Nanjing is known as the “Six Dynasties Capital.” Most of the dynasties that established their capital in Nanjing enjoyed peace, yet the culture flourished immensely. In 1990, archaeologists discovered an ancient tomb here.
The tomb was found to have been built during the Eastern Jin dynasty. Standing before the grand tomb, scholars were thrilled to uncover cultural artifacts reflecting the lives of people from long ago. Upon confirmation, the tomb’s owner was identified as the noble Wang Ben from the Eastern Jin period.
In fact, Wang Ben’s tomb holds significant historical value. Experts found items originating from the Eastern Jin dynasty as well as jade from the western regions. Even more astonishing was the discovery of glass cups imported during the Eastern Jin from the Byzantine Empire and even from Western Europe.
Experts were amazed, as it seemed that Eastern Jin nobles had developed external trade relations quite early.
However, one thing that surprised experts was that Wang Ben was buried alongside his daughter, Wang Danhu. Such a tomb structure interring a father and daughter is very rare in Chinese history.
Moreover, this situation sparked curiosity among archaeologists: What could have led the eldest daughter of the Wang family to be buried in the same tomb as her father? Traditionally, daughters were typically buried at their husband’s ancestral tomb, and it is rare for them to be interred at their birthplace.
While the explanation remained elusive, the archaeological team discovered a strange object, which turned out to be a medicine jar. Notably, this object contained the answer. After deciphering its contents, experts were outraged: Even after thousands of years, it was unforgivable!
The medicine jar in the ancient tomb. (Image: Kknews)
The 900 “elixirs” excavated from the tomb revealed the secret behind this strange situation. Miss Wang Danhu, buried in Wang Ben’s tomb, had a close relationship with these pills.
These pills were actually the famous Five Stone Powder. During the Eastern Jin dynasty, officials, scholars, and celebrities widely favored this “miraculous medicine.” Wang Ben was no exception.
After employing technology for examination, experts discovered that the main chemical component of the Five Stone Powder was mercury, which has hallucinogenic properties. Notably, if women consumed this pill, over time it would affect their physiological functions and even lead to the loss of feminine characteristics.
The remaining pills were actually burial goods of Wang Danhu. She had consumed this type of medicine in large quantities for a long time throughout her life. This indicates that Wang Danhu lost her reproductive capacity long ago and, therefore, could not marry. Consequently, the eldest daughter of the Wang family could only be buried in her father’s tomb after her death.
What is Five Stone Powder? Five Stone Powder is also known as Han Shi Powder. This medicine is clearly documented in the “Treatise on Fevers” and other diseases by Zhang Zhongjing. Its primary use was to treat fevers and typhoid. However, over time, the formula was modified. The main components were changed to include gypsum, amethyst, quartz, sulfur, and ruby. The modified version of this medicine became known as the “predecessor” of opium. The history of the formation and development of Five Stone Powder is relatively long. It existed before the Eastern Jin dynasty and was invented by alchemists. Their main goal was to seek immortality or eternal youth. |
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