As the birthplace of an ancient civilization, Hebei is one of the treasures of the previous dynasties.
2 kilometers south of Ci County, Handan City, Hebei Province, there is a village called Otsuka Camp. It is named "Ōtsuka Camp" because of the huge tomb outside the village, and it is said that it was once a royal cemetery, and the descendants who stayed behind also lived as "tomb keepers". But for whom to keep, it is no longer possible to test.
One spring in 1976, when a villager was working in the wheat field as usual, he dug out a neat row of brick walls, and when the black "stink" was smoked, it turned out to be an ancient tomb!
What is the origin of this ancient tomb with a black "stink"? Who is its owner? Today, we will approach Handan, the "royal cemetery" where the daughter-in-law of the founding emperor is buried.
Ancient tombs in a wheat field
The village of Otsukaying in Handan was an imperial garden and a royal mausoleum in ancient times. The people who lived in this land were the descendants of the tomb keepers at that time. However, during the change of dynasties, many of the mausoleums have disappeared, and the entrance is nowhere to be found. After the washing of time, this place is like an idyllic landscape.
However, one day in the 1970s, a villager from Otsuka Camp came to work in the wheat field as usual. The hoe was bounced back by the hard object, and he couldn't dig it up—he quickly cleaned up the surrounding area and dug up the surface of the dirt, when a neat row of brick walls came into view.
Such a spectacle caused the surrounding villagers to come forward to watch. Some people have the impression that this layout structure is similar to the tombs of ancient people, so no one dares to open it first. Some daredevils lifted the masonry in one fell swoop, but they did not expect a black gas to rise from the masonry.
Its smell is strange, which can scare everyone around. It was quickly reported to the cultural relics department, and archaeologists also heard the news and carefully investigated it.
Sure enough, under the masonry is an ancient tomb. The villagers lifted just the bricks at the top of the tomb, and these "smelly gases" were naturally gases accumulated in the ground and decayed. When the archaeological team conducted a preliminary investigation of the tomb, it was unexpectedly found that there were many robbery holes in this ancient tomb, that is, the stolen tomb thieves had "washed" many times.
In 1978, with the approval of the cultural relics department of Hebei Province, the relevant work units began rescue excavation work on the tomb.
With mixed feelings, after the archaeological team surveyed it, the size and outline of the tomb gradually became clear in front of everyone: the tomb is a slope-like structure, covering a large area, with a length and width of more than 5 meters, and is an ancient tomb with certain specifications. The two sides of the tomb are covered with frescoes, and the preservation of frescoes is relatively intact.
It was through these murals that archaeologists were able to deduce the key message that the owner of the tomb was most likely a royal nobleman of the Southern and Northern Dynasties.
However, due to the repeated theft of the tomb, many large quantities have disappeared, and most of them are painted pottery figurines. The theft of cultural relics is not only a pity in the loss of the cultural relics themselves, but also makes it impossible for archaeologists to conduct information research through cultural relics and their body texts and patterns. If you can't find a certificate, it is naturally difficult to judge the ownership of this ancient tomb with certain specifications.
However, kung fu pays off. After several disappointments, the archaeological team finally found the tomb owner's epitaph in the tomb. The inscription on the epitaph is relatively clear, and the inscription is "Wei Kaifu Yi and the wife of the founding prince of Changguang County, Princess Ruru Lu". At this time, the identity of the owner of the tomb was revealed———— Rouran Rulin and the princess.
Marriage at the age of eight
To determine the identity of the owner of the tomb is a piece of epitaph stone cloth with a thin line checkerboard grid, interspersed with twenty-two lines of records. It details the life and status of the tomb owner, Princess Ruru, who was the wife of Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi, Gao Zhan, and her father-in-law Gao Huan, the true founder of the Northern Qi Dynasty.
"Ruru" is actually another name for the Ruoran clan. At the end of the fourth century AD, after the Xiongnu and Xianbei, another Rouran tribe emerged in the northern steppe. At this time, the Northern Wei Dynasty had split into Eastern Wei and Western Wei.
The Ruoran clan was originally very closely related to the Northern Wei, but in the context of the division at that time, King Ruru was ready to side with the Eastern Wei chancellor who supported his regime. At the same time, in order to be able to contain the attack of Western Wei, Eastern Wei chose to adopt a good-neighborly policy of "inviting the wilderness" to the Ruru people, and repeatedly married with Rouran.
When this political marriage was concluded, Princess Ruru was only 5 years old, and she was called "Neighbor and Princess". The candidate for the marriage agreed upon in advance by Gao Huan, the chancellor of the Eastern Wei Dynasty, was his ninth son Gao Zhan, who was later Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi. At this time, Gao Zhan was only 8 years old, and what he left behind for future generations under the history books was the image of "crown and strict dress".
In order to better adapt Princess Ruru to the environment, the Gao family took the young princess to Zhongyuan early and has been doing its best to provide the princess with the best possible environment. In the family of the Han husband, Princess Ruru enjoyed thoughtful and meticulous service and lived a comfortable life of gold clothes and jade food. Under such careful care, she quickly adapted to life in a foreign land.
