On April 16, the National Cutural Heritage Administration held an important progress meeting of the “Archaeological China” major project in Huainan City, Anhui Province, to release the new archaeological discoveries of the tomb of Wu Wang Dun in Huainan City, Anhui Province. This tomb is the largest, highest grade, and most complex high-level tomb of the Chu state that has been scientifically excavated so far. It is preliminarily inferred that it may be a royal level tomb of the Chu state after the relocation of the capital to Shouchun in the late Warring States period. It provides systematic archaeological data for studying the high-level tomb system of the Chu state in the late Warring States period and the historical and cultural background of the Chu state after its eastward migration.
What was the real life of Chu people many years ago? The thick soil of history slowly unfolds, revealing to the world the true appearance of the Chu state more than two thousand years ago. In this issue of “Cultural Relics Speak”, the audio poster column selects multiple precious cultural relics from the Wuwangdun Tomb. Through audio posters and AI dubbing, it takes you to explore the Wuwangdun Tomb and the magnificent Warring States period behind it from a first person perspective.
Phoenix Tiger Drum Stand
The phoenix stands with its long neck stretched out, as if singing loudly; A pair of tigers lying horizontally with their backs facing forward, steadily supporting a phoenix… When you see my appearance, will you be amazed? With a height of 1.92 meters, I have become the largest Phoenix Tiger Drum Stand discovered in China so far. I was born in the state of Chu, where everything is painted, and the phoenix bird is also regarded as a totem by the Chu people, so I have such a beautiful image!
——Self description from Phoenix Tiger Drum Stand
Introduction to cultural relics: This Phoenix and Tiger Drum Frame was unearthed from Tomb No.1 of Wuwangdun in Huainan City, Anhui Province. The Phoenix and Tiger Drum Stand is a typical lacquered wooden musical instrument component of the Chu state. The Phoenix, standing tall on a tiger, holds a precious pearl in its mouth. The feathers on its body are finely painted and carved with dragon shaped patterns. The remaining height of the drum stand is 1.92 meters, making it the largest Phoenix Tiger Seat drum stand discovered so far. The phoenix is the totem of the Chu people, the tiger is the totem of the neighboring Ba people of the Chu people, and the phoenix and tiger drum stand is also a vivid embodiment of multi-ethnic integration.
Wooden handle iron tin
More than two thousand years ago, an ordinary tomb repairman from the state of Chu was digging hard under the scorching sun to build a tomb for the tomb owner of Zhong Mingding Ding. I was the tool he used. More than two thousand years later, the craftsmen who built the tombs have long disappeared into the river of time. I reappeared in the human world, as if carrying the warmth of my palm, proving that they once worked here.
——Self description from Wooden Handle Ironstone
Introduction to Cultural Relics: This wooden handled iron ore was unearthed from Tomb No. 1 of Wuwangdun in Huainan City, Anhui Province. It is a large “T-shaped” vertical hole earth pit tomb, with an overall covered mound shape and a total area of about 12000 square meters. It is currently the largest excavated Chu tomb. Wooden handle iron tin is the most representative and well preserved wooden double headed tin from the Warring States period, which was used as a tool in the construction of tombs by people at that time. Just for some unknown reason, a craftsman left it on site.
Wooden figurine head
Hello everyone, I am the wooden figurine head unearthed from Wuwangdun Tomb in Huainan City, Anhui Province. As one of the burial objects, I belong to the lacquered wooden cultural relics, with a design that was popular in the Chu state more than two thousand years ago. My features are three-dimensional, and the colors are deep and heavy. Unlike my brother who unearthed another wooden figurine with me, my eyebrows and mustache were outlined with gold painting techniques, giving me a rough yet sharp appearance, showcasing the aesthetic trend of the Chu state at that time.
——Self description from the wooden figurine head
Introduction to cultural relics: This wooden figurine head was unearthed from Tomb No.1 of Wuwangdun in Huainan City, Anhui Province. The two painted wooden figurines currently extracted are both made of wooden bodies, with red and black painted human faces. One of the wooden figurines has a fish scale shaped decoration on the back of its head, suspected to be a wooden figurine with braids. The other wooden figurine’s eyebrows and eight character beard were decorated with gilded techniques, indicating its exquisite craftsmanship.
Copper francium
I woke up from the smoke and flames of the Warring States period. ‘Supporting the North Dipper and Drinking Guijiang’ was a heroic act of people in that era. Wine storage containers, represented by our francium, were common items in daily life. I am a type of square teapot. At the Wu Wangdun Tomb, I also worked with Jian to become a set of wine vessels that can adjust the temperature of wine! People heat the outer layer of the wine with water or chill it with ice, allowing the taste of the wine to be as hot or cold as they please, making it more comfortable. Do you think this reflects the wisdom of ancient people!
——Self description from Copper Francium
Introduction to cultural relics: This copper francium was unearthed from Tomb No.1 of Wuwangdun in Huainan City, Anhui Province. Fang is an ancient wine storage vessel and a type of square pot. This copper francium, together with the unearthed copper Fangjian, forms a set of adjustable temperature wine vessels, which play a role in regulating the temperature of the wine in the francium.
Cover plate of the coffin chamber
Hello everyone, I am a coffin chamber cover unearthed from the Wuwangdun Tomb in Huainan City, Anhui Province. I have written a large number of Chu style ink characters on my body, recording the past of the tomb owner and the Chu state. At present, archaeologists have discovered and collected over 100 sentences and nearly a thousand words of content. After identification and judgment, we have written on ourselves the placement orientation and sorting of the coffin cover plate, as well as the functional zoning of the coffin chamber, which is of great significance for studying the construction process, official system, and naming of Chu tombs.
——Self description from the cover plate of the coffin chamber
Introduction to Cultural Relics: The Wuwangdun Tomb in Huainan City, Anhui Province is the highest level tomb of the Chu Kingdom excavated so far, dating back more than two thousand years. A large number of ink characters were found on the surface of the excavated coffin chamber cover plate, with varying contents and quantities of characters on each plate. Most of the characters can be clearly identified by infrared equipment. These ink script characters are typical Chu style characters.
