Experts excavating what is believed to be the tomb of Cao Cao have discovered a rare weapon that has been lost for thousands of years. What is this weapon that has experts exclaiming the two words “treasure”?
Cao Cao (155-220) was a prominent military and political figure during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). However, during his lifetime, Cao Cao was notorious for his cruelty, suspicion, and for killing many people, including engaging in grave robbing to find gold and jewels to fund his army.
Since ancient times, grave robbers have been despised by society. Regardless of the dynasty or generation, the punishment for grave robbers has always been severe. However, during the chaotic Three Kingdoms period, despite robbing many tombs, including those of the Han royal family, and acquiring countless treasures, Cao Cao was never punished. This was because he had control over the emperor and wielded the most powerful military authority of the time.
According to QQ News, after Cao Cao’s death, fearing retribution, he ordered his descendants to bury him in a highly secretive location. The tomb was not constructed to be grand or magnificent, and no valuable treasures were placed inside to avoid attracting grave robbers.
The tomb believed to belong to Cao Cao does not contain much gold or jewels. (Photo QQ).
According to QQ News, it is said that while alive, Cao Cao had eight identical coffins made for himself. Upon his death, he instructed his descendants to carry these eight coffins out through eight city gates and bury them at eight different secret locations so that no one would know the exact location of his true tomb.
However, despite such careful preparations for his burial, Cao Cao’s tomb could not escape the attention of grave robbers seeking treasures.
In 2009, in Anyang City, Henan Province, local archaeologists announced that they had found the tomb believed to belong to Cao Cao.
Although this tomb of Cao Cao had been visited by grave robbers, over 200 cultural relics were still discovered and excavated by archaeologists, including a short spear that Cao Cao once used.
The short spear found in the tomb believed to belong to Cao Cao. (Photo QQ).
However, a particularly fascinating cultural relic discovered in Cao Cao’s tomb is a type of weapon known as “jian,” made from iron or bronze. This weapon has been lost for thousands of years, and when it was found in Cao Cao’s tomb, experts could not stop exclaiming that it was a “treasure.“
A pair of “jian” – a weapon lost for a thousand years found in the tomb believed to belong to Cao Cao. (Photo QQ).
The jian is a weapon that resembles a spear but is shorter than a spear, typically used in pairs.
Unlike spears, which are close-combat weapons, a pair of jian serves as a short-range weapon, functioning similarly to the javelins used in ancient Europe. The jian is a highly effective and dangerous weapon; when thrown, it can easily pierce through armor or shields and inflict damage on opponents. This weapon is very advantageous in mounted combat.
However, the weakness of the jian is that they are quite heavy, making them difficult to wield flexibly unless one is tall, strong, and possesses extraordinary physical strength.
Moreover, the jian is also a one-time-use weapon; once thrown or launched, it is considered lost, making the production cost of this weapon very high.
These weaknesses led to the gradual decline of the jian’s popularity on the battlefield. Later, as bows and crossbows were increasingly improved, they eventually completely replaced the jian, causing this weapon to disappear entirely from the military.
However, thanks to the excavation of the tomb believed to belong to Cao Cao, the jian—a weapon lost for a thousand years—has once again come to the attention of future generations.
