(East-West Question) Why did the tombs of the Warring States Period in Guozishan refresh the understanding of "Vietnamese culture" at home and abroad?
China News Agency, Nanchang, April 5th: Why did the Warring States tombs in Guozishan refresh the understanding of "Vietnamese culture" at home and abroad?
China News Agency reporter Liu Zhankun Li Yunhan
On March 18, the Warring States tombs at Guozi Mountain, Zhangshu City, Jiangxi Province, were selected as new archaeological discoveries in China in 2021.
More than 2,600 sets of cultural relics unearthed from the tomb once again unveiled the mystery of "Vietnamese culture" for the world.
Can the tombs of the Warring States Period in Guozishan provide new ideas for the West to understand ancient Chinese culture?
How to refresh the understanding of "Vietnamese culture" at home and abroad?
How did the "Wu head and Chu tail" in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty stage a history of vertical and horizontal?
Researcher of the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Jiangxi Zhangshu Guozishan Tomb Archaeological Excavation 2019 and 2020 Excavation Leader Xu Lianggao and Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology Associate Research Librarian, Zhangshu Guozishan Tomb Archaeological Excavation Project Leader Wang Yile The exclusive interview of "East and West Questions" tells a new historical aspect of "Vietnamese culture" from the perspectives of the excavation of Guozishan tombs to re-understand the meaning of Yue culture and the multicultural factors in the cultural relics unearthed from Guozishan tombs.
The following is a summary of the interview transcript:
China News Service reporter: Can the excavation of the Warring States tombs at Guozishan in Zhangshu City, Jiangxi provide new ideas for the West to understand ancient Chinese culture and history?
Xu Lianggao:
The excavation of the tombs of the Warring States Period in Guozishan can certainly provide new materials and ideas for foreign scholars and academic circles to understand ancient Chinese history and culture.
In the past, Chinese and foreign scholars knew more about the history of northern China, especially the history and culture centered on the Yellow River Basin.
In the past, it was generally believed that southern China, especially the southeastern region, was a barren land in ancient times, and there was no highly developed culture in these places.
The excavation of the tombs of the Warring States Period in Guozishan, combined with the past discoveries of the Wucheng culture in this area of Jiangxi, can prove that the southeastern region of ancient China actually had a highly developed culture very early, and it was also closely related to the culture of the Central Plains.
It is precisely because Jiangxi has such a developed cultural foundation and long-standing relationship with the Central Plains culture that it will become an important part of Chinese culture after the Qin and Han Dynasties. For example, it became the "Yuzhang County" after the Qin and Han Dynasties. Has a deep historical foundation.
The excavation of the tombs of the Warring States Period at Guozishan provided very important information for Chinese and foreign scholars to understand the early cultural features of the Southeast region.
Guozishan tomb archaeological site.
(UAV photo) Photo by China News Agency reporter Liu Zhankun
Wang Yile:
The records of ancient Chinese historical documents for the pre-Qin period in southern China, especially in Jiangxi, are very inadequate.
There are only a few words in books such as Zuo Zhuan and Warring States Policy, and there is not much content in the history of Wu Yue, such as Wu Yue Spring and Autumn Annals and Yue Jue Shu, and they were written relatively late.
Therefore, the sources of research materials on the pre-Qin society, politics, culture, and economy in southern China represented by Jiangxi are mainly continuous archaeological discoveries.
For example, at the Zengguo Cemetery in Suizhou, Hubei, its archaeological excavations almost restored the history of Zengguo, which was not recorded in history.
The excavation of the tombs at Guozishan also provided a good material for an in-depth understanding of this period of history in southern China.
The Guozishan tomb is not an isolated tomb, it is closely related to the construction of the Acropolis.
The Acropolis settlement group consists of the Acropolis city site, six or seven small city sites, more than five large tombs and more than 60 small settlements of the same period.
If we compare the tombs of Guozishan and the unearthed cultural relics with similar materials in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Guangdong and Guangxi, we will find that there are many connections.
The source, production process and raw materials of some artifacts, such as some unearthed glazed products and spices, may even be related to the Maritime Silk Road.
All these provide a new perspective for understanding the historical process of Jiangxi and southern China during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.
People visit the model of the Guozishan tomb in the Camphor Tree Museum.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Liu Zhankun
China News Service reporter: More than 2,600 pieces (sets) of artifacts were unearthed from the Guozishan tomb. What are the characteristics of the unearthed cultural relics? What are some typical Vietnamese cultural factors? Will it refresh the understanding of "Vietnamese culture" at home and abroad?
Xu Lianggao:
First of all, the cultural relics unearthed from the Guozishan tombs are of high grade.
