In the long river of history, whether from the vast historical records or through archaeological excavations of cultural relics from the Three Kingdoms period, it is clear that steel played an important role in the era of cold weapons, widely used in equipment such as swords, spears, spears, and armor. During the Three Kingdoms period, it inherited the brilliant achievements of steel smelting technology from the Han Dynasty and pushed it to new heights, forming a spectacular scene of “spears and spears standing in the mountains and forests, and black armor shining in the sunlight”.
In this era of heroes, in addition to the strategists and wise generals who strategize, there is also a group of unknown but crucial laborers who silently cultivate in fields such as steel forging and agricultural production, using their wisdom and sweat to forge the glory of the times. Although their contributions are not visible, they are deeply imprinted in the tangible history.
In a broad sense, the Three Kingdoms period began with the Yellow Turban Uprising in 184 AD and ended with the Western Jin Dynasty’s defeat of Wu in 280 AD. This period of history has been interpreted and passed down in various forms by later generations, from rigorous historical records to captivating romantic novels, from long-lasting opera storytelling to vivid and intuitive film and television dramas, jointly constructing a rich and colorful cultural system of the Three Kingdoms. The physical remains discovered in archaeology have added countless vivid details to this period of history, allowing people to glimpse the true face of that era.
In 2020, the China Cultural Relics Exchange Center carefully planned the “Three Kingdoms Cultural Theme Special Exhibition” (referred to as the “Three Kingdoms Exhibition”) at the China Century Altar. The exhibition gathered precious cultural relics from more than ten provinces and cities across the country during the Three Kingdoms period, covering the period from the Han Dynasty to the Western Jin Dynasty. Through more than 170 selected exhibits, it comprehensively and multi dimensionally reproduced the colorful scenes of politics, economy, culture, military and daily life during the Three Kingdoms period.
As the Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu said in his poem “Red Cliff”: “The broken spear has sunk, the sand and iron have not been sold, and the self will polish and recognize the previous dynasty.” Through these precious cultural relics of the Three Kingdoms, the audience can closely touch the historical context and intuitively feel the strength and glory of the military power of that era. In the Shu Han exhibition area of the “Three Kingdoms Exhibition”, a bronze sword originating from the tomb of Liu Sheng, the ancestor of Liu Bei, Prince Jing of Zhongshan, is particularly eye-catching. Its exquisite craftsmanship and luxurious decoration not only showcase the superb skills of ancient craftsmen, but also reveal the widespread use of steel materials in weapon manufacturing.
In fact, as early as the mid Western Han Dynasty, Chinese weapon materials had already made a leap from bronze to steel. During the Han Dynasty, China’s steel smelting technology developed rapidly, leading the world. Both pig iron and block iron coexist, and the emergence of stir frying technology has pushed the production efficiency and quality of steel to new heights. During the Three Kingdoms period, vassals such as Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan devoted themselves to the production of high-quality swords and knives. Pu Yuan, a swordsmith under Zhuge Liang, forged a masterpiece known as the “divine sword” with his unique insights into quenching technology.
In addition to the innovation of weapons and equipment, the military inventions and innovations during the Three Kingdoms period were also remarkable. Zhuge Liang’s achievements in improving the crossbow, creating the Eight Formation Diagram, and inventing the wooden ox and flowing horse have been widely circulated; Dongwu relied on its unique geographical advantages to develop its naval forces, with a wide variety of warships and mature tactics; The transformation of horse equipment cannot be ignored. The emergence of high bridge saddles and stirrups not only enhanced the combat effectiveness of cavalry, but also had a profound impact on future generations.
In addition, the “Three Kingdoms Exhibition” also showcases precious cultural relics that reflect ethnic integration and institutional changes. The “Wei Guiyi Di Hou” Jin Yin witnessed the interaction and exchange between the Central Plains dynasties and surrounding ethnic groups during the Three Kingdoms period. The implementation of the World War II system not only solved the problem of military supply, but also promoted military specialization and stable development of agricultural production.
The “Three Kingdoms Exhibition” has opened a door to the Three Kingdoms era for us with its rich exhibits and profound connotations. Here, we can not only appreciate the glory and magnificence of the era when heroes emerged, but also deeply appreciate the indispensable role played by ordinary laborers in the historical process.
