There are many doubtful cases that have been debated by archaeologists and historians in the archaeological community. The reason is that many facts have been lost in the long river of history. Later generations can only make inferences based on some clues left behind, but they cannot
Restore what really happened back then.
Just like this batch of Dunhuang documents that were just released in the temple, although Zhuang Rui and Dr. Ren can determine their origin, how did these precious cultural relics come from Dunhuang to this uninhabited desert? And why?
Come? If we want to reveal the answers to these mysteries, I'm afraid we still have to fall on Nakagawa.
After hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Zhongchuan was very conflicted. Now, he also understood that it was almost impossible to smuggle these Dunhuang documents to Japan as ownerless things.
After thinking for a while, Zhongchuan raised his head and looked at Zhuang Rui and said: "I can tell the origin of the treasure map, and I am also willing to take out the treasure map and the notes of the person involved, but I have a request..."
When Zhuang Rui heard that there were still notes, he was immediately overjoyed and said quickly: "What's the request? You can tell me..."
You must know that many of the things that happened in ancient times and were recorded in history books were interpreted and adapted by later generations of historians. Only the handwriting left by the parties involved represents the most authentic historical truth.
"First, my name must be included in the name of this archaeological discovery. Second, in my family, there are some professionals who study Dunhuang culture. I hope they can participate in the follow-up of this scientific expedition.
Go to research work...
If you agree to these two conditions, I can share with you the Dunhuang documents obtained by great-grandfather Yoshikawa from his expedition in China, but the research results must bear the name of our Japanese Dunhuang Research Society..."
After thinking for a while, Zhongchuan put forward three conditions. Zhuang Rui frowned. After a while, he said: "Mr. Zhongchuan, I can't give you an answer to this matter. It needs to be reported to the superior department. Listen.
Listen to their opinions..."
In fact, after Zhuang Rui heard what Zhongchuan said, he felt very uncomfortable in his heart, but he couldn't put this kind of discomfort into words.
Dunhuang culture was originally unique to China, but due to the loss of too many of those documents abroad, the Dunhuang Culture Research Association was not just a Chinese one, but the culture of one's own country had to be discussed with other countries. This was also considered a country a hundred years ago.
The legacy of weakness.
Zhongchuan could understand Zhuang Rui's inability to make the final decision on this matter. He nodded and said, "Okay, Mr. Zhuang, can I first take a look at these Dunhuang scriptures obtained from the belly of the Buddha statue?"
After traveling thousands of miles to come to this desert, if Nakagawa went back in despair without even seeing a piece of paper, he would probably feel unwilling to dream about it for the rest of his life.
"Of course, but...Mr. Nakagawa, I also want to know how you got this treasure map..."
Although Zhuang Rui agreed, what he said later made Zhongchuan feel that Zhuang Rui would not let him enter the temple unless he told the origin of the treasure map.
"That's my grandfather Yoshikawa..."
"Yoshikawa? The Japanese explorer who came to Dunhuang? Isn't your surname Nakagawa?"
After Dr. Ren heard what Yan Xiaowei translated at the same time, he couldn't help but exclaimed, and interrupted Zhongchuan's words a little impolitely.
"Our family was in Zhongsichuan in the 1960s. This is how it happened. When my father was sorting out Dunhuang documents from China, he found a diary..."
The objects on the treasure map have been discovered, and there is no point in concealing this history. Nakagawa honestly told the secrets of decades ago, and even the contents of Taoist Wang's diary,
No reservations were made.
"So that's it..."
After listening to Zhongchuan's story, Zhuang Rui and Ren Chunqiang looked at each other. In front of their eyes, a scroll of real scenes seemed to unfold: a hundred years ago, the camel team hired by Taoist Wang came to this place with the crisp sound of camel bells.
The ancient temple houses these precious Dunhuang documents.
After taking a long breath, Dr. Ren said: "It seems that the historical data about the Dunhuang Scripture Cave will be rewritten. The number of scriptures unearthed from the Dunhuang Scripture Cave should not be more than 50,000, but eight.
More than ten thousand volumes..."
"Brother Ren, when you go out this time, you can stay and sort out these materials. You have also done research on Dunhuang culture before..."
The release of this batch of documents will inevitably set off a wave of Dunhuang culture, and the later research and compilation of these documents is also a very huge project, and a special research department will definitely be established.
With this batch of more than 30,000 volumes of precious cultural relics at the bottom, the research will definitely go smoothly. And those who participate in this research department dare not say that they will gain fame and fortune. This name will never escape them. At least they can be named
The title of an expert on Dunhuang culture.
When Dr. Ren heard what Zhuang Rui said, he knew that he was trying to shirk the credit again, so he quickly said: "No, you are leading this archeology. You must participate in the later research. I will just take the lead..."
"Brother Ren, I have no research on Dunhuang culture, and my early research direction is not in this area, so I will not participate..."
