Chapter 630: A Mountain of Evidence

It was not just Zhao Xiuneng who did not understand; apart from the two experts, no one else had grasped the meaning.

Zhang Yuanqiao asked because he did not understand: "General Manager Lin, what is a Nabo?"

Lin Sicheng explained eloquently: "This is a Khitan transliteration, referring to the Emperor's temporary residence. It also refers to the Khitan moving with water and grass throughout the four seasons of the year, forming a mobile political center, also known as the Four Seasons Nabo."

"Regardless of the season, there are representative objects: the Spring Nabo is for geese and fish (fishing and hunting), and the Summer Nabo is for Tu'er Mountain (present-day Tu'erji Mountain in Tongliao, Neimenggu, the summer retreat for Liao emperors). The Autumn Nabo is for deer or tigers (autumn hunting), and the Winter Nabo is for the elm and willow forests of Guangpingdian (the confluence of the Xilamulun River and Laohe River in Neimenggu, the winter retreat for Liao emperors)—as long as a cultural relic is printed with these four types of patterns, it is inevitably related to the Khitan Nabo—"

"But not all artifacts with deer patterns are related to the emperor. Deer patterns are very common among the Khitan; princes can use them, nobles can use them, and ministers and military officers can use them too. But there are distinctions—"

Lin Sicheng pointed to the deer on the body of the pot, "First, look at the posture: ministers have the reclining deer pattern, princes have the walking deer pattern, and the emperor has the galloping deer pattern—second, look at the antlers: Southern Officials (Han officials) have no antlers, Northern Officials (Khitan people) have double-branched antlers, the imperial clan has four-branched antlers, and the emperor has six-branched antlers—"

"Third, look at the auxiliary patterns: the reclining deer (ministers) only has the scrolling grass pattern under the belly, the walking deer (princes) will have two extra lines on the left and right, and only the emperor will have flames patterned."

"Besides this, there is also this Lapis Lazuli: in the Khitan shaman system, this is the sun—the sky has no two suns, and the country has no two masters; this Lapis Lazuli is the most powerful piece of evidence—"

Zhang Yuanqiao suddenly realized: "Copied from the Central Plains dynasties?"

"Correct. Actually, starting from Yelu Abaoji, the Liao people underwent national Sinicization, and the process was extremely rapid. In the eyes of the Liao people, they were the orthodox Huaxia: 'The ancestors of the Liao originated from the Flame Emperor; for generations, they were the Shenji State: what can be known of them dates back to Qishou'—"

"These words were spoken by Yelu Abaoji; he traced the ancestors of the Liao people back to the generation of the Flame Emperor—after the Chanyuan Treaty, the Liao Dynasty called itself the Northern Dynasty and referred to the Northern Song Dynasty as the Southern Dynasty, implying that they themselves were the orthodox Huaxia—but this is not the point; the point is this pot—"

Lin Sicheng paused, "General Manager He, if you ask me to deduce: which Liao emperor's artifact this item might be—"

He Youhan was stunned for a moment: "Imperial ware?"

"You could say that!"

After all, a Liao emperor is also an emperor.

"Thank you, General Manager Lin!" He Youhan smiled, meaningfully, "My father bought this item at an auction in the UK seven or eight years ago. This is the first time I've known it has such a significant background?"

Sun Jingzhou followed closely: "General Manager Lin is knowledgeable and well-versed in both ancient and modern times; it is truly breathtaking!"

It was unclear whether these two were sincere or hypocritical, but in the eyes of the others, Lin Sicheng was indeed profound enough and truly knew a great deal.

Because this was not an artifact from a Han dynasty, but from a minority dynasty. If the history were more recent, such as the Mongol-Yuan, there would at least be a large amount of historical material remaining, and even more cultural relics unearthed.

But the Liao Dynasty was distant, and it perished too quickly; most of the unearthed documentary materials were in Khitan Large Script and Small Script. These two had long become dead languages, and even if one wanted to translate them, there was no way to do so, resulting in pitifully little historical material that could be verified.