Including lacquer ware, bronze ware, primitive porcelain and other very exquisite cultural relics, it reflects the high level of craftsmanship at that time, and also reflects the highly developed culture in the Jiangxi Zhangshu area at that time. The Vietnamese culture is the main one, and it also includes some factors from the Chu culture, the Central Plains culture and the Qunshu culture in the Jianghuai region, which is related to the fact that the region is at the intersection of multiple cultures; in addition, it can be seen that the owner of the tomb is a very high-ranking person in the local area. The ruler, he had various political, economic and cultural ties with many surrounding areas at that time.
This multicultural feature reflects the technical level, craftsmanship, political relations, and cultural exchanges at that time.
In the multiculturalism that can be seen, the Vietnamese cultural factor is the mainstream factor in the multiculturalism of the tomb, which is related to its geographical location.
This area should be the southeastern area in the traditional sense, belonging to the Baiyue cultural area.
Guozishan tombs can be found in combination with the site of the Acropolis. At that time, this place was a regional political center in the western region of the Yue culture and had a very high rank.
Therefore, the excavation of this tomb provides very important information for us to understand the scope of Yue culture, the relationship between Chu and Yue, how Yue culture controlled its western region, how to face Chu culture, and how Yue culture went south.
Jade dragon and phoenix unearthed from the tomb of Guozishan.
Photo courtesy of China News Agency, Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
Wang Yile:
Although the tomb of the Warring States Period at Guozishan was severely robbed in the early days, more than 2,600 sets of artifacts were still unearthed.
The first characteristic of the unearthed artifacts is "full".
All materials, including metal, jade, ceramics, lacquered wood, etc.; all kinds of utensils, including ritual utensils, musical instruments, weapons, daily necessities, decorations, etc.
The second is high specification.
The tomb is a multi-chambered tomb with a zigzag ditch, with an area of 230 square meters, which is second to none in the tomb of Wu and Yue nobles or the tomb of Chu in the same period.
There are a large number of burial objects, a large volume, and a complex production process, which reflects a high level of craftsmanship.
Third, there are various cultural factors. Yue culture, Chu culture, Qunshu culture in the Jianghuai area, local culture and even some factors from the Maritime Silk Road coexist in the same tomb.
However, it is mainly due to the cultural factors of Yue. The shape and structure of the tombs have many characteristics of the tombs of the nobles of the Yue Kingdom.
Most of the bronze utensils, such as kneeling and seated people, copper towns, copper plates, primitive porcelain bowls, porcelain cups, and jade wares are typical artifacts of the Yue culture.
Jiangxi has been the land of Baiyue since ancient times, and the understanding of "Baiyue" is also diverse.
This time, in Zhangshu, an area far away from the center of the Yue Kingdom, the tomb of a Yue culture nobleman, which is closely related to the Yue royal family, was found in the Guozi Mountain, which is a good material for studying the political structure, ruling method and historical evolution of the Yue Kingdom.
Moreover, the Qingjiang Basin where the camphor tree is located is in the central part of Jiangxi and the middle reaches of the Ganjiang River, which is the main road connecting Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan and other Baiyue regions. and Baiyue culture research are of great significance.
Bronze kneeling and upsetting unearthed from the Guozishan tomb.
Photo courtesy of China News Agency, Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
China News Service reporter: The Eastern Zhou Dynasty was a critical period for the formation of "the pluralistic unity of Chinese civilization". What kind of evidence will the excavation of the Guozishan tombs provide for the exploration of the process of "the pluralistic unity of Chinese civilization" in Jiangxi? How did the Guozishan tombs form a pattern of blending and coexistence of various cultural factors?
Xu Lianggao:
The Eastern Zhou Dynasty played a very important role in the formation of the pluralistic unity of Chinese civilization and was a critical period.
The emergence of the Qin Empire's unification has a historical basis. It is the result of cultural, political, economic, and military exchanges and interactions between countries in various regions during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. This exchange and interaction laid the foundation for the unification of the Qin Empire.
The regional cultures of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty included the Wuyue culture in the southeastern region, such as the "Wuyue struggle for hegemony", and the close interaction between Wuyue and the Central Plains countries.
It is precisely because of the "Wuyue" stage, the interaction between the southeastern Wuyue culture and the surrounding Chu and Central Plains cultures that the southeastern culture is completely integrated into the Chinese culture and becomes an organic part of the Chinese culture.
This cultural and historical stage laid the historical foundation for the "Yuzhang County" of the Qin and Han Empires.
Therefore, the excavation of the Guozishan tomb has provided very important physical evidence and archaeological evidence of this history, and is a very important discovery of historical remains.
Why is there a pattern of multicultural integration in Guozishan tombs?
It depends on its specific environment.
Because the east of the Qingjiang Basin where camphor trees are located is the core area of Yue culture, the west is the Chu culture area formed after the Spring and Autumn period, the north is the Central Plains culture area and the Jianghuai Qunshu culture area, and the south is the Baiyue culture area around Guangdong, Guangxi and Fujian. The Qingjiang Basin is at the intersection of these major cultural regions.
