The tomb of Marquis Yi zeng was excavated in 1978 in Suizhou, Hubei Province, and the ancient tomb more than 2,400 years ago holds more than 15,000 cultural relics. Among them, the most famous ones are the Zenghou Yi Chimes and the Zenghou Yi Zun Plate.
However, the most interesting thing is that archaeologists pulled out 21 small jade animals from Zeng Houyi's mouth... Zeng Houyi had love, and before he died, he still contained a small animal with jade, and he was afraid of melting it off.
First, let's introduce Marquis Zeng
Marquis Yi of Zeng was the monarch of the State of Zeng, and the State of Zeng was suiguo, two names in one country, but the name of the State of Zeng did not appear in the history books. Marquis Yi zeng was a prince of the Zhou Dynasty, and his identity can be verified from the excavated bronze pendant, which was given by King Hui of Chu and has an inscription on it.
The Zhou Dynasty was divided, dominated by royal nobles. Zeng Guo lived in the south, only a small princely state at that time, but the level was not low. Zeng Houyi is not a personal name, but an honorific title.
Marquis Yi of Zeng was of the Zhou Dynasty bloodline, surnamed Ji, nan gong of the clan, and given the name B. Therefore, his name was Nangong Yi (the pre-Qin name was not called surname, and the surname was distinguished from noble and lowly), and Marquis Yi of Zeng was an honorific title, just like the prince's heavy ears.
Zeng Houyi may have been "nameless", but his ancestor was the famous Zhou dynasty founding general Nangong Shi (kuò, "適" is an ancient character, which is homomorphic and different from today's "適").
Now back to the theme Why did Zeng Houyi still have a group of jade animals in his mouth? Why singular 21?
21 jade critters in Zeng Houyi's mouth
According to archaeology, the list of animals in The mouth of Marquis Zeng is as follows:
There are 6 jade cattle, 4 jade sheep, 3 jade pigs, 2 jade dogs, 3 jade ducks, and 3 jade fish, for a total of 21 pieces
This is a mini farm in the mouth, and Zeng Houyi is so delicious!
This group of small animals is called "Jade Rice", also known as "Jade Rice", usually jade, but also depends on the family business, but also uses shells. The ancients put them in their mouths when they were buried. This is the ancient Chinese burial culture.
The Zhou Li says that when the ancients were mourning, their mouths contained jade. Zheng Xuan's note: Rice jade, broken jade to mixed rice also.
It can be seen that in ancient funeral rites, broken jade was placed in the mouth of the deceased, and these jade stones were usually made into different shapes, the so-called jade. During the Han Dynasty, the jade cicada gradually evolved into the image of the jade cicada.
This funerary practice was common in ancient high society. If it is to show off wealth, do not have to plug the mouth; if it is a foodie, why put the whole animal, Xiaobian feels that it is better to make a jade elbow directly. For the ancients, the custom of jade had an extraordinary meaning.
The cultural meaning of the jade critter
Material level 丨
The so-called "jade rice" of course also reflects the meaning of food. If ordinary grain rice is used, it will soon rot, so how can it be eaten by the deceased for a long time? Replacing it with jade is different, jade is immortal, the deceased will not starve, in order to pin good wishes for the deceased.
The cattle, sheep, pigs, fish, ducks and dogs contained in Zeng Houyi's mouth are all daily animals, all of which are poultry carnivores, of which cattle, sheep, pigs and dogs belong to the list of ancient five animals, and dogs have another role of care and companionship. Of course this is only one of the reasons.
Spiritual level 丨
In the eyes of the ancients, the jade was crystal clear and the color did not fade, which was very magical, of course, it absorbed the aura of heaven and earth. Therefore, in ancient times, jade was thought to be spiritual and also a good antiseptic material, so the jade was placed in the "Nine Tips" of the deceased, and the body was as immortal as jade.
The golden jade clothes of the Han Dynasty are the best illustration, but this pomp is too big and is usually used by the imperial family. However, the origin of jade clothes can be traced back to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, when there were "embellished jade faces" and "embellished jade clothes", and their connotations were the same as the anti-embalming intentions of jade.
During the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Pi issued an edict prohibiting the custom of funeral jade clothes.
The evolution of jade to jade cicada 丨
It is also said that the Zenghou Yi Yuhuan was an everyday animal such as cattle and sheep, and the Jade Dragon gradually evolved into the image of the jade cicada in the Han Dynasty.
Cicadas, however, are on the ground for a summer, but they are high branches and flow far and wide; they can lie dormant for several years, or even more than ten years, underground. Whether compared with the summer on the ground, or the concept of reality, in the eyes of the ancients, the underground world of cicadas can be described as a long existence...
The cicadas are in the high branches every year, the sound is known to the world, and the sound consumption is long and stinging underground, so back and forth, just like life has been reincarnated, very magical.
Therefore, in the Han Dynasty, the jade was gradually made into a jade cicada, on the one hand, the antiseptic effect, on the other hand, it was expected that the deceased could be reborn like a cicada, and rest in the world.
Of course, the ancients would not be stupid enough not to know the essence of life, but more to mourn, which evolved into a funerary culture over time.
Zeng Houyi in the Warring States, funeral culture has not yet developed to this stage, can only contain daily small animals, but fierce enough, stuffed 21 ...
The two mysteries in Zeng Houyi's mouth
In ancient times, the "Five Sacrifices of Heavenly Son" cattle, sheep, sheep, dogs, and chickens, in addition to the five animals, Zeng Houyi also had more fish and ducks in his mouth.
Because Zeng Guo was located in the south of the Zhou Dynasty, compared with most of the Central Plains people, Zeng Houyi had a mouth to enjoy the aquatic products of duck and fish.
Ancient and modern Huaxia is auspicious with even numbers, why are there 21 small animals in the mouth of Zeng Houyi? 22 Is it bad to have even numbers + stacked numbers?
There is no accurate explanation for this matter, perhaps 21 is the lucky number of Zeng Houyi. It may also be related to Zhou Yi.
The 21st Gua of the Xiang Ci:
Pseudonym: Phagocyte (refers to the bite of the upper and lower jaws, chewing).
Anatomy: Yin and yang intersect, there is something between the upper and lower lips, and it is necessary to bite off hard objects. By combining grace and power, removing obstacles can be successful.
Gua Xiang: Lightning crossover. The first king took the law and lightning, strictly ruled the government, clearly observed his punishment, amended his law, and when necessary, adopted tough measures.
Coincidentally, the maidens martyred in the tomb of Marquis Yi zeng were also 21...
Why does Zeng Houyi always grasp the number 21? Why not 20 or 22? Xiaobian also asked the children. Li Jiawa replied to me: The mouth is not big enough, 22 can't be stuffed!
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