Guo State Museum
Picking up the Best of Treasures of Guo State - The display for its unearthed
cultural relics
This hall exhibits the tombs of two emperors, one empress and a prince, and
other delicate cultural relics, which has been found in the Zhao area since the
'90s. Some things they have found include bronze treasures and Jade picks. The
jades that imitate animals are extremely exquisite and vividly delicate. They
nearly include all the species frequently seen at North Temperate Zone. The iron
sword with a Jade-handle and bronze-heart is well known all around the world
because it demonstrates a 200-year-old form of iron smelting. It has been
nicknamed "the first sword of china."
Jade had a close relationship with necromancy beliefs, taste concepts,
hierarchical systems, and ethics in ancient China. It was a symbol for the
civilization of the Guo State and was widely used in various ceremonies. There
are more than 3,000 pieces of jade unearthed in this tomb. All of the pieces
were in excellent quality and showed exquisite craftsmanship.
Chariots Rattling and Horses Neighing --- The display for the sites of its
huge army array
This exhibit displays the chariot pits of the emperor of the Guo State, the
wife of the emperor and the prince. The three chariot pits are displayed from
south to north according to the army lines. This was the first time people
buried the chariot pits together with their owners. They are the first and
largest chariot pits.
Various Craftworks
1£® Enginery
The appearance of iron-smelted enginery and tools was of great significance
at that time, which demonstrated the advancement of technology. There were
various daily tools, including not only the bronze treasures and jade picks that
were mentioned before but also pottery, tools of stone, bone, ivory and hemp
fabrics that functioned differently according to different systems and daily
requirements.
2£®Ironware According to experts, the unearthed ironware here can be
divided into two categories: artificial smelting ironwork and siderite ironwork.
Using smelted ironwork and siderite together for a period of more than 100 years
was common, which was sufficiently proved by the discovery of Guo State's tomb.
The discovery of smelted ironwork particularly pushes the history of iron
smelting of China nearly 200 years ahead, demonstrating the advanced technology
and productive level of the Guo State.
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