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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.
Staff in front of “Cao Cao’s Tomb” Photo/Xinhuanet
As a household name in China, Cao Cao’s past and afterlife were 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 Tomb”. Although Cao Cao’s tomb was officially recognized, it was questioned. Later, with the discovery of the new Cao Wei tomb, the link of evidence became more and more complete, and the sound of questioning was gradually weakening.
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 pictures
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, the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology carried out a protective excavation. At the archaeological discovery briefing held in Beijing in 2009, it was initially confirmed that the tomb was “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 painted in the Ming Dynasty/data picture
The tomb was severely stolen during archaeological excavation, but fortunately more than 200 objects remain. The most important ones are 7, engraved with “The Tiger Big” often used by King Wu of WeiCinema 1950 witch clothes Drawhalberd”, “The short tiger spear 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 comforting stone used by King Wu of Wei”.
These are key cultural relics to determine the identity of the tomb owner. But some people questioned how to hang stone cards for each burial object? In ancient times, bamboo slips were used to register burial objects, and Cao Wei also used stone pieces. Could it be that history was reversed? Some people also proposed the title of “King Wu of Wei” to mix the Yin and Yang names, and some even questioned that the stone cards were 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 advocacy of burial in small burials, and they infer that this was not Cao Cao’s tomb.
Babaylan 1990 cloth draw 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. Cinema 1950 witch cloth drawThis tomb was built in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, but it is different from the north-south direction of the Eastern Han Dynasty imperial tomb, and is the east-west direction like the “Cao Cao Tomb”.
Xizhu Village tomb excavation site PictureKomiks 1960 witch cloth draw/Luoyang Evening News
It is also confirmed with the Xizhu Village tombCinema 1950 witch cloth There is, in 2009, a tomb of Cao Wei nobles was discovered in Shandong Han Dynasty imperial tombs in Luoyang. The unearthed bronze seal shows that the tomb owner was a famous general of Cao Wei and a great sage, Cao.Fucking 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 “Cao Cao’s Tomb” stone plaque as forged.
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 Post
Gold, silver and jade unearthed from “Cao Cao’s tomb”. Is there any violation of the burial of a thin burial?The wind? 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” Photo/China News Service
Cao Cao Cao is famous in Chinese history and culture. There are many factors in this. Cinema 1950 witch cloth draw comes 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. Yu Yingfu of the Song Dynasty poem “Cao Cao’s suspicion tomb” says: “I deceived the heavens and denied the Han throne 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, using Babaylan 1990 clothes drawLiterary techniques 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” “Cao”Cao Tomb” follows this statement and says that Cao Cao’s tomb may add a layer of mystery to the “72 suspected tombs”.
Stills from the TV series “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”/Data picture
About Cao Cao’s tomb, such as Babaylan 1990 cloth drawThere are four legends circulating in the folk 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 Cao Cao’s tomb is outside Xuchang City, the third says that it is href=”https://comicmov.com/”>Cinema 1950 witch cloth drawFour statements are under the bronze bird platform in Yecheng.
At the side of the Zhang River west of Yecheng, there are indeed groups of ancient tombs distributed, which is the location of Cao Cao’s “72 doubts tombs” (actually 134) legendary. However, it has been confirmed that it belongs to the Northern Dynasties tomb group, and the tomb of the Lanling King is among them.
The Lanling King in the film and television dramas/data picture
The suspicion of the tomb is Babaylan 1990 cloth draw Why is it widely circulated? Some scholars analyzed that this is related to people’s wishes. Influenced by artistic works and folk legends, ordinary people thought Cao Cao was treacherous and were willing to believe that he would set up suspicious tombs.
However, to determine that tombs are serious academic issues, a rigorous and scientific attitude must be maintained. In the face of this kind of problem, 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
The Komiks 1960 witch clothes drawIn 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”; Komiks 1960 witch cloth draw Before his death, he said in the “Legend of 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. “The Three Kingdoms” and “Book of Jin” and “Book of Jin” said that in 220 Yuan, 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 was expeditioning 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 completely gone. This Cinema 1950 witch cloth draw 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 “thin burial” trend for 400 years
Komiks 1960 witchclothes drawCao Cao advocated a simple burial. Before his death, he issued a “Legislative 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 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 Han Xian. Emperor Xian 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 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 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 Photo/Visual China
Why did Cao Cao advocate thin burial? There are many reasons. Objectively speaking, there were many wars in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and the people’s livelihood in the Central Plains was withered. “I joined the army for 15 years and I was able to return until I was eighty years old.” “I was exposed in the wilderness, and I was exposed in the wilderness,f=”https://comicmov.com/”>Komiks 1960 witch cloth drawNo rooster crowing in a thousand miles”. Cao Cao advocates that burial is compassionate with the people’s feelings and deserves 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 thin 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 for him to propose “small burial” in his late years.
Cao Cao’s practice opened up the 400-year-old style of thin burial for the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. It was not until the Tang Dynasty that the tradition of thick burial was restored.
Cinema 1950 witch clothes draw
Cao Cao in history was very frugal/Data picture
Of course, Cao Cao advocated a small burial, which was related to the saying “the lieutenant of the gold burial”. In order to raise food and money, Cao Cao set up the positions of “the lieutenant of the gold burial” and “the lieutenant of the Faqiu General” in the army, and specialized in digging graves and searching for gold and silver to fill military salary. Therefore, Cao Cao was known as the “ancestor of the gold burial school” in later generations. This statement was mentioned in Chen Lin, one of the “Seven Sons of Jian’an”, a famous article “The Election for Yuan Shao for Yuzhou”.
Stills/Data Pictures of the movie “Looking for Dragons”
Cao Cao, who is so familiar with tomb robbers, naturally thought that he 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 interested. Therefore, he advocated burial and deliberately left records. Among them, he was afraid that he would be disturbed by tomb robbers behind him.
Cao Cao in the TV series “Military Advisors Alliance” Komiks 1960 witch cloth draw What Cao Cao didn’t expect was that although he advocated “thin burial” and later generations helped him interpret the “72 doubts tombs”, he ultimately failed to escape the embarrassment of being disturbed by later generations when he was stolen from the place where he was sleeping!
The ancestor of tomb robbers also encountered the embarrassment of being robbed/Babaylan 1990 clothes drawData picture
The road to discovery and identification of 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, we still need to continue to maintain an open mind and accept various views. After all, treating every possible doubt rigorously is more conducive to us to keep approaching the historical truth and finally reaching the truth!
Only enough evidence can clear away the fog of history/data picture
Source｜Yangchengpai
Column host｜Xia Yang
Editor｜Xie Zhe