![]() 208, after which the armies of Cao Cao approached the city and the governorship was surrendered. He held onto the city until his death in A.D. Toward the end of the Han Dynasty the city was controlled by Liu Biao, technically a governor of Jing Province, although in practice he was independent of the Han court. Furthermore accounts by historians indicate that Xiangyang where he was buried occupied a strategic area that allowed armies access between northern and southern parts of the country. While researchers do not know who this general was, or who he fought for, they believe from the artifacts and architecture found that he was laid to rest early in the Three Kingdoms period, which formally started in A.D. Also movies like "Red Cliff" and a series of video games produced by Koei have brought this period further attention in both China and the West. A 14th-century historical novel called "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is considered one of the most popular works ever written in Chinese. There are frequent references to it in popular culture. It saw the end of the 400-year-long Han Dynasty and the emergence of the kingdoms of Wei, Wu and Shu. The Three Kingdoms period is one of the most celebrated periods of Chinese history. Bronze and iron sabers were found in the tomb along with a bronze crossbow trigger still, after 1,800 years, in good condition. Like any good warrior, the general made sure he was well equipped for the afterlife. Two inscriptions were found on the artifact, one reads (in translation) "To benefit the Descendents Forever," while another reads, "May the Holder Get the Position of the Three Dukes." The Three Dukes were the three most powerful officials, below the emperor, in ancient China. ![]() The mirror is decorated with elaborate patterns that include depictions of the phoenix and even a kui, or a one-legged demon. Ī bronze mirror was found with a round knob in the center. ![]() Yet another piece shows a beastly tomb guardian, his long tongue sticking out and, grossly enough, "a crawling animal is attached onto the tip of the tongue," Jiangsheng writes. Another work of art shows a glazed pottery figurine of a dog barking furiously while standing on all fours. The treasures found in this tomb go on and on, gold and silver disks, crystal and agate beads, gold bracelets, just to name a few.Īmong the finds is a jade pig figurine, his snout finely detailed, the tiny animal having apparently gone to sleep. "The images of those perished buildings were not totally lost, surviving as miniature models in ancient tombs." "Literary descriptions of the buildings of ancient China lead us to believe that it (had) a highly developed architecture, but actual remains are rare and fragmentary," Guo writes in the book "The Mingqi Pottery Buildings of Han Dynasty China 206 B.C. Miniature models like this gives clues as to what ancient houses in China may have actually looked like.
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