There are indeed many theories and legends about the explanation of the 61 headless stone people in front of Wu Zetian's tomb, until the early 20th century, the mystery of this 61 headless stone people was finally solved by two brave farmers. This historical mystery has puzzled historians and archaeologists for thousands of years. Now, let's explore the story behind this mystery.
The joint tomb of Emperor Gaozong of Tang Li Zhi and Empress Wu Zetian is a royal tomb during the Tang Dynasty, located in the Qianling Tomb in Lintong District, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China. Built during the reigns of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Wu Zetian, the Qianling Tomb was the first royal joint tomb of the Tang Dynasty and one of the largest and best-preserved of the royal tombs of the Tang Dynasty.
The scale of the Qianling Tomb is large, with a total area of 2,500 acres, including palaces, stone carvings, tombs, burial chambers, auxiliary halls and other buildings. The tomb contains the coffins of Emperor Gaozong and Wu Zetian, as well as a large number of precious cultural relics and paintings, which have high historical, cultural and artistic value. This group of stone figures is called "sixty-one stone figures", and since each stone figure has no head, it looks a little eerie.
The 61 stone figures are arranged in three rows, each with 21 stone figures, and the height is about 1.3 meters. The stone figures are carved to life, and each stone figure has a different facial expression and body posture. According to research, these stone figures were carved from the Tang Dynasty and are considered to be one of the masterpieces of stone carving craftsmanship at that time.
The life of the legendary female emperor
Wu Zetian (624–705), formerly known as Wu Wan'er, was a famous female politician, poet and historical figure during the Tang Dynasty. She was the only female emperor in Chinese history and the last emperor during the Tang Dynasty. She left an extremely important political, cultural and artistic legacy in the history of the Tang Dynasty, and her legendary life has become one of the legends in history.
Wu Zetian's early experience is unremarkable, and she is rumored to have been born into a family named Wu Mingyi, whose father was a famous poet and scholar. In her early years, she entered the palace as a palace maid, and later was promoted to a noble concubine of Changle Palace and became the favorite concubine of Emperor Gaozong of Tang. After the death of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, she became the biological mother of the crown prince Li Zhi, because she was intelligent and capable, with outstanding political talents, she became an important assistant to Li Zhi after his accession to the throne, handling state affairs, and was named a "talented person" of Zhenguanzhi.
Soon after, Li Zhi died of illness and Wu Zetian's son Li Xian ascended the throne, but was soon deposed. Subsequently, Wu Zetian presented a copy of the "Edict of the Linzhao Dynasty" and became a female emperor, which is known as the "Wu Zetian Era".
During Wu Zetian's reign, a series of reforms were introduced, strengthening the centralization of power, reforming the official system, promoting talent, carrying out agricultural and commercial activities, strengthening national defense, and promoting the prosperity of culture and art. At the same time, Wu Zetian also brutally suppressed and persecuted politicians, officials, and literati who opposed her rule, forming an authoritarian political atmosphere.
During his reign, Wu Zetian also attached great importance to the development of culture and art, supporting the Renaissance of the Tang Dynasty. She was a talented woman herself, writing a large number of poems and literary works, the most famous of which is the Weicheng Song.
Wu Zetian's reign lasted 15 years until she abdicated. During her reign, political and cultural achievements could not be ignored, but there were also problems with cruelty and authoritarianism in the way she ruled. Her life has also become one of the legends in history, and her experiences and stories have become the subject of many literary works and legends.
Wu Zetian's reign also experienced some important events. The most famous of these is the Anshi Rebellion. It was a rebellion led by An Lushan and Shi Siming, which lasted for 8 years and had a profound impact on the politics and society of the Tang Dynasty. Wu Zetian showed extraordinary political wisdom and decisive decision-making in this rebellion, successfully suppressed the rebellion, and maintained the stability of the Tang Dynasty.
In addition, Wu Zetian also carried out large-scale engineering construction and cultural activities. She ordered the construction of many large palaces and Buddhist temples, and vigorously promoted Buddhism. She also invested heavily in education and culture, established Taixue and Academy, and encouraged the creation and development of literati and scholars, which brought the culture of the Tang Dynasty to a new peak.
Wu Zetian also experienced many setbacks and turmoil in his personal life during his reign. Her two sons were deposed, and she herself experienced many political intrigues and slander. But she was always strong enough to face these setbacks and maintain her authority and dominance.
