Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng
The tomb of the Marquis Yi of Zeng ( Chinese 曾侯乙 墓 , Pinyin Zēng hóu Yǐ mù , English Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng ), which is also known as the tomb of the Marquis of Zeng in Suizhou ( Chinese 随州 曾 侯 墓 , Pinyin Suízhōu Zēng hóu mù , English Tomb of the Marquis of Zeng in Suizhou ) is a significant archaeological site from the early Warring States period .
It is located in Leigudun ( 擂鼓 墩 , Léigǔdūn ), just a few kilometers northwest of Suizhou (随州) (the former Suixian County) in Hubei Province , China and was excavated in 1978.
The find is said to be shorter after 433 BC. Dated. The tomb contained the remains of Margrave Yi of Zeng ( Zeng hou Yi ). Zeng ( 曾 ) was a smaller state that was already completely under the influence of its more powerful neighbor, Chǔ state .
An inscription on a large bell discovered in the tomb ( Chinese 鎛 / 镈 , Pinyin bó ) shows that it was given to the margrave in 433 BC. BC by King Hui (惠) of Chu ( Chǔ Huì wáng ).
The grave was made of large wooden beams, it measures approx. 220 m². Four coffin chambers were built in the pit, which are only connected by small openings. The northernmost chamber is the smallest and contains military artifacts. The eastern chamber contained the tomb of Marquis Yi, who rested in a smaller wooden lacquered coffin set in a larger lacquered coffin.
This chamber also contained eight other coffins that contained the remains of eight women. The western chamber contained thirteen coffins that contained the remains of thirteen other women. With the exception of one middle-aged woman buried, the other young women between the ages of around 13-25 who were buried with them were the escort ( xunzang -殉葬) for the deceased.
The central chamber is the largest. Of the more than 7000 grave goods, the perfectly preserved set of musical instruments used for court and ritual music is extremely rare. It is an unprecedented discovery in the history of ancient music in China .
The most famous discovery in the tomb is the set of a bianzhong ( 編鐘 / 编钟 , biānzhōng ), a bronze carillon made of 65 bells (1 bozhong, 45 yongzhong, 19 niuzhong). The bells are hung in three rows one above the other on a frame made of wood and bronze elements. The carillon required a troop of five people who made it ring with wooden hammers. The bells produce two different tones, depending on whether they are struck in the middle or on the edge. The glockenspiel has a pitch range of five octaves . The already mentioned big bell ( bó ) hanging on it does not belong to the sentence.
In addition, a sound stone game ( 編 磬 / 编 磬 , biānqìng , English chime of sonorous stones ) was discovered made of 32 sound stones, which are hung in two rows on top of each other on a frame, in addition one found drums , a ten-string vaulted board zither ( qín ), sè (a zither-like twenty-five- string plucked instrument ), mouth organs ( shēng ) and pan flutes ( páixiāo ).
The glockenspiel and the chime stone all have inscriptions relating to the mood, they have a total of over 3000 characters.
On the more than 240 discovered bamboo tablets there are more than 6000 characters, they are among the oldest bamboo tablets discovered to date and those with the most characters. A number of exquisite bronze implements, jade objects and lacquerware as well as many completely intact weapons and flags are also an unprecedented discovery.
Carillon in the neighboring grave
In 1981 a less well-preserved smaller grave was discovered about 100 m away. It contained the remains of a relative of Marquis Yi. This tomb contained a smaller carillon made of 36 bronze bells and other musical instruments.
See also
literature
- Zhongguo Wenwu Zhanlanguan (Ed.): Hubei Suizhou Leigudun chutu wenwu , 1984
- Hubeisheng Bowuguan et al. a. (Ed.): Zhanguo Zeng hou Yi mu chutu wenwu tuanxuan , Wuhan: Changjiang Wenyi Chubanshe.
- Hubei Sheng Bowuguan (Ed.): Zeng hou Yi mu. 2 vols., Beijing: Wenwu Chubanshe 1989
Web links
Coordinates: 31 ° 43 ′ 51.2 " N , 113 ° 20 ′ 41.6" E