Stone Shattering the Sky -- Secrets of Major Archaeological Discoveries in a Century

Author: Yu Qiwei, Zhang Bo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-04-01
Features: This is the golden age of Chinese archaeology. The Yinxu in Anyang, Henan, the Erlitou City in Yanshi, the Han Dynasty Yangling mass burial pits, the Ma Wang Du Han Tombs, the Chang'an City of the Sui and Tang dynasties, the Huaqing Pool in Lintong where Yang Guifei bathed, the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, the Famen Temple underground palace, the Ming Dingling and the Great Wall, as well as the Yuling of Emperor Qianlong and the mausoleum of Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty, all paint a panoramic picture of the Chinese nation's journey from ancient times to the present, experiencing both rise and fall, with the brilliance of the Han and Tang dynasties and the humiliation of the late Qing. Among them, the discoveries of major historical events are, making it impossible to list them all: the Great Wall has long become a symbol of the Chinese nation; the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang discovered in Lintong, Shaanxi, is hailed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World." The writing of this book focuses on documentation, attempting to recreate the excavation process of archaeologists at the time, discarding dry archaeological reports and monotonous data, striving for vivid and engaging prose. In terms of topic selection, it chooses some fascinating and winding major archaeological discoveries to reflect the storms and legends of Chinese archaeology and the experiences of generations of archaeologists. It allows readers to gain a glimpse of the whole through a small part while leisurely reading, understanding the dimness and brilliance in the history of Chinese archaeology, as well as the joys and sorrows in archaeological excavations. This provides a preliminary framework for readers to understand Chinese archaeology, archaeologists, and their research.