At the same time, Gao Huan, the father-in-law of the prime minister, specially selected the most knowledgeable gentleman for Gao Zhan and Princess Ruru to teach the two children to read together. Princess Ruru loved singing and dancing, and often sang and danced with Gao Zhan, and the two grew up together like green plum bamboo horses.
Time passed, and eight years later, Princess Ruru had already come out of the woods, and Gao Zhan was about to become an adult at this time. The shyness of young girls and the style of young boys are exactly the youth that reading and playing together are not like the youth that used to be free. Gao Huan also began to consult with the Eastern Wei Emperor about the two round houses. But Princess Ruru suddenly fell ill.
This time, the illness came fiercely and urgently, and Princess Ruru, who was seriously ill, also began to argue to see her relatives, and the news spread all the way to the Ruoran Clan, and everyone was worried.
Seeing this, Gao Huan was also anxious, and he hurriedly asked the emperor to ask for the best doctor to see and treat Princess Ruru. However, it is lamentable that even if the most prestigious doctor at that time was invited, it did not save The life of Princess Ruru.
In 550 AD, the terminally ill Princess Ruru left the human world forever, and her life stopped forever at the age of 13.
After hearing the news, the father-in-law Gao Huan, regardless of the fact that he was still in Luoyang, just hurriedly asked Tianzi to issue an edict and specially made a special funeral car for the princess in ancient times, so that the coffin of Princess Ruru could be sent to Yecheng for burial as quickly as possible.
The Khan of the Ruoran tribe, Anaji, was also deeply distressed, and he was also very concerned about his granddaughter's funeral, sending his relatives, guards, and high-powered shamans to Yecheng.
Love and hate in the Wei Monument
After the Three Kingdoms and two Jin Dynasties, the Southern and Northern Dynasties rose and fell, and there were many celebrity anecdotes. In the 6th century AD, the "Gao Huan" and "Yuwen Tai" in the north were among the landmark figures. Although the scenery is short-lived, followed by the prosperous Sui and Tang Dynasties, if you look closely, the Southern and Northern Dynasties are not inferior.
Gao Huan to the Eastern Wei Dynasty is exactly what Cao Cao called the existence of the Eastern Han Dynasty, although nominally only "Prime Minister", but the weight of speech is comparable to the monarch, and it is indeed the most practical person in power. At that time, the Eastern Wei Dynasty was in danger, and the outstanding leader of the Ruoran Clan, Anajie, soon attracted Gao Huan's attention.
Before giving Princess Ruru to Gao Zhan, Gao Huan asked Princess Anle of Eastern Wei to marry and kiss in order to win over Anajie. In addition, before "Ru Ru Lin and Princess", RouRan also had two princesses, "Worm Lord Eldest Daughter" and "Worm Worm Princess", and Wei He.
In addition, Anagui was also a source of influence in the relations between neighboring countries - Anagui married with Western Wei and had inextricable contacts with the Western Regions. However, Anagui himself was full of admiration for Gao Huan, and when his granddaughter Ru Rulin married the princess, he accompanied two Byzantine gold coins as a dowry.
The dramatic thing is that in the year when the princess unfortunately fell ill and died, the Gao family finally established itself and established Northern Qi. The Gao Zhan dynasty, who was loved by his father, was promoted from the Duke of Changguang County to the King of Changguang.
Perhaps many people can't help but regret when they hear this - the honorable status, the husband with a promising future... The death of Princess Ruru is a pity. But is this really the case?
However, if you open the history books at a glance, you can know that the wucheng emperor in history is not only a dimwitted monarch, but also a tyrant - as he grows older, Gao Zhan gradually reverts to his former state of "dignified clothes and dignified appearance".
Even though he later became the right chancellor, he was still dissatisfied with his brother and plotted to usurp the throne. However, because the results of the divination at that time did not think that it should be initiated, he put down the intention of rebellion.
The dying emperor Gao Yan did not dare to underestimate the wolf and tiger hearts of the people around him, and in order not to let his child Gao Bainian encounter an accident, he decided to pass the throne to Gao Zhan.
But Gao Zhan, after succeeding him as monarch of Northern Qi, committed a series of brutal acts. He even ruthlessly tortured and executed his own nephew; he rebelled against the moral code and took the imperial concubine for himself.
At the same time, with the villain "smell the same" getting closer and closer, coveting enjoyment. Northern Qi's national fortunes were wiped out little by little in splurge and fainting.
Northern Qi, which was in social turmoil, has since gone into decline. When lamenting that the teenager who had high hopes in the past was lost, perhaps there are posterity who sighed that Princess Ruru, who remained at the age of 13 forever, would she become like if she was still alive?
Eastern Wei in the tomb
The excavation of the tomb connects the millennia of time and takes us to glimpse the love and hate of the past. Looking at the tomb of Princess Ruru now, it is another feeling.
