【Learning from History】The Yellow River Iron Oxen that Have Remained Uncorroded for Thousands of Years Buryed in the Ground
Thread Content
This post was last edited by Desert Fish on 2021-10-14 at 16:13. Pujin Ferry, located outside the ancient city of Gupuzhou in Yongji City, Shanxi Province, was a famous ferry crossing on the Yellow River in ancient times; the first floating bridge connecting boats was built here as early as 541 BC. During the Tang Dynasty’s Kaiyuan era, as Puzhou was elevated to become one of the six most important cities in the country, Emperor Xuanzong ordered that all available resources be used to build the famous Pujin Bridge and the Iron Oxes of Kaiyuan at the Pujin Ferry. At present, the heaviest cultural relic in our country is these 40-ton iron bulls from the Tang Dynasty; they have guarded the Yellow River for 1,200 years and are still in perfect condition! This is an iron ox from the Tang Dynasty, also known as the Kaiyuan Iron Ox. Four such iron oxen were cast on each side of the river to support the bridge; there were columns beneath the oxen that connected their bodies, extending more than ten feet underground. These iron oxen were actually pilings used to secure the iron chain bridge, with two on each bank. Later, as the Yellow River changed its course, these iron oxen were buried by sediment. By the 1960s and 1970s, they were buried deep in the riverbed, more than 2 meters below the surface of the Yellow River. At the time of excavation, although these iron artifacts were covered in rust, their outlines could still be seen clearly, and even the expressions on the iron figures were very distinct.
In 1988, Yongji County decided to retrieve the iron ox. Through relentless efforts, the experts finally recovered four rusted Iron Oxen of the Yellow River; these oxen, as soon as they were unearthed, were almost the same color as the Yellow River itself. Through the efforts of experts, the surface rust was removed and a new protective layer was applied. To prevent damage from sediment, a special base frame was created for the iron oxen, and finally, the location where the Yellow River iron oxen are situated was raised. It is only after carrying out this series of protective measures that we can see the Iron Oxen of the Yellow River today; ultimately, it is modern science and technology that enables these iron oxen to be preserved in such good condition.
I suddenly thought that it’s fortunate it was recovered in 1988; if it had been during the Great Leap Forward, would it have been turned into steel? Fortunately, it’s solid; otherwise, it might have turned into a \"iron lion\" like those in Cangzhou. Fortunately, it doesn’t have colored paint; otherwise, it might have ended up just like the Terracotta Warriors. Fortunately, it’s not fragile; otherwise, it would have been destroyed, just like the silk fabrics from the Dingling Mausoleum. Fortunately, it’s large and heavy; otherwise, it might have been stolen and sold. Fortunately… Who can say whether it was science and technology that destroyed these items, or that helped to preserve them?
Cow! :victory:
Why didn’t any rebels retrieve them to use as weapons?