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The original text of Yangcheng School/Cinema/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.
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, 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 the TV series “Jingjue Ancient City”
It has been 10 years since the initial discovery of the “Cao Cao’s Tomb”. Although Cao Cao’s tomb was officially recognized, it was questioned. 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 “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 the film and television drama/data picture
The discovery of “Gaoling” has caused ten years of controversy
Around 2008, a large tomb was stolen in Xigaoxue Village, Anyang, Henan Province. 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” and became a national cultural heritage protection unit in 2013. 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 the 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 benefits.
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. The most important ones are 7, engraved with inscriptions such as “The tiger’s halberd often used by King Wu of Wei” and “The tiger’s halberd often used by King Wu of Wei” and other inscriptions. Among the cultural relics recovered by the police from the tomb robbers, there is also a stone pillow engraved with the “Stone of comforting the neck that King Wu of Wei often used.”
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!
Stone plaque unearthed from “Cao Cao 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 threats coming, 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 the east-west direction like the “Cao Cao Tomb”.
Xizhu Village tomb excavation site Photo/Luoyang Evening News
There is also confirmed that in 2009, a tomb facing east-west Cao Wei nobles was found in the Han imperial tomb in Shandong Province in Luoyang. 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 “KomiksMilitary Advisors Alliance”
“Cao Xiu” who proves the identity of the tomb ownerBabaylan bronze seal picture/Xinhuanet
The most important information is that a large number of stone plaques that are the same as those of the “Cao Cao Tomb” were unearthed from the large tomb in Xizhu Village. This cleared the stone plaque of “Cao Cao’s Tomb”Suspicion of forgeryKomiks.
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. Some information was still difficult to draw. However, some scholars infer that perhaps the burial objects written on the stone tablets in the tomb of Cao Wei were just names and were not buried.
Stone plaques unearthed from the tomb of Xizhu Village/Data picture
Other burial objects in the tomb are mostly symbolic bright objects, such as Gui and Bi, are all made of stoneCinema, 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 stoneCinema‘s picture/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 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 of the people, and even doubts about the accuracy of archaeological excavation information.
Tomb passage of “Cao 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 face of Cao Cao’s personality was magnified, and his image was Komiks was a treacherous hero. The unknown site of his tomb also caused him to take the blame, becoming a proof of his treacherousness. The poem “Cao Cao’s suspicion tomb” by Yu Yingfu of the Song Dynasty said: “When he was alive, he was disobeyed, and after he died, he set up suspicion tombs. ”
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/Data Pictures of TV series “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”
About Cao Cao’s tomb, there are four legends circulating among the people in Yecheng: one says that “72 suspicious tombs” are located west of Yecheng, the second says that Cao Cao’s tomb is at the bottom of the Zhanghe River, the third says that Cao Cao’s tomb 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, which is the location of Cao Cao’s “72 suspicious tombs” (actually 134) legends from later generations. 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 the tomb widely circulated? Some scholars analyzed that this is related to people’s wishes. Due to the influence of artistic works and folk legends, ordinary people think that Cao Cao is treacherous, href=”https://comicmov.com/”>Komiks Therefore, he is willing to believe that he will set up a suspicious tomb.
However, deciding tombs is a serious academic issue, requires 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 picture of the white-faced Cao Cao in Peking OperaBabaylan/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. Cinema The Three Kingdoms and the Book of Jin records that in 220 AD, Cao Cao died in Luoyang, 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 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 Shuo was a hero of a generation and “used the emperor to command the princes”, and was actually the master of the Han Dynasty. Although he was just the “King of Wei” during his lifetime, he actually enjoyed the treatment of an emperor. Shortly after he went to Babaylan, his son Cao Pi deposed Emperor Xian of Han and established the Cao Wei regime, and href=”https://comicmov.com/”>Komiks posthumously named him “Wu Emperor Wei”. There is indeed similar manifestation in the information of the Xigaoxue Village tomb. The tomb scale did not reach the imperial level, but the emperor’s exclusive “die” was buried with the emperor.
Xigaoxue Village tombPhoto/Xinhuanet
Cao Cao advocated a 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 show their filial piety.
The tradition of grand burials of 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, the princes of the Han Dynasty, wore golden jade clothes when they were buried. The palaces in the Zhaoling of Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty were “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? 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 fought, and the country was about to return after 80th”, “the bones were exposed in the wild, and there was no rooster crowing thousands of miles away.” Cao Cao’s advocacy of burial is to be sympathetic to the people and 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, so he should not lack 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 is very frugal/Data picture
Of course, Cao Cao advocated a burial and the saying of “the lieutenant of gold”.It’s not unrelated. 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 “Komiks” in later generations. This statement is mentioned in the “Seven Sons of Jian’an” in the famous article “The Election to Yuan Shao for Yuzhou”.
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, 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 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!
Only enough evidence can clear away the fog of history/data image
Source｜Yangchengpai
Column host｜Xia Yang
Editor｜Xie Zhe