Both pictures are dragons and tigers in the murals of Cao Cao's tomb in Shen County. Cultural relics experts said that this proves from the side that the owner of the tomb is a noble and should be a prince. Reporter NaHo Jiang Tao
On February 2nd122nd, Menghuan in Shenxian County was selected by this newspaper to climb the Qin Yi. Two special reports about Meng Guixuan in Shenxian County, Liaocheng City, made a Meng Guixuan in the wilderness of Chaozhen Town in Shenxian County put on the mysterious coat of Cao Cao's tomb.
As soon as the report came out, a stone stirred up a thousand waves, and the dispute over Cao Cao's tomb was once again pushed to the forefront.
On the morning of February 25th, our reporter paid an exclusive visit to Cao Cao's tomb in Liaocheng. Through the dialogue with local grave robbers, we found out the whereabouts of cultural relics in Han tombs, thus uncovering more little-known stories behind Cao Cao's tomb in Liaocheng. The biggest discovery of Meng Guixuan in Shenxian County is that there are murals of dragons, tigers and beasts in the tomb, which also proves that the owner of the tomb is a royal family or a prince.
Liaocheng wants to compete for Cao Cao's tomb, which is an opportunity for Liaocheng and also an opportunity for people living here. However, over the years, people have to worry about whether such an opportunity can be seized here.
Success is also Cao Cao, and so is failure.
At present, a popular saying among local people seems to let the outside world see Liaocheng's confidence in fighting for the true burial of Cao Cao.
Morning News reporter Sun Jiangtao Rui
Portraits of pottery figurines in the same box taken by reporters.
Our reporter walked into Cao Cao's tomb in Liaocheng exclusively.
You're going to Chaozhen? Will you find that Meng Hao? Go straight south from here. Dig quickly, and it is best to dig out some cultural relics related to Cao Cao, so that our county will become famous.
On the afternoon of February 25th, in Shenxian County, the sudden drop of temperature made the busy streets quiet, but Meng Gui's coin selection became the hottest topic in this small county after the Spring Festival.
Drive out from Shenxian County and drive south for more than 20 kilometers, and you will arrive at the ancient city Chaocheng. Police, staff of Shenxian Cultural Relics Management Office and nearby villagers have gathered in Mengkou to choose our place.
On the east side of the ancient tomb, piles of new soil form a big hole. This is the stolen hole that was discovered before. According to the staff of the cultural relics management office, there are no cultural relics in it now, only some blue bricks and murals.
The hole can only accommodate one person to climb in, and it is dark inside.
With the light of a flashlight, the reporter saw that the hole was surrounded by mud. After climbing a distance, the space suddenly opened up and became a long corridor, more than 3 meters wide and more than 2 meters high.
Both sides of the corridor are made of blue bricks and covered with slates. The reporter measured that each blue brick is 44 cm long, 25 cm wide and 10 cm thick.
When the light shines on the wall, the color murals mentioned above are clearly visible. Blue bricks are coated with a coating similar to white lime, and brightly colored animals are painted on the coating. Some look like birds, others look like wild animals. The animals on the murals all adopt black outlines, which are somewhat exaggerated in appearance, but they are all lifelike. Among them, two birds seem to be talking, and their eyes and feathers are colored respectively. There are also many animals like dragons, with their teeth bared, noses and mouths on their heads, claws and tails on their bodies.
After extending for more than ten meters, the corridor came to an end.
In the middle of the corridor, the reporter found a tomb door blocked by mud.
This corridor runs north and south, and the tomb gate is on the west side. Li Hongbing, director of the Shenxian Cultural Relics Management Office, said that this ancient tomb, which was not recorded in the history books, belonged to the Eastern Han Dynasty. The entrance to the whole tomb should face east. The tomb door found on the west side of the corridor should be the tomb door. And this tomb should have a front tomb, an ear tomb and a back tomb, just like other Han tombs. There may be a long corridor around the whole tomb, and there must be many beautiful murals in the corridor. Li Hongbing speculated.
The discovery of murals in Han tombs began in the early 20th century, and they have appeared in Han tombs in Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Inner Mongolia and other places, with myths and legends, historical stories and life scenes. The mural content of this tomb should be auspicious birds and animals. Li Hongbing told reporters that the murals in the tomb were an innovation and continuation of the social custom of honoring parents at that time. According to the contents of murals, the identity of the tomb owner can often be inferred.
