«——【Preamble】】 ——»
["Unauthorized transportation is prohibited, and offenders will be prosecuted"]
When it comes to tomb robbing, many people naturally think of adventure stories full of thrills and excitement.
In pursuit of wealth, thieves risk their lives to explore mysterious and ancient tombs, eager for unknown secrets and treasures.
But did you know? In their unique field, there is an unexpected rule: gold and silver jewelry can be coveted, but funerary jade must not be touched.
This rule sounds strange, why can tomb robbers take the most expensive gold and silver jewelry in the tomb, but not the most ordinary burial jade?
The value of jade
It is one of the most common funerary objects in ancient China and one of the oldest handicrafts.
The shape and craftsmanship of jade can reflect the political, economic, and cultural changes and development of different dynasties, and if we look closely, we will also find that some jade objects will be engraved with various patterns or words, which represent different meanings and blessings, and are also witnesses and records of history.
Many ancients believed that jade had a special mission in ancient tombs, believing that it was the essence of heaven and earth, possessing mysterious and powerful powers that could bless the souls of the deceased and resist the invasion of evil spirits and evil spirits.
In order for the deceased to enjoy the glory and wealth of the afterlife, people from wealthy families often wear or bury various jade artifacts on the deceased as a tribute and blessing to the deceased.
During the Han Dynasty, people of noble status would also wear golden jade clothes after death, this ancient custom is called "jade clothes into the burial", which is also regarded as a kind of care for deceased relatives, and it is also said that the spirit of the deceased will not be exposed.
In fact, jade also played a very important role in rituals and warding off evil spirits, and the ancients not only regarded it as an ornament, but also believed that it was a link between life and death, and a way to respect ancient culture and traditions.
For the tomb robbers, they do not dare to touch and take away the belongings of the deceased at will, why on earth?
Why not steal the burial jade?
After reading tomb robbery novels or film and television dramas, we all know that tomb robbery is a risky and dangerous behavior, not only to face various traps and unknown risks, but also to bear legal and moral responsibilities.
The ancients believed that jade carries the soul and emotions of the deceased, and taking it away may offend the resentment and curse of the deceased, and incur unfortunate misfortune.
In fact, if you think about it, the dead are indeed unlucky, and disturbing them at will is an insult and desecration against them, and the act of stealing the deceased's belongings will also make people feel that there is no moral bottom line, and even cause anger and rejection from the people around them.
In addition, even if the thieves get their hands on these jades, they will not be able to sell them for a good price, because they are all items circulated by dignitaries and nobles, and they are not a kind of currency.
For tomb robbers, those gold, silver and jewelry are the most valuable things, if they take jade and trade with people, there is a high probability that it will not be negotiated, after all, how can civilians have such a precious thing, maybe they will be arrested for it.
Therefore, the rule of not touching the funeral goods is not only out of morality, but also out of value considerations, after all, no one wants to get involved with the ethereal curse, and after saying so much harm, is there no benefit to jade, of course not.
Jade – a symbol of the spirit
The ancients believed that jade has spirituality, can communicate with heaven and earth, drive away evil spirits, and even have the effect of prolonging life.
Because of this, it is regarded as a sacred object, a symbol of the upper echelons of society such as emperors and nobles, and a necessary thing for important occasions such as blessings and commemorations.
If you want to say how much the ancients attached importance to jade, there are such words and phrases "jade is not cut, it is not made", "the gentleman has no reason, the jade does not go to the body", all of which can reflect the reverence and love of the ancients for jade.
Jade is not only an important carrier of the ancient ceremonial system, but also a form of expression of art, all kinds of jade carvings, showing the artistic level of ancient China, but also showing the artistic aesthetic taste of Chinese.
Therefore, jade is an irreplaceable treasure and an inviolable creature, although people's concepts have been diluted and have become a commodity for sale, but in the concept of the older generation, it is still a symbol of spirituality, culture, belief and art.
As for the rule of tomb robbers, it is a kind of reverence for life and death, and it is also a sticking to conscience.