Where is the ancient Yelang culture in the history of China?

The history of Yelang Kingdom began in the Warring States Period, and it lasted for about 300 years from the Western Han Dynasty to the Emperor of Peace. Then the ancient Yelang Kingdom mysteriously disappeared. This ancient civilization has left a fog in historical records. The archaeological excavation of Hezhang Coke's "Southwest Yi" tomb opened a brilliant corner for the mysterious Yelang culture.

China culture is a synthesis of multi-cultures. When Han culture rose in the Central Plains, multi-ethnic cultures appeared in the border areas, and "Southwest Yi" was one of them. In Sima Qian's Historical Records of Southwest Yi, it is recorded: "How long is Southwest Yi, and Yelang is the biggest." In history, the Yi nationality in Southwest China refers to the ancient nationalities in Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and western Sichuan, and Yelang culture is the representative of the ancient national culture in Southwest China.

According to Liang Taihe, a researcher in charge of the archaeological excavation of Leke Tomb in Guizhou Province, since the first batch of unearthed cultural relics was discovered in Leke Ethnic Township in Hezhang County in 1958, the archaeological department has carried out nine excavations successively, but the archaeological excavation in 2000 once again attracted the attention of the state and the archaeological community. There are several aspects worthy of attention in the excavation and investigation in recent years. First, coke tombs are widely distributed, covering an area of more than 3.5 square kilometers; Second, the tombs are densely concentrated. Within 300 square meters, more than 80 tombs have been excavated, among which tombs of different periods are stacked together, which is rare for archaeology in the province; Third, the era of continuation is long. A large number of cultural relics appeared in the Warring States, Western Han and Eastern Han Dynasties. Fourth, it embodies rich cultural heritage. A large number of unearthed cultural relics reflect the unique Yelang national culture from Warring States to Qin and Han Dynasties, and the characteristics of the integration of Chinese culture and Yelang national culture in Qin and Han Dynasties.

"Cola" won one of the "Top Ten New Archaeological Discoveries in China" in 200 1 year because of its unique and rich regional cultural attributes. Leke site and ancient tombs are listed as national key cultural relics protection units.

Based on historical records and archaeological achievements, Yelang country has become an indisputable historical fact in Guizhou, but where is the capital of Yelang country? Liang Taihe said that further archaeological excavations are needed, and the excavation of Leke's "Southwest Yi" tombs provides an important basis for exploring the ancient Yelang clan and regional culture.

Mysterious Clothom

Coke, an ancient book in Yi language, was called "Coke Wood" in ancient times, which means "Central City". It was recorded as "Leke" in local chronicles and later evolved into "Coke". Today, among the Yi, Miao, Buyi and other ethnic minorities living in Coke, Yi is the largest. The local people said that the Yi people first entered Coke, and they called these tombs of the Southwest Yi people "human graves" or "human caves".

People who have been living in "Cromu" never imagined that the bricks they picked up to build pigsty and toilet were actually Qin bricks and Han tiles; Those pots and pans dug out of "human caves (graves)" are actually priceless national treasures because they are considered evil and thrown away casually. Today, people are full of surprises and sighs. Guizhou, which has always been regarded as a land of barbarians, has actually precipitated a heavy ancient civilization.

According to the ancient Yi literature, there are famous cities in southwest China, such as Chengdu (Hume in Ancient Music), Chongqing (Hume in Chuqi) and Kunming (Hume in Laibo), which are as famous as Guizhou Coke at that time. Researcher Song Shikun, an archaeologist in Guizhou, concluded through historical excavation and literature comparison that Leke area was probably an important "town set" or "nearby town" in Yelang country from the Warring States Period to the Qin and Han Dynasties.

Song Shikun said that Coca-Cola is located at the border between Yunnan and Guizhou, with developed transportation. According to documents, it was once one of the political, economic and cultural centers of Mobu (the ancestor of the Yi people in northwest Guizhou) who entered Guizhou.

Where is Yelang in Guizhou?

How big is the territory of Yelang Kingdom? Some experts have analyzed that Yelang has reached its peak when he built the city coke. In order to expand the region, Yelang Wang successively built cities in Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou and other regions. Because the Yelang king lived in these cities for a short time, it became the reason for future generations to compete for the ancient Yelang country.

Liang Taihe said that judging from the tomb of Coke "Southwest Yi", it can only show the prosperity of Coke at that time, where is Yelang's capital and how big its territory is, and the excavation has just begun. At present, in addition to the coke ruins, a number of important cultural relics of Yelang period with local characteristics have been unearthed in the sites excavated in the surrounding areas.

Liang Taihe said with emotion that Yelang culture has its own unique regional cultural characteristics compared with the mature Bashu, Yunnan, Chu and South Vietnam cultures excavated around it. However, due to the shortage of funds and talents, the excavation and research of ancient Yelang culture have made slow progress.

Therefore, archaeologists and historical and cultural researchers in Guizhou implore governments at all levels to pay more attention to the excavation of Yelang's history and culture, which is not only of great historical significance to the development of Guizhou's cultural economy, but more importantly, fills the cultural integrity of China.