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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 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 Crown Prince” and “72 Suspicious TombCinema” are the most talked about. Komiks
Stills/Data Pictures of the TV series “Jingjue Ancient City”
It is now 10 years since the initial discovery of “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 form?
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 Heritage and Archaeology, the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology carried out a protective excavation. In 2009, an amazing news came out at the archaeological discovery briefing held in Beijing: 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 archaeological excavation, but fortunately more than 200 objects remain. 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, Cinema also has a stone pillow engraved with “The comforting stone often used by King Wu of Wei”.
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 mix the Yin name and Yang name, and even have hostages.Suspected that the stone tablet is 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 violent doubts about the coming situation, 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, Komiks has not yet determined the identity of the tomb owner. 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 Xizhu Village tomb 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 shows that the owner of the tomb is Cao Xiu, a famous general of Cao Wei and the Grand Sima, who is Cao Cao’s nephew.
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 plaques were unearthed in the Xizhu Village tomb, which was the same as the stone plaques of “Cao Cao Tomb” were unearthed. This cleared the suspicion of the stone plaques of “Cao Cao Tomb” as forgery.
The low-value stone plaques unearthed from the Cao Wei tomb are also consistent with Cao Cao’s advocacy of thin burials. However, the three tombs were excavated and damaged seriously, and the unearthed cultural relics were limited, and some information was difficult to draw conclusions. However, some scholars infer that perhaps the burial objects written on the stone plaques in the Cao Wei tomb may be just a name and were not 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 exclusively treated by the emperor. A pottery tripod is replaced by a copper tripod, which is both in compliance with the regulations and without losing the true meaning of burial!
The ritual utensil is made of ceramic picture/@Henan Business Daily
The ritual utensil 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 jewelry on the clothes of the tomb owner when he was buried, such as gold buttons, gold silk, etc., and are not burial objects. This is consistent with the saying that “burial is in the clothes of the time” in Cao Cao’s order.
A small amount of jade and agate products were unearthed from the tomb owner. Photo/China News Service
Historical facts are clear, why is there a legend of “72 suspected 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.
Tomb passage of “Cao Cao Cao’s Tomb” Photo/China News Service
BabaylanCao 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 hand.
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 suspected tombs” are located west of Yecheng, and the other saysCao Cao’s tomb is at the bottom of the Zhanghe River, the third is outside Xuchang City, and the fourth is under the Tongquetai 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 that CinemaHe GuangBabaylan is circulated? Some scholars analyzed that this is related to the wishes of people. 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
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 DynastyBabaylan, people have no doubt about the location of Cao Cao’s tomb. When Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin, passed through 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 very clear. Komiks
However, because Cao Cao’s tomb is “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, was later lost to the ground, 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.
Cao Cao Cao in film and television dramasBabaylan burial scene/data picture
Cao Zhuo was a hero of a generation and “used the emperor to command the princes”, and 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 was abolished. href=”https://comicmov.com/”>Komiks Emperor Xian of Han established the Cao Wei regime and posthumously named him “Emperor Wu of Wei”. There is indeed similar manifestation 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.
Xigaoxue VillageTomb Photo/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 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 PictureBabaylan/Visual China
Why did Cao Cao advocate thin burials? 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 in decline. “Komiks joined the army to fight, and they were able to return until they were eighty years old” and “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.
Last year of wars/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 is related to his personal value tendency. “The Book of Wei” says 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 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 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 without burial objects were not very interested. Babaylan. 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. KomiksAfter all, taking every possible doubt rigorously will help us keep getting closer to the historical truth and finally reach the truth!
Only enough evidence can clear away the fog of history/dataBabaylanPicture
Source｜Yangchengpai
Column host｜Xia Yang
Editor｜Xie Zhe