In Xindian Tomb No. 2, archaeologists accidentally discovered a piece called “Bronze Bean with Beast Handle”, and the most surprising thing is that the dragon tongue part of this thing is actually movable. How did the ancients cast this thing? To this day, it remains a mystery. This is how it happened? If you want to know, let the editor reveal the secret for you:
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What is the hallmark of modern civilization? The answer is the continuous innovation of technology, which makes it form an extraordinary and complete system. It is precisely because of this that human society has transitioned from an agricultural society to an industrial society, and then into today’s electronic information age. There has always been a big misunderstanding among contemporary people, that is, modern people are smarter than ancient people, and even view the ancients with a higher attitude, thinking that the era without electric energy and electronic technology is completely backward.
To give a simple example, the ancients did have some skills in making bronze ware, but compared to the modern way of making bronze ware, it is particularly simple. The famous Wanshou tripod is a masterpiece of modern people. Its casting process is direct molding without the need for various components to be assembled. This alone may have defeated the ancients. However, you must not misunderstand, because from a certain point of view, the wisdom of the ancients should not be underestimated. In September 2010, the archaeological department of Linzi City, Shandong Province received a report that construction workers found a large number of ancient cultural relics underground when they were carrying out construction near Xindian City. Call to report. Hearing the news, the archaeological department immediately organized relevant archaeological workers to investigate the site of the incident. As expected, archaeological experts unearthed a tomb from the Warring States period in the underground here, and named it “Xindian II”. No. Tomb”.
According to archaeological experts, Xindian Tomb No. 2 is in the shape of the character “A”, and it is a tomb with an earthen pit and a wooden outer shell. Around the coffin chamber, there are four accompanying tombs and a pit for utensils. Judging from the excavation at the site, the cultural relics in the burial pit include pottery, bronze, crystal and agate, as well as stone, clay, bone, lacquered wood and so on. Archaeological experts infer from the specifications and styles of the cultural relics in the tomb that the owner of the tomb should be a nobleman of the Qi State during the Warring States Period, and may even be a member of the royal family. It is worth mentioning that among the ancient cultural relics unearthed from Tomb No. 2 in Xindian, when some archaeologists cleaned them up, they found a special strange weapon inside, and the “strangeness” of this thing was even more surprising. People are extremely shocked. Archaeological experts said that the strange cultural relic unearthed in the tomb this time is called “Bronze Bean with Beast Handle”. It is a lamp often used by ancient nobles and can be called “bean lamp” or “bean-shaped lamp.” .
The shape of the bean-shaped lamp is very ingenious. Its overall shape is the shape of a lying beast holding a lotus flower. The chassis is composed of six coiled dragons. The main dragon has a wide mouth, revealing its teeth and tongue, which looks particularly ferocious. It can be clearly found that this object should be the style most admired by ancient nobles. At present, the cultural relic is temporarily stored in the Shandong Qi Culture Museum. It is worth mentioning that the “Bronze Bean with Beast Handle” in front of you has a particularly special place, that is, it is on the uvula at the mouth of the dragon. The uvula of the bronze bean dragon is not only lifelike and lifelike, but also can move freely. Its craftsmanship seems to be the same as that of modern handicrafts. However, although modern people can use high technology to reproduce it, it is extremely difficult to reproduce it when using the same equipment as the ancients.
As we all know, the casting process of ancient bronze ware is not complicated, but it is necessary to use a “fan”, that is, a mold, during casting. But the problem is also here, because it is because of the use of molds, so it is difficult to manufacture a movable joint structure. Although later generations of archaeological experts conducted a large number of experiments, they still could not reproduce the object under the same conditions.
Speaking of this, we have to sigh that the wisdom of the ancients should not be underestimated at all. Perhaps the era they lived in is still relatively backward for the time being, but the ingenuity of the ancients can be stimulated to unlimited potential.Reference materials: “Antique Stories” written by Li Weifeng, published by Hebei Publishing House, Wen Xiucai, editor-in-chief of Wenlan Hairun Studio, written by: special historical writer: Changshan Zhao Zichong