China News Service, Shijiazhuang, February 18th: Title: The search for the "dragon" in the mysterious Zhongshan Kingdom: a fusion of bravery and good manners
The author Niu Lin and Zhao Danmei are all working together
With the arrival of the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese lunar calendar, the "Chinese dragon" in cultural relics has aroused strong public interest. Recently, reporters from China News Service walked into the Hebei Museum to visit the dragon element cultural relics unearthed from the ruins of Zhongshan State, the "eighth hero of the Warring States Period", and feel the "generous tragedy" of the land of Yanzhao.
During the Warring States Period, because most of the area belonged to the Yan and Zhao states, Hebei was called Yan-Zhao in ancient times. But what few people know is that there was another powerful country under the encirclement of Yan and Zhao - the Zhongshan Kingdom. "The Zhongshan State was located in the area of Shijiazhuang and Baoding in today's Hebei Province. It was the only country among the twelve powerful states of the Warring States Period that was established by the northern nomadic people - the Bai Di Xianyu tribe." According to Liu Weihua, a second-level researcher at the Hebei Museum, although it was only "five hundred square meters "Li" territory, but this mysterious ancient country with few historical records has played an important role in the struggle for supremacy among the great powers. It has existed for more than 200 years, experienced seven generations of monarchs, risen and fallen twice, and had twists and turns in its national destiny, which is quite legendary.
Since the 1970s, archaeologists have explored the ancient city of Lingshou in the Kingdom of Zhongshan in Pingshan County, Hebei Province. They have excavated 5 tombs of the Zhongshan royal family and more than 100 tombs of civilians. A total of more than 20,000 cultural relics have been unearthed, including a large number of exquisite dragons. Elemental cultural relics, including bronze, gold and silver, jade, etc.
On February 6, people visited the "Warring States and Magnificent Ancient Zhongshan Kingdom" exhibition hall of Hebei Museum to visit the bronze pedestal with four dragons and four phoenixes made of gold and silver. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhai Yujia
"This bronze pedestal with four dragons and four phoenixes mixed with gold and silver is one of the most representative cultural relics unearthed from the Zhongshan Kingdom site, and it is also the 'treasure of the museum' in Hebei Museum." In the "Warring States Period and Ancient Zhongshan Kingdom" in Hebei Museum In the exhibition hall, Liu Weihua directed reporters to look at the base of a lacquer case, which came from the tomb of Wangcuo (surrogate word) in Zhongshan. It weighs 18.65 kilograms and is 36.2 centimeters high. Due to its age, the case surface has decayed, but the existing case base is very exquisite and the structure is Complex and sophisticated. Two male and two female sika deer support the base. On the base, four double-winged and bipedal dragons stand erect, and four phoenixes lead their necks and sing.
"The lacquer table is equivalent to today's coffee table. During the Warring States Period, people sat on the floor, and the tables were generally shorter. This copper plan integrates casting, welding, riveting, gold and silver and other techniques. It is a masterpiece of bronze casting technology. "." Liu Weihua said that it was made when Cuo, the most accomplished monarch of Zhongshan Kingdom, was in power. During the Wangcuo era, the Zhongshan Kingdom's national power reached its peak, and its bronze manufacturing technology also reached a very high level, so it was able to integrate various craftsmanship.
Due to the passage of time, the copper base with gold and silver, four dragons and four phoenixes has deteriorated, but the base is still very exquisite. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhai Yujia
"The square frame at the top and the round seat at the bottom represent the round sky and the earth. The whole copper plan is surrounded by dragons and phoenixes, square and round, and suitable for movement and silence." Liu Weihua told reporters that this shape was also the symbol of the Zhongshan Kingdom in the complicated struggle for supremacy among the nations at that time. , the embodiment of maintaining a dynamic balance of survival and governance strategy.
According to historical records, there are many beautiful things in Zhongshan, and the craftsmen are generally highly skilled and skilled. In the exhibition hall, another cultural relic unearthed from the ruins of the Zhongshan Kingdom, the Zhongshan King's House inscribed copper square pot, attracted everyone's attention. At the four corners of the pot, four energetic dragons are struggling to climb up.
Zhongshan King's House Inscribed Bronze Square Pot. (Photo courtesy of Hebei Museum)
"The Zhongshan Kingdom continued to strive for strength in the environment where other countries were competing for supremacy. The four vigorous and mighty dragons on the copper square pot are the embodiment of its spirit." Liu Weihua said that this is a very typical representative cultural relic of the Zhongshan Kingdom. There is a 450-word inscription engraved on the four walls of the pot, which records that in the 14th year of Wangcuo's reign, after Zhongshan's victory in conquering Yan, the pot was cast with bronzes from the Yan State, praising the achievements of Zhongshan in conquering Yan and explaining the importance of consolidating political power. It also specifically mentioned the lineage of Zhongshan monarchs, filling the gaps in the history books.
Among the cultural relics unearthed from the Wangcuo Tomb in Zhongshan, there are 204 dragon-shaped jade pendants, a large number and many styles that have never been seen before.
"The king of Zhongshan during the Warring States Period must have been a lover and collector of beautiful jade. Except for the pairs, these dragon-shaped pendants all have the same shape. Some look back and gaze, some coil around, some lie down and squat, and some leap into the air... ..." Liu Weihua said that the "dragons" of Zhongshan Kingdom are very strong, agile, strong and straight, reflecting the high-spirited and heroic spirit of Zhongshan.
The dragon-shaped jade pendants unearthed from the Wangcuo Tomb in Zhongshan are on display at the Hebei Museum and come in various shapes and styles. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhai Yujia
"Yan and Zhao have been generous and tragic people since ancient times. Today, when we appreciate the many energetic and vigorous dragon-element cultural relics in Zhongshan Kingdom, we can strongly feel the generosity and majesty of the land of Yan and Zhao." Liu Weihua said that as an ancient totem of the Chinese nation, the dragon It is a sacred image gradually formed in the continuous integration of different tribes, and it is a symbol of forge ahead and soaring. In the process of the formation of the pluralistic unity of the Chinese nation, when the Zhongshan Kingdom with a nomadic background absorbed Chinese civilization, it also absorbed the elements of dragon culture, showing its respect for the dragon, and perfecting the heroic and gentle temperament. Fusion. (over)