#头条创作挑战赛#
At dawn shrouded in thick fog, an ancient imperial tomb stands silently on a desolate plain. Legend has it that hidden deep in this mausoleum, no one dares to approach, is an unsolved mystery: ancient emperors used living people to bury, so how long can these living people survive in the dusty tombs?
The history of burial
The institution of burial of the living has a long history in Chinese history, especially in the pre-Qin period. This practice stems from the religious beliefs and worldview of ancient societies, which believed that the world after death is similar to that of when it was alive, and that it needs to be accompanied by attendants and goods.
In ancient China, with the development of society and the formation of classes, especially among emperors and nobles, this bad Xi became more serious. They believed that through the burial of the living, they could continue to enjoy power and luxury after death. In such a social context, the burial of the living became a way to show power and status.
In the magnificent palaces, the emperors often discussed the world after their deaths. They are convinced that the world after death is no different from when they were alive, and therefore they need to be accompanied by people and belongings. In these discussions, plans for the burial of living people, often with a sense of ritual, are developed. In these plans, the living were treated like objects and were coldly placed on the funeral list.
When choosing a martyr, preference was usually given to those who were attendants and slaves, especially those who were young and healthy. These chosen martyrs, often unknowingly, are forced to their ends. Their fate was completely in the hands of emperors and nobles, leaving no room for choice.
When an emperor or nobleman died, these martyrs were organized, dressed in elaborate costumes, and taken to the cemetery. During this process, they are strictly guarded to prevent escape. Their expressions are often dazed and frightened, but under the oppression of the powerful, no one dares to raise a voice of resistance.
At the cemetery, the mourners are placed in a specific position, adjacent to the coffin of the deceased. At this time, religious ceremonies begin and monks chant scriptures and pray for the souls of the dead and the underserved. However, these prayers do not alleviate the fear and despair of the mourners.
As the ceremony ends, the mourners are guided into the tomb. Before entering the tomb, their hands and feet are tied to prevent them from destroying the burial goods in the tomb. These bindings were often so tight that the mourners could barely move.
When the tomb is sealed, the fate of the martyrs is also sealed. They are trapped in darkness and silence, cut off from the outside world. In such an environment, they can only wait for death to come. Outside the tomb, the world of the living continues to function as if unaware of the tragedy in the tomb.
The Xi of burial of the living has gradually been eliminated in the long course of history. With the progress of human civilization, people have begun to realize the dignity and value of life. This cruel practice was eventually rejected by society and became a part of history. History, through these lessons, reminds future generations to cherish life and respect the value of every life.
The harsh reality of burial
The burial of the living was carried out in an extremely cruel manner. In order to ensure the "dignity" and "companionship" of the deceased, the living are forced to be buried with the deceased. These living people were often slaves, attendants, and even wives and concubines, who were forced to sacrifice their lives to accompany their masters into the other world. And this practice was not out of respect for the deceased, but reflected the cruelty and inequality of the society at the time.
Under this system, slaves and attendants who were about to be used for burial were usually chosen without warning. They are told this command in their daily lives, or in the service of their masters, and at this point they cannot escape the fate that has been imposed on them. They were taken to the depths of the palace, where there was an area dedicated to the martyrs.
In this area, the mourners are washed and changed into elaborate costumes, which often symbolize their "honorable" status at the time of burial. Their hair was neatly combed and their faces were covered with solemn makeup. All this was prepared so that they could accompany their masters "decently" in the afterlife.
During the preparation, the mourners hardly talked to each other. They were forbidden to communicate with each other to prevent thoughts of running away from each other. The palace guards kept a close watch on them, and any unusual behavior was immediately stopped. The guards had grim expressions, treating the martyrs as if they were any inanimate burial object.
When the day of the funeral comes, the mourners are lined up neatly and followed by the coffin of the deceased to the cemetery. Their steps were slow and heavy, and each step was unusually difficult. Along the way, they pass a long road lined with crowds of spectators, with expressions of curiosity and horror.
Upon arrival at the cemetery, the mourners are asked to stand in their designated positions. They were told to remain silent and not to have any crying or protesting voices. Afterwards, they will see the tomb slowly opened, which is where their lives will end. At the edge of the tomb, they could see where they were to be laid to rest.
In the tombs, the hands and feet of the mourners are tied to ensure that they do not move in the tomb and do not destroy the funerary goods in the tomb. These bindings are often so tight that the mourners are barely able to move. One by one, they were placed in designated places in the tombs, next to the coffins of the deceased.
With the closure of the tombs, the fate of the martyrs was sealed forever. In darkness and despair, their lives faded away. All this happened silently, and the world outside the tomb knew almost nothing about their fate.
The cruelty and inequality of the funeral system reflected the dark side of the society at that time. This practice not only deprives innocent people of their lives, but also exposes the cruelty and contempt for life in ancient societies. Over time, this inhumane practice was eventually abandoned by more civilized societies and became a harrowing history.