According to historical documents, after Wu Zetian abdicated in 705 AD, he lived in seclusion in Luoyang's Anle Palace. She maintained political and military influence until her death. According to the Zizhi Tongjian, Wu Zetian died on December 16, 705, at the age of 82. After Wu Zetian's death, Emperor Zhongzong of Tang succeeded to the throne, and the whole country mourned for her, posthumously naming her "Emperor of the Heavenly Holy Spirit".
However, the specific cause of Wu Zetian's death has many controversies and legends. Some historical documents and legends say that Wu Zetian died of natural aging or illness, such as stroke or death. There are also legends that Wu Zetian died of being poisoned by Emperor Zhongzong or other officials, and these legends have been passed down to some extent throughout history. However, these claims are not supported by conclusive historical evidence, so their authenticity cannot be determined.
In short, although the specific cause of Wu Zetian's death is disputed, her historical status and influence are unquestionable. As an important statesman of the Tang Dynasty and the only female emperor in history, she made outstanding contributions to the development of Chinese history and culture.
After Wu Zetian's death, she was buried in the Zhaoling Mausoleum outside Chang'an City. Her tomb has 61 stone carved headless figures, becoming a historical mystery. It was not until the 80s of the 20th century that two local farmers solved the mystery and discovered that one of the headless stone figures could be turned, and there was an underground passage leading to Wu Zetian's mausoleum. The discovery provides a deeper understanding of the legendary female emperor's life and historical status.
The ultimate treasure land, taking care of the female emperor
The watershed theory of the cemetery is a theory of ancient Chinese feng shui, which believes that the watershed is a very important factor in the site selection of the mausoleum. A watershed is the watershed of a mountain range, and the peak or pass on the watershed is the turning point of the terrain and the dividing line of the water flow on the mountain range.
According to the watershed theory, the cemetery should be chosen on a watershed, because this can avoid bad feng shui and ensure the momentum and blessing of the mausoleum. Many emperors and nobles in ancient China attached great importance to this method of site selection, believing that it could bring good luck and longevity.
According to historical records, the site of Wu Zetian's mausoleum was chosen by the famous astrologer Yuan Tiangang of the Tang Dynasty and Li Chunfeng, a tai Shiling who was proficient in the astronomical calendar. When they chose a cemetery, they found that this mountain intersected with the Big Dipper and was a rare treasure place, so they decided to build a mausoleum here. The reason for this site selection is precisely based on the watershed theory, which believes that such a location can have a good feng shui aura.
Therefore, the site of Wu Zetian's mausoleum conforms to the theory of ancient Chinese feng shui and is located on the watershed of a mountain range. It also adds mystery and legend to her mausoleum.
Since its construction, Wu Zetian's cemetery has been considered one of the mausoleums with mysterious powers, and many tomb robbers have tried to enter the cemetery to find treasures, but have failed. Here are some examples of generations of grave robbers who have failed to return:
1. Tomb robbers of the Tang Dynasty: During the Tang Dynasty, a group of tomb robbers tried to break into Wu Zetian's cemetery, but they encountered fog and unexplained terrorist incidents, and finally abandoned the tomb robbery plan.
2. Qing Dynasty tomb robbers: During the Qing Dynasty, a group of tomb robbers infiltrated Wu Zetian's cemetery, but they got lost in the cemetery and encountered an attack by unknown creatures, and were finally forced to abandon the tomb robbery plan.
3. Modern tomb robbers: In recent years, many tomb robbers have tried to enter Wu Zetian's cemetery, but most of them have been lost in the cemetery, or found and punished by law. Some of them even suffered irreversible losses and tragic ends because of their attempts to enter the cemetery.
Therefore, although many tomb robbers have tried to break into Wu Zetian's cemetery to find treasures, they have all ended in failure, which also deepens the mystery and legend of Wu Zetian's tomb.
Third, the mystery of the headless stone man
The stone man in front of the tomb, also known as the "Terracotta Army", refers to the 61 stone statues in front of the Qianling Tomb, the common tomb of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and Wu Zetian. These 61 stone statues are all headless, wearing military uniforms, standing on the platform in front of the tomb, each stone statue is about 1.5 meters high and 0.8 meters wide, and in front of Wu Zetian's tomb, there are 61 headless stone figures. These 61 stone figures were carved using the most advanced technology of the time, and each stone figure had a different expression and demeanor, and the details were very exquisite. However, the 61 stone figures have no heads, nor do they have any carved marks of their heads, which has puzzled historians and archaeologists.