Although it has been destroyed by excavation and damage, and the furnishings have also been disrupted, the artifacts excavated from the tomb of Princess Ruru are still very rich.
Among them, there are more than 1,000 complete and restorable cultural relics, with pottery figurines as the bulk, as well as various pottery models, Byzantine gold coins and some gold and copper ornaments. It is an important physical material that can be used to continue to deepen and improve the study of the tomb culture of the Eastern Wei Dynasty.
The major result of the excavation of the tomb of Princess Ruru is the frescoes of more than 100 square meters. Before the tomb was excavated, the history of Chinese painting recorded only a few words about this period.
However, the large-scale murals in the tomb of Princess Ruru show the world the real painting techniques of this blank period with its vivid colors and rigorous layout.
The proportions of the portraits are basically accurate, the costumes are vivid and appropriate, and the characters are depicted vividly, which can be described as the superior work of the Northern Dynasty murals.
The mural mainly shows the scene of Princess Ruru being guided to heaven by the divine beast after her death. To the east is a green dragon, and to the west is an exaggerated white tiger. The shape is chic and unforgettable.
In addition to the murals, the tomb of Princess Ruru has also unearthed a large number of artifacts, of which more than 1,000 are complete and repairable, and the pottery figurines account for 1,064 pieces. These painted clay figurines have different postures and different looks, and their vivid images have earned them the nickname of "China's Little Terracotta Warriors". Gray and red tire colors, painted with rich themes, small and delicate.
And the status of Princess Ruru at that time can also be seen from the ceremonial guards composed of these "small terracotta warriors", from the beginning to the end of the row, they are strictly in accordance with the ceremonial standing position, drumming figurines, two crotch figurines, hood honor guards, samurai figurines, etc. are among them. The whole team is neatly arranged, and at the same time provides a basis for future generations to rely on.
Character figurines are divided according to identity, and there are many classifications, not only all kinds of samurai figurines, costume figurines, and riding figurines, but also drumming figurines, literary figurines, etc., of which the Hu figurines have remarkable characteristics, and the shamanic figurines are special.
The production of various types of figurines is closely related to the theme, and the identity characteristics are exquisitely displayed. The movements are vivid and the expressions are rich, which vividly expresses the heroism of the samurai figurines, the calmness of the literary figurines, the liveliness of the drumming figurines, and the safety of the slave figurines.
Even animal figurines and soul-suppressing beast figurines are vivid.
In the burial of Princess Ruru, her precious dowry was also found- two gold coins of the Eastern Roman Byzantine Empire. The discovery of these two gold coins is also very legendary: they have been hidden in the tomb soil for a long time, even until the archaeologists of the archaeological team have announced the end of the excavation.
However, one of the old archaeologists surnamed Ma was worried about a missing piece of porcelain on the way to the excavation, and insisted on staying alone to continue sifting and finding pieces.
The kung fu paid off - two golden discs appeared, and this serendipity surprised everyone. As a gold coin from the Time of the Byzantine Empire in Eastern Rome, its value and significance are extraordinary. In the historical data, they are also princess Ruru's personal treasures to avoid evil, and after marrying, they were brought to the Central Plains together. The excavation of gold coins confirms this history.
Due to the variety, quantity and high quality of cultural relics unearthed from the tomb of Princess Ruru, the higher-level departments deliberately mobilized Cixian County, gathered its ceramic figurines, gold coins and copied murals, and set up a thematic exhibition hall on the third floor of the back building of the Handan Museum.
At the same time, the museum also reduced its murals in equal proportions to create a box-style cross-sectional burial chamber to show the audience the details of the murals.
As one of the epitomes of the tomb culture of the Northern Dynasty Yidu, many people come to visit in the name of Princess Ruru, and tourists flock to it. Subsequently, the "National Treasure Archives" also launched two issues of "Princess Ruru", which detailed the tomb and life story of Princess Ruru.
Today, if you have the opportunity to walk close to the Hebei Provincial Museum, you can see a facsimile of the mural painting of the tomb of Princess Ruru in its permanent Northern Dynasty Mural Hall, which is a key exhibit and proudly shows the world the style of that time.
epilogue
What are we all doing at the age of five? When it comes to marriage, it seems absurd now, but in the political environment at that time, it was an extremely "natural" behavior.
Born in the grasslands, long-sleeping plains. The great wheel of the times and the intervention of politics forced them to leave their hometown early, come to a foreign country, and unfortunately pass away in their prosperous age.
Opening the history books, the three princesses ruru who were friendly with the two Wei dynasties in history were only 16 years old, while the youngest reached 5 years old.
We see politics and history in them, and we see the interaction between Han culture and border culture from the change of titles, but we almost forget that they were just three girls at that time.
Fortunately, there are traces of history that allow us to trace the granddaughter of Rouran Khan, the wife of emperor Gaozhan before he ascended the throne, and explore her life. Inscribing words on the tablet is not only for future generations to find, but also the word politics at that time.
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