The tomb of a Chinese general and his princess discovered recently by archeologists was filled with more than a hundred ancient pottery figurines of warriors, camels, oxcarts and drummers.
General Zhao Xin served the Northern Qi dynasty rulers from 550 to 557, according to LiveScience.com, and led soldiers at a location called Huangniu Town. He was buried with his wife, Princess Nee Liu, on March 18, 564.
"A thousand men lost their souls; he disposed of the Yi barbarians and exterminated the enemy, and the public flocked to him," according to the translated inscription at the tomb.
Archaeologists found the tomb near Taiyuan, a city at the Xishan Mountains foothills, and they described the findings in the journal Chinese Cultural Relics.
"The grave goods in this tomb are comprised of a total of 105 items, mostly pottery figurines," said the archaeologists. The figurines, whose colors are preserved, include representations of warriors, camels, oxcarts and drummers, with the tallest standing at about 22 inches."
The Northern Qi dynasty saw tremendous change in Chinese art and material culture, according to the Smithsonian's Museums of Asian Art. Many researchers have described it as one of the most pivotal periods in all of Chinese history, forming the roots of the cosmopolitan culture that matured during the later Sui (581–618) and Tang (618–907) dynasties.
China's Northern and Southern dynasties lasted from 420 to 589, which represented a time of turmoil and war, but also a time of prosperity for art, culture, religion, and technology in China's history, noted China Knowledge.com.
Zhao Xin died at 67 while still general of the garrison, according to the discovered inscription. The inscription did not explain why he and his wife were buried at the same time.
An analysis of the bones has not been published.
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