These 61 stone statues are one of the representatives of Tang Dynasty art and one of the treasures of ancient Chinese stone carving art. These stone statues are finely carved and realistic, which not only show the military culture and artistic level of the Tang Dynasty, but also are important physical materials for studying the military, etiquette and culture of the Tang Dynasty.
There are various theories as to why these 61 statues do not have heads. Tradition holds that these 61 stone statues do not have heads because Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi and Wu Zetian, believed that the head was where the soul was and did not want their soul to be fixed in the tomb, so the stone statue did not have a head. There is also a theory that the heads of these 61 stone statues were once stolen, so now only the body remains. But none of these claims are supported by conclusive evidence.
However, these stone figures are indeed a mysterious and fascinating existence, attracting many tourists to visit and explore their secrets.
Historically, some archaeologists have encountered some mysterious supernatural events when exploring Wu Zetian's necropolis, which are rumored to be good stories.
It is said that during an archaeological excavation in the early 20th century, an archaeologist suddenly felt a strong force pushing him aside when he entered the mausoleum, and then found himself pale, cold all over, and ill for a month.
There was also an archaeologist who, when he tried to enter the tomb, suddenly saw a huge snake, about twenty centimeters in diameter, winding around the stone door at the mouth of the cave. The archaeologist screamed in fright, but the snake suddenly disappeared.
In addition, there are archaeological experts who, after entering the mausoleum, find themselves walking several steps, but they do not leave the place, as if they have been walking in place. Another archaeologist saw a mysterious ball of light in the tomb, which fluttered erratically, as if there was life.
These supernatural events may be due to the historic cemetery and the psychological impact of people's conjectures and fears about the mystery of the mausoleum. Whether true or fictional, these stories add mystery to Wu Zetian's cemetery and attract more people to visit. According to legend, there were 61 headless stone figures standing in front of Wu Zetian's mausoleum, which were selected by local villagers to pile stones, each with different shapes and postures, but all of them did not have a head carving. For thousands of years, the purpose and origin of these 61 stone figures remained a mystery until two mysterious farmers appeared.
According to legend, one of these two peasants is named Li Jiulong and the other is named Li Dazui, and they are famous local divine sticks. One day, they suddenly decided to go to Wu Zetian's mausoleum to take a look, and when they saw these 61 headless stone people, Li Jiulong suddenly said mysteriously: "Where are the heads of these stone people, we can find them." ”
So, the two began to dig around the stone man, and soon found fragments of the stone man's head, and after piecing these fragments together, they found that the 61 stone man's heads were intact, different in shape, and lifelike. Historians have had many explanations, but none of them can explain the true purpose of the 61 headless stone men.
Some believe that the 61 headless stone figures were used to deter tomb thieves, while others believe that they are a symbol of ancient culture. However, none of these explanations explain why the 61 stone figures do not have heads.
This phenomenon has given rise to many legends and mysteries about Wu Zetian and the Tang Dynasty. Some believe that this is because Wu Zetian is regarded as a female politician and the only female emperor in history, so her image has been deliberately disfigured or ignored. Some people believe that this is because her achievements and influence are too great, so that future generations are reluctant to let her image be preserved in its entirety, so as to weaken her historical status.
However, according to historical documents and archaeological findings, there may be a simpler explanation for this phenomenon: during the Tang Dynasty, the head was usually made of clay or other fragile materials, while the body parts were carved from harder stone. Therefore, the head is easily damaged or lost due to time and natural factors. In addition, graves that have been buried for a long time and are also threatened by natural disasters such as earthquakes, which can lead to the loss or destruction of the head.
However, whatever caused the loss of the head of the stone people, these stone figures are still a precious historical relic with important historical and cultural value. Therefore, we should try our best to protect and study them to better understand the history and culture of the Tang Dynasty.
This legend is mysterious, because these 61 stone figures have stood in front of the mausoleum for thousands of years, countless people have walked in front of them, but no one has ever found the heads of these stone people. The two farmers not only found fragments of their heads, but also managed to piece them together. The story not only brings people to marvel at the mysterious history and legends, but also brings people admiration for folk wisdom and discoveries.
To sum up, after thousands of years of haunting and exploration, the mystery of the 61 headless stone men was finally solved by two brave farmers. Their discoveries have given us a new understanding of the technological level and cultural heritage of ancient China. At the same time, let us cherish and protect historical relics more, inherit and inherit the excellent cultural traditions of the Chinese nation. So for this millennium fan, if you have anything you want to discuss, welcome to the comment area to leave a message to discuss