Archaeologists found tomb of ancient Chinese ruler Cao Cao

Archaeologists in China have unearthed the tomb of Cao Cao, a legendary ruler who features as a cunning and deceitful politician in folklore stories.

They have excavated a 8,000 square-foot (740-square metre) chamber in Xigaoxue, a village in Henan province, according to the China Daily newspaper.

Cao Cao's military talents in the third century AD led him to be the inspiration behind many popular stories.

The leader of the Anyang Xigaoxue Tomb Archaeological Team, Pan Wenbing says they found armored clothes, swords and spears believed to be once used by Cao Cao.

"Cao Cao commonly uses broadswords and short spears for defense. We have found six of them in the tomb.”

The excavation team also found the skull of a man in his 60s - corresponding to Cao Cao's age at his death. The remains of two women were also found in the cave.

The Chinese equivalent of the English phrase "speak of the devil" is "speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives".

In one fictional tale, he is quoted as saying: "Better for me to wrong the world than for the world to wrong me."

Cao Cao was the final chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, who formed his own state during the political turmoil of the Three Kingdoms period. He died in 220 AD in Luoyang, the capital of the Eastern Han dynasty. He was named, after his death, Emperor Wu of the Wei state that he founded.

Tablets carrying the inscription "King Wu of Wei", Cao's posthumous title, were seized from people who had apparently stolen them from the tomb, the report said.

"The stone tablets bearing inscriptions of Cao's posthumous reference are the strongest evidence," archaeologist Liu Qingzhu, of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was quoted as saying.

"No one would or could have so many relics inscribed with Cao's posthumous reference in the tomb unless it was Cao's."

Via - Sky News , NTDTV

Categories: Archaeology , Science