Zhuang Rui shook his head. When he was a graduate student, he focused on underwater archeology. Several underwater salvage projects that shocked the archaeological community were mostly his work. However, when he became a Ph.D. student, Zhuang Rui's research direction was about the Yuan Dynasty.
Tomb morphology and archaeological excavations.
Professor Meng was puzzled by Zhuang Rui's choice at the time, but Zhuang Rui had his own considerations.
The archeology of the Yuan Dynasty is a less popular subject in archaeology. Although the Yuan Dynasty was the most extensive dynasty in Chinese history, it was not fully assimilated by the Central Plains culture because it lasted less than a hundred years. Its living habits and tomb forms all retained
With Mongolian characteristics.
According to very few records about Mongolian tombs, Mongolian burial customs do not seal the soil, plant trees, and do not have mausoleums. Instead, they choose an extremely secret place, use a big wood as a coffin, and then bury it deep and level it with thousands of horses.
Then the place will be sealed for three years, and the vegetation will be lush so that no one knows where it is. Only a young camel will be killed here and the mother camel will watch it during the burial. The mother camel will come to this place to mourn and be buried next year.
land.
Due to the secrecy of such tombs, although the Yuan Dynasty existed for ninety-seven years and passed through 11 emperors, the tombs from the founding emperor Temujin of the Yuan Dynasty to Emperor Yuan Shun have not yet been discovered. This can be regarded as a Chinese archeology
A gap in the academic world.
The reason why Zhuang Rui chose this obscure subject was firstly because of his love for Yuan blue and white porcelain, and secondly because searching for the tombs of Yuan Dynasty emperors was also a challenging test for him.
Not to mention the tomb of Genghis Khan, if Zhuang Rui can find any tomb of the Yuan Dynasty emperor, it will cause a sensation in the world of archaeology. I am afraid that the influence will not be lower than that of the Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang.
You must know that at that time, the Yuan Dynasty made an expedition to the banks of the Danube River in Europe. It was said to be the richest in the world. The emperor was buried generously. You can imagine the treasures hidden in his tomb.
"You still don't want to give up. Are the imperial tombs of the Yuan Dynasty so easy to find? It would be great if you can find a tomb of a noble of the Yuan Dynasty..."
Dr. Ren shook his head. He knew the research direction of Zhuang Rui's doctoral studies. In his opinion, instead of choosing the illusory imperial tombs of the Yuan Dynasty, it would be better to study these Dunhuang documents in a down-to-earth manner.
"Haha, maybe we can meet each other. Let's not say anything. Brother Ren, please prepare yourself and return later..."
Zhuang Rui smiled and waved his hand, ending the topic. With the help of his eyes, Zhuang Rui believed that as long as those imperial tombs were not in Outer Mongolia, he would definitely find something.
After everyone had eaten and rested for a while, Mengzi and Erdan drove six camels with baskets on their backs to the gate of the temple. It was Zhuang Rui who did the hard work and put two packages of Dunhuang documents in each basket.
However, the limit of six camels is more than twenty wrapped scriptures. In addition to the scrolls in the other two Buddha statues that have not been destroyed, there are still two to three thousand scriptures in the hall.
"Brother Ren, Peng Fei, be careful on the road. Professor Man, I have to ask you for help this time. These scriptures are priceless treasures. Please take care of them more..."
Since there were still two Buddha statues filled with Dunhuang documents and scattered scriptures in the temple, Zhuang Rui did not see them off and said goodbye to Dr. Ren and others at the temple gate.
But with Mengzi leading the way, Peng Fei as escort, and Professor Man, an old deserter, following along, nothing will happen to him.
After sending Dr. Ren and others away, Zhuang Rui allowed Zhongchuan to enter the Main Hall. Anyway, everything was in front of him, so there would be nothing missing for Zhongchuan to see.
Zhuang Rui thought about it carefully later and found that Zhongchuan's request was very complementary to the study of Dunhuang culture and the rise and fall of those dynasties, so it was not impossible to consider it.
After all, almost three-fifths of the Dunhuang documents unearthed a hundred years ago are abroad. If you want to study them systematically and comprehensively, you still need the cooperation of museums and private individuals who have collected Dunhuang scriptures and cultural relics.
After seeing those scriptures, Zhongchuan became quiet. He did not study Dunhuang culture deeply. Although he knew the value of these cultural relics, he did not know why.
"Huh? What's the sound?"
Three days after Dr. Ren and others left, Zhuang Rui was studying a handwritten copy of the Ancient Spiritual Treasure Sutra written by the Southern Celestial Master when he suddenly heard a strange buzzing sound.
"The plane is a helicopter. Wow, there are so many helicopters..."
As soon as Zhuang Rui walked out of the Main Hall, he saw three green military helicopters hovering over the Populus euphratica forest.