Since the difficulty was too great and there were no traces to follow, naturally, few people studied it, and those who could be called proficient were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

For example, Teacher Zhang knew the meaning of Lapis Lazuli in the Khitan shaman system and also knew the patterns corresponding to the Four Seasons Nabo, but he did not know the class hierarchy represented by the flames and the deer's posture.

Museum Curator Tang did know, after all, that was exactly what she specialized in, but she had never known that besides her and her students, there was actually someone else who understood these things?

From this, it could be seen that Lin Sicheng had definitely conducted extremely in-depth research on the history of the Liao Dynasty.

She looked curious: "Little Lin, is the research at your school so extensive?"

That was certainly not the case.

Just the culture of the Han and Tang dynasties, plus the Silk Road, was enough for the school to study for decades or even a century; how could they abandon the near to seek the far and study Khitan culture?

And there were only two authoritative institutions in this field: one was the Liaoning Provincial Museum, and the other was the Inner Mongolia Museum.

As it happened, Museum Curator Tang came from the Inner Mongolia Museum and was an authoritative expert on nomadic peoples. If it were normal times, Lin Sicheng would definitely ask for her advice, but he could not spare the time now.

According to his prediction: the trouble was coming soon.

Sure enough, just as he was thinking this, Sun Jingzhou stood up: "General Manager Lin, may I ask a few questions?"

Lin Sicheng perked up: "Please go ahead, Mr. Sun!"

"Have you ever seen or heard of similar cultural relics being unearthed in the country?"

"Mr. Sun, are you talking about cultural relics made of birch bark?"

"No, I am talking about the Liao Dynasty bark pouch pot!"

Lin Sicheng spoke the truth: "No!"

He had indeed never seen a Liao Dynasty bark pot—oh no, that was too general; to be precise: he had never seen one from any dynasty.

Because this was bark; if the craftsmanship was not up to standard, it could not even hold rice, let alone water or wine?

Sun Jingzhou pressed on: "Then on what factors did General Manager Lin determine that this is a wine pot from the Liao Emperor's autumn hunting Nabo? What is the evidence?"

Lin Sicheng emphasized: "Mr. Sun, it is not a determination; it is my deductive analysis!"

Sun Jingzhou smiled: "General Manager Lin, even for a deduction, there should be a basis, right?"

"Mr. Sun, I know what you mean: 'A single source cannot be verified, and a single piece of evidence cannot stand.' If we only look at the main material, it is indeed impossible to determine the specific function and nature—"

"However, the material of this pot is not just bark: there are also gemstones, copper rings, silver buckles, leather cords—by dialectically analyzing the origin and craftsmanship characteristics of these materials, one can basically infer the approximate production era, production institution, and function of the pouch pot."

"Mr. Sun is also an expert and should know that Liao Dynasty documents are just impossible to translate, not that they haven't been unearthed. On the contrary:"

"Many tombs and ruins have been unearthed."

"For example, the Liao Qingling Mausoleum area (Emperors Shengzong, Xingzong, and Daozong + Empresses) has unearthed Autumn Mountain Jade, Deer-Stabbing and Goose-Stabbing Awls, Gold-Inlaid Silverware, Imperial Horse Gear, high-end inlaid gold and silver ware—and so on. Through verification, these cultural relics are all diplomatic imperial gifts from the Northern Song Dynasty, especially the first two: the jade and the awl; these are national gifts specifically customized by the Northern Song for the Liao Emperor's Nabo autumn mountain and spring water."

