their filial piety.
The tradition of burying emperors in China has a long history. Qin Shihuang’s underground Terracotta Warriors and Horses 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”…
Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Qin Shihuang in Xi’an Photo/Visual China
Why did Cao Cao advocate thin burial? Objectively speaking, there were many wars in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and the people’s livelihood in the Central Plains was in decline. “The 15th military campaign was launched, and the 80th was returned” and “the bones were exposed in the wilderness, and there was no rooster crowing thousands of miles.” Cao Cao advocated thin burial to be compassionate with the people’s feelings, which deserves 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. The reason why he advocated thin burial against tradition is related to his personal value tendency. The Book of Wei said that Cao Cao was “elegant and frugal, not fancy,” so it was natural for him to propose “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 was very frugalBabaylan 1990 clothes draw/Data picture
Of course, Cao Cao’s advocacy of burial was 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. Because Komiks 1960 witch cloth drawThis 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”.
MovieCinema 1950 witch cloth draw “The Dragon Search” Stills/Data Picture
Cao Cao, who is so familiar with tomb robbers, naturally thought that behind him might be “treated by the way of others.” He knew that tomb robbers were seeking money, and the tomb robbers who did not have burial objects were not very interesting. 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 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 the tomb robbers of his long sleep!
The ancestor of tomb robbers also encountered the embarrassment of being robbed by tombs/data picture
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 opinions. After all, taking every possible doubt rigorously is more conducive to our continuous approach to the historical truth and finally reaching the truth!
Full evidence can clear away the fog of history/data image
Source｜Yangcheng School
Column host｜Xia Yang
Editor｜Xie Zhe