Is it a "simple funeral" or "lying after death"
The mystery of Cao Cao's tomb is expected to be solved
Xinhua News Agency Shijiazhuang 65438+February 20, a simple funeral was regarded as a costly scam; The reform of changing customs has become a treacherous proof. However, historical materials have not been submerged by folklore and literary works after all. Some cultural relics and cultural and historical workers have made unremitting efforts to find Cao Cao's tomb and unearthed stone tablets and stone carvings that can prove the location of Cao Cao's tomb. Although the exact location of Cao Cao's tomb cannot be determined, its approximate scope has been basically determined. Experts believe that the mystery of Cao Cao's tomb may finally be solved after archaeological excavation.
Cao Cao has a clear statement about his funeral. The last order before he died said, "The west of Ximen Bao Temple, originally called Shouling, is not sealed or planted because of its height." In his "bequest order" before his death, he was explicitly required to wear ordinary clothes and not be buried with jewelry. According to historical records, the memorial hall on Cao Cao's tomb was destroyed a few years later because of the simple funeral. There are no treasures buried with the tomb, and they are not valued by grave robbers. In addition, there are no private graves and no trees are planted. After several dynasties, the location of Cao Cao's tomb was unknown.
However, since the Northern Song Dynasty, Cao Cao has been stereotyped as an adulterer, and the unknown tomb site has also proved his treachery. There are tombs of the Northern Dynasties in the west of Yecheng, known as the seventy-two suspected tombs of Cao Cao. Luo Guanzhong said in Romance of the Three Kingdoms that Cao Cao was ordered to set up seventy-two suspected graves outside Wujiang City of Zhang Defu, which played up Cao Cao's treachery.
Liu Xinchang, president of Handan Historical Society, has been devoted to the study of Cao Cao's tomb for many years. According to the research of historical documents and field investigation, he thinks that Cao Cao's tomb may be located in the south-central part of Yingxiang Township, Shi Cun, Cixian County, about 5 square kilometers west of Wujiang City and countryside. There are relevant records of Cao Cao's burial here in the official history such as the History of the Three Kingdoms and the Book of Jin.
The cultural relics department of Anyang City, Henan Province also unearthed the epitaph of the eleventh year of Hou Zhao in Anfeng Township, and recorded that it was buried in the northwest corner of Cao Cao's tomb, which also indicates that Cao Cao's tomb may be located in Anfeng Township, Henan Province. Liu Xinchang thinks that the location of Cao Cao's tomb reflected in Lu Qian's epitaph is separated from the location of Cao Cao's tomb by a Zhanghe River, which belongs to the same direction. Taking Zhanghe River as the boundary, Shicunying Township and Wujiang urban and rural areas can be regarded as the north area, and Anfeng Township belongs to the south area. He believes that Cao Cao advocated that "those who have made meritorious deeds should follow the mausoleum." Judging from the situation in this area, it is difficult to bury ministers in the south, and it is more likely that Cao Cao's tomb is located in the north, so archaeological excavations can be carried out in both the north and the south.