It is precisely because of such a unique cultural area and geographical location that it naturally forms a situation in which the multicultural factors of the Guozishan tombs blend and coexist and are inclusive.
Two bronze pheasants unearthed from the Guozishan tomb.
Photo courtesy of China News Agency, Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
Wang Yile:
The era of the Warring States Tombs at Guozishan was the middle period of the Warring States Period, which was the early stage of the formation of China's multi-ethnic unified state.
"Unification" was the general trend in this period, and each vassal state took different measures in order to gain the upper hand.
For example, the reform of Shang Yang in the Qin state, the Hufu riding and shooting in the Zhao state, and the appointment of Wu Qi in the Chu state all appeared in this historical context.
The flow of personnel and materials and the exchange of ideas were particularly frequent during this period. Whichever vassal state was more inclusive of its culture would have a greater advantage. Large-scale merger wars also provided conditions for cultural integration.
The Qingjiang Basin where the Guozishan tombs are located is the boundary area between Chu and Yue, and Zhuweicheng is the central city of Yue culture in this area. A large number of Yue, Chu, Xu and other cultures have been found in the surrounding archaeology. These cultural factors must be in the Zhuweicheng site and It is reflected in the tombs of its rulers.
After the tomb of Guozishan, the annexation war between Chu and Yue broke out.
With the establishment of Qin and Han Dynasties, Jiangxi region has changed from a region with unique archaeological culture to "Yuzhang County" of a unified multi-ethnic country.
The era of Guozishan tombs is at a critical juncture in this process, and it is the best demonstration of "the pluralistic unity of Chinese civilization".
China News Service reporter: The discovery of the tombs of the Warring States Period at the National Character Mountain in Jiangxi, known as "Wutou and Chuwei", will provide a new perspective for exploring the cultural changes of "Wutou and Chuwei"?
Xu Lianggao:
The so-called "Wu head and Chu tail" is the intersection of the Wuyue Cultural District and the Chu Cultural District.
Here you can see not only the Yue culture and a region ruled by Yue, but also the relationship between Chu culture and Wu Yue culture.
From this perspective, we can also see how the rulers of Yue culture or Yue faced the Chu culture and the state of Chu, how to deal with the relationship between them, how to strengthen their regional control, and how to deal with the "Wu head and Chu tail". Effective control and management of the area.
The discovery of the Guozishan tomb provides very important first-hand historical information in this regard, which was completely unrecorded in the literature in the past.
In the past, all our research on Yue culture and the literature records of Yue culture, from the perspective of literature, mainly looked at the exchanges between Chu and Yue from the northern region and the Huaihe River Basin, etc., to see what kind of relationship between Yue culture and the north. .
But in the South, what is the relationship between them?
The excavation of the tombs at Guozishan has provided us with brand-new data and perspectives, and we can understand the relationship between Vietnam and Chu more comprehensively.
Wang Yile:
It can be seen from historical documents that "Wu Tou and Chu Wei" is a symbolic name that summarizes the historical situation of Jiangxi in the pre-Qin period. There are even errors.
In fact, Wuyue bronze wares were unearthed very early in Jiangxi, and many Chu cultural sites and tombs were discovered.
In the past, these archaeological discoveries were observed in isolation, without in-depth exploration of the historical background.
Now the discovery of the tombs of the Warring States Period in Guozi Mountain, let us know that after Wu and Chu, Yue Chu became the main force in Jiangxi during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, and the construction of the acropolis was the front line of the confrontation between Yue and Chu. Top people are here.
At the same time, starting from the tombs of Guozi Mountain and linking the previous archaeological discoveries, we can investigate the time when Wu Chuyue and other forces entered various places in Jiangxi and their ebb and flow process, and dynamically restore the formation of the concept of "Wu's head and Chu's tail".
(over)
Interviewee Profile:
Xu Lianggao, a researcher at the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and the excavation leader of the Jiangxi Zhangshu Guozishan tomb in 2019 and 2020.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee
Xu Lianggao, researcher at the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, has participated in or presided over the archaeological excavation and research of the Jin capital site, the Yanshi Shang capital site in Henan, the Zhouyuan site in Shaanxi and the Western Zhou capital site in Fenghao, Jiangxi Zhangshu Guozishan tomb archaeological excavation 2019 Annual and 2020 annual excavation leader.
Wang Yile, associate research librarian of Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, and director of the archaeological excavation project of Zhangshu Guozishan tombs.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee
Wang Yile, associate research librarian of Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, has participated in the archaeological excavations of Jing'an Laohudun site, Gao'an Hualin paper-making workshop site, Nanchang Xihan Haihunhou tomb and other archaeological excavations, and is currently in charge of the Jiangxi Zhangshu Guozishan tomb archaeological excavation project people.