"Next is the Chen State Princess and Consort Tomb, which unearthed gold masks, silver wire nets, high-winged gilded silver crowns, gold-inlaid silver boots, gold plaque belts, and engraved gold pouches—similarly, these were also designed by the Liao Dynasty, crafted by the Northern Song's Wensi Institute, and presented to the Liao Dynasty as imperial gifts for the main day—"

"There are also the Yelu Yuzhi Tomb, the Yelu Renxian Tomb (imperial clan and important ministers of the royal family), and the Xiao Clan Tomb. The cultural relics unearthed from these three tomb groups are even more numerous: jade belt ornament, gilded copper bubble nails, hairpins, bracelets, ear ornaments, chiseled gold cups, gold-inlaid silver inkstone boxes—and so on."

"These cultural relics have all undergone comprehensive analysis, including composition, craftsmanship, and aging traces—no matter which one, as long as there is data, it can be compared with this pot. If General Manager He needs it, after the machine inspection report comes out, I will have the data team index and organize it."

"And besides these, the most critical thing is the patterns: which pattern represents which rank, and what kind of meaning it has, are all strictly stipulated in the ritual system of the Liao Dynasty. It is just because the Khitan Script has become a dead language, and the translation difficulty is too great, that not many people are willing to study it."

"I dare not claim to have studied it very deeply, but at least I understand a little. Because it involves too many historical materials, it would take too much time to list them, so I won't ramble here. But when the final appraisal report is issued, I will write down every piece of literature related to the patterns on this pouch pot—"

Lin Sicheng paused: "As for the bark—Mr. Sun, indeed no Liao Dynasty bark pouch pot cultural relics have been unearthed to date, but it is not that no similar cultural relics have been unearthed; there are even ones older than the Liao Dynasty—"

"In 1959, the Zhalainuoer Ancient Tomb Group was discovered in Manzhouli, Neimenggu, and it was not fully excavated until 1986."

"A large number of birch bark artifact fragments were unearthed, including cylindrical birch bark boxes, birch bark jars, circular birch bark lids, and circular birch bark base plates—"

"As well as birch bark used for bedding under the coffin lids in some tombs, and even birch bark burial items in children's tombs; these are all collected in the Zhalainuoer Museum—after verification, the site is the Han-Wei Tuoba Xianbei Tomb Group—"

"Therefore, using birch bark to make artifacts was not a Khitan innovation, and the one you sent over is not the first. The Xianbei people 1,900 years ago had already started making boxes, lids, and even jars, a thousand years earlier than the Khitan. It is just that there were no pot-shaped artifacts, and it was the nomadic people's own handicraft, which was relatively rough, so I cannot use it for comparison."

"And besides the Han and Wei, there are also those from the Khitan period: in the 1960s, the Liao tomb in Hongge'ertu Wulanhada, Chayouhou Banner, Neimenggu, unearthed a large number of Liao Dynasty birch bark arrow quivers and bow cases. Besides that, two other artifacts made of birch bark were unearthed—the items are collected in the Chayouhou Banner Museum; I will find them for you—"

Lin Sicheng tapped the computer a few times: "After repeated deduction, most scholars believe that these are the riding boots of Liao military officers; unfortunately, only the boot covers remain—Mr. Sun, please take a look for me, what should this thing be—"

Two pictures appeared on the computer. Sun Jingzhou took a look, and it was like being punched in the face; he leaned back violently.

It was not just Sun Jingzhou; no matter who it was, as long as they saw the pictures, they were all dumbfounded.

Especially Museum Curator Tang: she came from the Inner Mongolia Museum, and even she didn't know that something like this had been unearthed in Ulanqab?

Looking closely again: it does look a bit like the upper part of a riding boot, but there are no similar Cultural Relics unearthed to compare it with, and there are no documents to corroborate it.

But now, if you compare it with this Cockscomb Pouch on the table: if you put these two "boot covers" together, wouldn't they form a large Cockscomb Pouch?

It's just that it lacks patterns, lacks Gemstones, and isn't as smooth—

He Youhan stared at the picture, stunned for a good while, then turned his head to look at Sun Jingzhou.

