The mystery of the disappearance of Loulan country

I. what is loulan

loulan, one of the 36 countries in the western regions, died mysteriously in the 4th century A.D. after only being active for four or five hundred years. There are different opinions on the reasons. After more than 1,5 years, Swedish explorer Sven Hedin and Rob guide Aldek rediscovered it on March 28th, 19, which caused a sensation in the world and was called "Pompeii in the East". For a hundred years, Loulan has been a hot spot for explorers, historians and travelers in China and even around the world. Loulan beauty, Loulan tomb, Loulan colorful coffin ... One mystery after another lures all people.

According to Biography of Dawan in Historical Records and Biography of Western Regions in Hanshu, as early as the 2nd century, Loulan was a famous "garden of city walls" in the western regions, with a population of more than 14, and nearly 3, soldiers, which can be described as a vast country. Guloulan is also the first stop on the ancient Silk Road from the west to Yangguan. In those days, it was a "messenger facing the road" on this traffic line, with busy traffic and prosperous urban economy. Strangely, after five or six hundred years of prosperity, the famous Loulan Kingdom suddenly disappeared after the 4th century, with no record of history and no name.

In the 7th century, when Tang Xuanzang returned from his westward journey, he saw Loulan's "desolate city walls and deserted people", and its depressed scene made people feel a sense of vicissitudes!

in p>191, with the help of local guides, the Swedish explorer Sven Hedin discovered the "Loulan Ancient City" in the north of Lop Nur, claiming that it was "the reappearance of Pompeii in the desert" and caused a sensation in the world. Chinese and foreign scholars believe that the ancient city of Loulan is the most important historical relic found in the ancient Loulan country, which flourished on the Silk Road. It plays a vital role in studying the ancient history of Xinjiang and even Central Asia, the historical changes of the Silk Road, and the exchange and integration of Chinese and Western cultures.

A large number of archaeologists, geographers and geologists followed. They are:

Huntington expedition in the United States in p>195;

Stein expedition in England in p>196;

from 198 to 199, Japan's Otani Mitsui expedition;

In p>191--1911, the second expedition of Guangrui Otani and Kuruichao in Japan.

The cultural relics excavated by these expeditions in Loulan ancient city and Lop Nur area have shocked the world with their great value, and their quantity is countless. In addition to stone axes, woodwork, pottery, bronzes, glass products, ancient coins, etc. in the Neolithic age, there are many kinds of cultural relics. Among them, the manuscripts of Warring States Policy and Han Brocade in Jin Dynasty are the most precious. This handwritten paper is only one or two hundred years later than the paper invented by Cai Lun in 15, and six or seven hundred years earlier than the oldest Chinese paper in Europe. The Han brocade excavated is gorgeous in color and quite exquisite. Some embroidered with "Han Ren embroidered Wen Wan (Wan) has infinite descendants (that is, full house of descendants)". Some embroideries are "Longevity", "Happy and Bright" or "Longevity for future generations". It was made in the 1st-2nd century. Another major excavation was the discovery of the letter from Bo Li, who was the long history of the western regions in the Western Jin Dynasty, to the king of Yanqi, the so-called "Bo Li document", and the discovery of the "Haitou" ancient city according to the Bo Li document. This led Loulan to take away a large number of ancient cultural relics in the later period of research, and wrote and published a series of monographs on the ancient Loulan in Lop Nur, praising Loulan as a treasure buried in the desert and a legacy of history.

Chinese scientists began to visit Loulan in 1927. Huang Wenbi, a famous archaeologist and Chen Zongqi, a geographer who came to Loulan with the Sino-Swiss (Canon) Northwest Scientific Delegation, visited the northern shore of Lop Nur several times and excavated the site. More than 7 Chinese wooden slips with a clear date of the Western Han Dynasty were unearthed, and the beacon tower site of the Han Dynasty was excavated. A considerable number of bronzes, irons, lacquerware, woodwork, bones, stones, pottery, and silk and linen fragments were also unearthed. Huang Wenbi published a monograph "Archaeology of Lop Nur" on his archaeological work in Lop Nur area, and the ancient civilization in Loulan area opened a new page in the hands of China scholars. Huang Wenbi was the only China archaeologist who had been to Lop Nur before liberation.

The Loulan adventure in New China has once again caused a sensation in the world. The most positive response is Japan. The book "The Kingdom of Loulan" written by the famous Japanese historian Mr. Zehejun has been published in two editions. In Japanese primary school books, there is an introduction about the ancient city of Loulan, and Loulan is a household name in Japan.

in the late 197s, NHK TV and CCTV in Japan jointly produced the TV film Silk Road. At that time, the Institute of Archaeology of Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences was invited to assist in filming TV films. They organized a team to overcome many difficulties and went deep into Lop Nur area for three times, and once again obtained Chinese wooden slips and documents (including a small amount of Fallow) and a large number of precious cultural relics such as ancient money, wool fabrics, silk fabrics, leather products and lacquerware in Wei and Jin Dynasties. The Surveying and Mapping Brigade of the Military Region cooperated with the investigation team to go deep into Loulan to survey and draw the topographic map of Loulan ancient city. After accurate measurement, it is determined that Guloulan City is located at 89 degrees 55 minutes and 12 seconds east longitude and 4 degrees 3 minutes and 57 seconds north latitude. Covering an area of 12, square meters, the ancient city is slightly square, with a side length of about 33 meters. The city walls built with mud, reeds and branches are still faintly discernible. An ancient river with a northwest-southeast direction runs through the city. The remaining main houses in the city are still well preserved, except for the missing roof, other parts, such as doors and windows, can be clearly distinguished. In the ancient city, wooden beams, purlins and rafters used for building houses are everywhere. Some of these building materials in Hu Yangmu are chiseled and even engraved with patterns, which show a considerable level of craftsmanship and are particularly eye-catching, providing valuable materials for the study of ancient buildings. In addition, there are architectural relics such as ancient beacon towers and granaries. As for pottery pieces, felt pieces, ancient copper coins, silk fragments and other cultural relics, just a little excavation on the surface and underground can make "antiques" see the light of day again.

The Japanese called 1988 "the Year of Loulan", and launched commemorative activities centering on Loulan exploration, such as organizing a 1-member investigation group, holding a large-scale exhibition "Swing Heding and the Kingdom of Loulan", holding a report meeting, and Loulan's photo exhibition in China, which shows that Loulan's research has already entered the world.