We certainly hope that the ancient tomb can be excavated as soon as possible. However, the state has strict examination and approval procedures for the excavation of ancient tombs, but at present we have this intention and are ready to declare it to our superiors. Once the time is ripe, it can be excavated, and what we have to do now is to protect it.
Dialogue between grave robbers looking for cultural relics in Han tombs
To visit Cao Cao's tomb in Liaocheng again, we should start with the interview experience of a reporter before.
On the morning of February 25th, after many inquiries, the reporter found Xie Kenfeng, which has a high reputation in the gold business in Shen County, Liaocheng.
Xie Kenfeng, who is nearly 60 years old, is from Shenxian County. He has been back for decades. In the eyes of many grave robbers in the industry, Xie Jianfeng is one of the few grave robbers in the local area who can deserve the title of captain.
The reporter learned that the so-called touch gold captain was originally set up for Cao Cao of the Three Kingdoms. In layman's terms, it is the person in charge of national grave robbery, who specializes in stealing graves and stealing property to pay for the army. Later, it refers to grave robbers.
I quit this industry many years ago. It's too dirty, too dangerous and hopeless. At present, in addition to helping his son look after a convenience store that is not too big, Xie Kenfeng also helps the government determine the value of some ancient tombs in the Han Dynasty by virtue of his years of experience in gold exploration.
Xie Kenfeng told reporters that Liaocheng, located in the west of Qilu, is one of the most widely distributed cities in Shandong, and Dongchangfu District and Shenxian County are the most densely populated places in Liaocheng. It is said in the industry that the Han tomb is the poorest tomb, but there are still some valuable things. Xie Jianfeng said that grave robbers who don't have deep business are often afraid to move some big tombs, because the tombs of ancient prominent figures have different hurdles. Once these hurdles are not handled properly, it is easy for grave robbers to lose their lives. Over the years, although the local Han tombs have been seriously stolen and dug, most of the real big holes are still well preserved. Stealing a big hole requires advanced tools, technology and a lot of manpower. With the increasingly strict supervision of cultural relics, no one is willing to take risks for uncertain results. Xie Kenfeng also told reporters that the theft of Han tombs in Liaocheng has been serious, mainly because the mound of Han tombs is relatively high and easy to identify. There is also the government's prejudice against the Han tombs. It believes that the Han tombs are dilapidated, precious cultural relics have not been unearthed, they have not been protected, and they have not recovered the lost folk utensils. The funerary wares mentioned by Xie Jianfeng are actually the cultural relics in the tombs. He also revealed to reporters that at present, most grave robbers are from villages near the Han Tomb, and most of the stolen funerary wares are sold to local cultural relics dealers.
Black market trading behind lost cultural relics
Sun Tianhe, 59, is recognized as the largest dealer of cultural relics locally, and owns more than three antique shops in Liaocheng.
On the day of bidding farewell to Captain Xie Jianfeng, the reporter approached the other side as a foreign buyer and went through many industry rules such as cross-examination and body search.
Unlike most antique shops, which choose shady places, one shop in Suntianhe opens to the south. In Liaocheng, my goods are the most complete, and I have everything you want.
When the reporter asked whether there were funerary wares for sale in the Han Tomb, the other party introduced the reporter to the bedroom on the second floor of the antique shop.
A batch of painted pottery has just arrived. The appearance is quite good and the price is relatively high. While speaking, Sun Tianhe took out a large cardboard box from the corner of the bedroom, opened it and untied several layers of plastic bags. A painted pottery warrior about one meter high appeared.
The samurai is divided into two parts, wearing colorful armor, wearing a neck-protecting leather helmet and holding a bronze ge. According to historical records, this weapon, Ge, prevailed from Shang Dynasty to Warring States Period and gradually disappeared after Qin Dynasty.
Do you know Cao Cao's tomb? To tell you the truth, this pottery figurine was sent from Cao Cao's tomb in Chaocheng, Shenxian County, and you happened to meet it. Seeing the reporter's disbelief, Sun Tianhe brought three cartons from the corner of the bedroom. After opening it, a painted pottery monk and two painted pottery camels appeared in the box in turn.