Back then, Sun Jingzhou had guaranteed with absolute certainty: "General Manager He, don't worry, there are no physical objects of this thing unearthed, and even less any historical records; absolutely no one in the country would dare to appraise this thing, whether it's the Forbidden City, the National Museum of China, or even the experts from the Appraisal Committee."

Some might speculate on the era and origin based on the ornaments and craftsmanship, but no matter how they speculate or discuss it, absolutely no one would dare to draw a conclusion.

To put it bluntly: even if one could guess what this thing was used for and who used it, no one would dare to say it out loud.

Because there were no physical objects unearthed before, and no historical records could be found, this piece is a completely unique case.

Without three, five, or eight years of effort, and without surveying the relevant ruins ten or eight times, who would dare to draw a conclusion?

Now it's a fine mess: Lin Sicheng not only found corroborating evidence, but more than one piece?

Sun Jingzhou felt his scalp tingle from being stared at, yet he didn't know how to explain.

You really want to ask: "General Manager He, do you know what level the two museums Lin Sicheng mentioned are?"

Zalantun is a bit better; although it is only a district of Hulunbuir, at least it is a municipal district, at least it is in a city.

But that Chayouhou Banner is almost at the border, only two hundred-plus kilometers away from Outer Mongolia. Although it is also a county, it only has a population of a few tens of thousands; it is a purely pastoral area.

Who has nothing better to do than run to such a remote place to visit a county-level Museum?

If you don't believe me, look at the two experts next to you, especially that Museum Curator Tang: she worked at the Inner Mongolia Museum for over ten years, and even she didn't know about these two items.

Therefore, it is not that I am incompetent, but that the one surnamed Lin is too cunning—

Cursing inwardly, Sun Jingzhou gritted his teeth: "General Manager Lin, why didn't you say so before?"

"Mr. Sun, although these Cultural Relics are only collected in the Banner Museum, at the beginning of the excavation, it was guided by the National Cultural Heritage Administration and organized by the cultural and museum departments of the NMG Autonomous Region—it is something that already has a settled conclusion. If I had said it, would you have believed me?"

Because Sun Jingzhou was there to find fault: even if this was a wrong conclusion, it was still a conclusion. So it wasn't a question of whether he believed it or not.

It was that he simply wouldn't acknowledge it.

Lin Sicheng saw that he was about to stir up trouble, so he threw this out to catch him off guard.

The others were stunned.

If one were to speak the truth: when Lin Sicheng stated that conclusion just now, everyone was shocked.

It wasn't that what he said was wrong: all the traces and all the clues in the craftsmanship indicated that this was a Northern Song Dynasty diplomatic gift, a water pot or wine pot presented to the Liao Emperor during his autumn hunt.

Even if not one hundred percent, it could reach over eighty percent.

What they were shocked by was that Lin Sicheng's words were too absolute: this thing is made of tree bark, there has never been a precedent, you rashly draw a conclusion, and you set the bar so high—what will you do if he asks you to issue an appraisal report?

If it were really issued, the show would begin: this thing is not only the world's first bark-pressed pouch-pot, but also an imperial vessel; what kind of concept is that?

Whether it is the historical, archaeological, or Cultural Relics circles, everything would explode. The reason is simple: even if the conclusion is wrong, it is still a conclusion; how could it be so easy to overturn?

If you dare to dig up the graves of your predecessors, you must be prepared to be attacked by the disciples and even the sects of those predecessors. From then on, let alone doing appraisals or technical work, Lin Sicheng wouldn't be able to wipe away all the spit thrown at him.

It's just that no one expected Lin Sicheng to actually have evidence, and so much of it?

Of course, the explosions would still happen, and the criticism would still come, but Lin Sicheng could completely ignore it.

If pushed to the limit, he could just throw these photos out, and there would be plenty of people to help him sophist—oh no, to help him argue the case.

The eyes of the masses are sharp; whether it is a "boot" or a pot, can't they tell?