Survival time of experiments and burials
Regarding the survival time of living people after burial, experts have drawn some conclusions through experiments. Experiments have shown that the survival time of the martyrs in the tomb is closely related to the number of people and the size of the tomb. In a large tomb, if the number of people buried is not more than eighteen, they may survive for about five days, and when there are more people, the survival time is greatly reduced.
While these figures are theoretically valid, in reality, the actual survival time of the martyrs may be shorter because they are often bound and unable to move.
In ancient living burial rituals, tombs varied in size and structure. For those of higher status emperors and nobles, their tombs were often larger, intricately built, and sometimes even built into labyrinthine structures. Inside these tombs are not only the central area where the main coffin is located, but also multiple side chambers for the undertaker to park.
In these side chambers, the mourners were placed in a certain order and manner. Their bodies were restrained to ensure that they could not move after the tomb was sealed. This restraint was usually very strict, with ropes or cloth bands tightly binding their hands and feet, and sometimes even fastening their bodies to the walls or floors of the tombs.
Before the tomb is sealed, the mourners are offered their last food and water. These supplies are very limited, and only enough to sustain their short-term survival. In these last moments, the air in the tomb also began to thin out, the light became dim, and the whole environment seemed extremely oppressive.
Once the tomb is sealed, the mourners are trapped in an enclosed space. Due to the restraint of their bodies, they are unable to change their position or seek more air. Over time, the oxygen inside the tomb is gradually depleted, and the concentration of carbon dioxide and other exhaust gases rises.
During this process, the temperature and humidity inside the tomb also change, which can lead to a more unlivable environment. Due to the limited air circulation, the living conditions of the martyrs in the tombs were extremely harsh. In the dark tombs, they are kept alive by limited oxygen and food.
As time goes on, their physical and mental strength is gradually depleted, and the chances of survival are becoming less and less. In addition, due to the size and structure of the tombs, the survival time of the martyrs varied. In small tombs, the survival time of the mourners may be shorter due to the small space and poor air circulation.
Conversely, in large tombs, despite the large space, if there are a large number of martyrs, it will also lead to rapid depletion of oxygen and reduced survival time. During the whole process of burial, the living conditions of the martyrs were extremely bad. They are forced to wait for death in a dark, damp, oxygen-deprived environment.
This cruel practice reflects the contempt and cruelty of life in ancient societies. Over time, this inhumane practice was gradually phased out and became a dark chapter in human history.
The abolition of the funeral system
With the passage of time, especially the rise of Confucianism and changes in moral values, the bad Xi of living burial began to be questioned. There have been many attempts to abolish the burial of living people in history, which marks the gradual progress of society towards civilization and progress. Beginning with Qin Shi Huang, the funeral system began to change, and by the Han Dynasty, this system was further suppressed.
The rise of Confucianism played an important role in this change. Confucian scholars began to openly discuss the immorality and inhumanity of the burial of the living, and they criticized this bad Xi in imperial courts and academic settings. These scholars believe that the burial of the living violates the principle of "benevolence" and violates the basic dignity of human beings.
Gradually, their rhetoric influenced more people, including some of the more influential politicians and intellectuals. During the reign of Qin Shi Huang, some changes began to take place in the funeral system. Although the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang was large, there were already signs of reducing the number of living burials.
Some historical accounts mention that the tomb of Qin Shi Huang used a large number of funerary goods and terracotta warriors and horses in place of real living people. This practice, while not completely abolishing the burial of the living, is indicative of a gradual change in social attitudes.
By the Han Dynasty, the funeral system was further suppressed. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, he actively promoted Confucianism and adopted the advice of some Confucian scholars to restrict the funeral system. Thanks to the efforts of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and some subsequent emperors, the burial of the living was gradually recognized as an uncivilized behavior and gradually abandoned by society.
A number of political reforms have also played an important role in this process. With the increase in centralization, the emperor's control over the localities increased, which made reforms to the funeral system easier to implement. Some local officials have also begun to respond to the central government's call to restrict or prohibit the practice of living burials in their jurisdictions.
Under the dual influence of public opinion and political reform, the bad Xi of living burial was gradually eliminated. People began to attach importance to the right to life and dignity of human beings, and society gradually moved towards a more civilized and progressive direction. This shift not only affected the Xi of burial, but also reflected the evolution of values and morals in society as a whole.
With the passage of time, respect for life has gradually become a consensus in society. The cruel practice of burying the living eventually became history and an important symbol of the progress of human civilization. This historical transformation not only demonstrated the profound understanding of human morality and human rights, but also laid a solid foundation for the subsequent development of society.
Resources:
- Qiu Liangren.The cruel martyrdom system of the Ming Dynasty[J].Forbidden City,1994,0(2):28-28+4848