Painted pottery monks are similar in size to samurai, the only difference is that the head of the latter is not separated. Monks are dressed in colorful cassocks and hung with golden rosaries, which are lifelike in shape. Later, it was confirmed by the staff of the local cultural department that this painted pottery monk was discovered for the first time in the excavation of the Han tomb in Liaocheng. According to relevant records, it can be speculated that the tomb owner may have believed in Buddhism before his death.
In addition, Sun Tianhe's production process of painted pottery camels shown to reporters is even more exquisite. Although each camel is a bactrian camel with white as the main tone, the details look different. Some of them bowed their heads and walked with their heads held high. Each camel had different items, some carrying gold-plated treasure boxes and some carrying colorful baskets, showing the luxurious life of the tomb owner before his death.
Sun Tianhe also told reporters that Cao Cao was an official in Dongwuyang, which is the real Cao Cao. These painted pottery camels may be carrying treasures for him.
Talking about the price, Sun Tianhe asks for 6000 yuan each. It's not easy to get this batch of goods from the local area. It's hard to meet such rare items before.
Subsequently, our reporter reflected this situation to the local public security department. On the afternoon of February 25th, the so-called pottery stolen from Cao Cao's tomb in Liaocheng was successfully seized by the local police.
The restoration of cultural relics is of great significance to Cao Cao's tomb.
In fact, we have been cracking down on grave robbers.
On the afternoon of February 25th, Liu Duichang of Dongchangfu Public Security Bureau in Liaocheng said in an interview that the police had made great efforts to recover the cultural relics related to Cao Cao's tomb and Cao Zhi's tomb. In view of the numerous ancient tombs in Liaocheng, we have never relaxed the protection of these tombs and the recovery of lost cultural relics for many years.
According to the data, on June 20, 2008, 165438+, the police recovered three cultural relics of the Tang Dynasty, namely, a branch-bound grape mirror, a green glaze cake bowl and a green glaze double altar. On July 23, 2006, Liaocheng recovered 14 pieces of precious cultural relics of the Eastern Han Dynasty, such as pottery incense burners, pottery urns and pots. There are also 17 painted pottery horse figurines, horse riding figurines, pottery figurines and pottery kneeling figurines in the Western Han Dynasty. The publication of Han tombs in Liaocheng is too complicated, which also brings us many difficulties in restoration. Liu Duichang said.
Director Zhao of Liaocheng Cultural Relics Management Bureau told the reporter that since Henan announced the discovery of Cao Cao's tomb in Anyang, the local public security organ issued an order to recover the cultural relics of Cao Cao's tomb. At present, the highest reward for cultural relics recovery in Anyang has reached 654.38+10,000 yuan.
Li Hongbing, director of the Shenxian Cultural Relics Management Office, also told reporters that some cultural relics came from the key evidence that Cao Cao's tomb was originally determined-a series of grave robberies in Anyang, Henan. Therefore, the recovery of cultural relics can also prove the determination of the owner of Cao Cao's tomb in Liaocheng. Meng Changjun's greatest discovery in Shenxian County is that there are murals of dragons, tigers and beasts in the tomb, which also proves from the side that the owner of the tomb is a royal family or a prince. In the afternoon, Director Feng of Liaocheng Cultural Relics Administration said in an interview that at present, they have further strengthened the protection of this tomb, and the government also has the intention to protect the excavation, and reported the situation to the superior in time.
It is understood that until 20 10 65438+ 10 14, at the annual public archaeological forum held by the Beijing Institute of Archaeology, although eight archaeologists thought that the staged conclusion that Cao Wei's tomb in Gaoxidong, Anyang County was Cao Cao's tomb was well founded, it was still inconclusive. This is an opportunity for Cao Cao's tomb in Liaocheng, and the Liaocheng municipal government should seize this opportunity, because it is also the will of the local people. Li Hongbing said that most of the Han cultural relics unearthed in Liaocheng at present contain precious historical and cultural information, and their value is incalculable. However, through archaeological investigation, cleaning and excavation, mastering and understanding the characteristics of tombs in the Han Dynasty can not only understand the history, but also provide a good soft environment for local development. Cultural relics are non-renewable, and they can only be cherished if they are lost.
In fact, Meng Gui of Shenxian County chose Scandium to send to Iraq and shared a scandium plaque with his relatives. What is important is that the dispute over Cao Cao's tomb can finally arouse the local government's attention to ancient tombs and cultural relics and strengthen the protection of those national treasures in ancient tombs.