This is considered a rare national treasure that challenges today’s modern technologies.
Accordingly, in 1978, in Suizhou city, Hubei province (China), local workers used explosives to destroy a hill to build a factory.
Immediately after receiving the news, the archaeologists rushed to the scene and implemented the excavation plan.
According to archaeological experts, this tomb has a total area of up to 220 m2 and a depth of up to 13 m.
Along with the inscriptions carved on the ancient coffin, the archaeological team concluded that this was the tomb of Tanghou At (475 BC – 433 BC), king of the Tang state, a vassal of the Zhou Dynasty during the Warring States period.
Because Tang Hau At’s tomb may have encountered a flood in the past, causing the underground water circuit to break, and the artifacts in the tomb were all submerged deep under water.
In addition to Tanghou At’s giant coffin, archaeologists have found more than 15,000 antiques, including many lacquered wooden objects, gold and jade objects, weapons, chariots… Especially, just in
Among these thousands of bronze objects, there is one treasure that makes experts extremely confused because of its extremely complex structure.
This Iron Table is 42 cm high, 58 cm in diameter and weighs 30 kg.
On this Ton Ban, there are more than a thousand exquisitely crafted strange animals, such as snakes, dragons, unicorns… Since it was excavated in 1978, Tanghou At Ton Ban’s crafting method has caused debate.
According to experts, Tanghou At Ton Ban was cast using the wax melting method, because there are no traces of forging and casting on the complex patterns.
It wasn’t until a craftsman spent 20 years researching and creating a product at a 1:1 ratio using the lost wax melting method that the process of making this Ton Ban was revealed.
The wax melting technology has been lost, but Mr. Hoang Kim Chau still perseveres in trying to make Ton Ban.
Initially, this craftsman used plaster to give a rough shape, then carved it.
From plaster to wax molds, the process used modern materials such as silicon resin, Mr. Chau said.
Every time he does it, Mr. Chau uses modern tools such as heated steel and electricity, but the structure of Ton Ban is indeed very difficult and complicated.
After completing the sculpting of the wax mold using solvents, the worker will apply three layers of quartz sand and repeat for 2 consecutive days to form a hard shell.
According to experts, despite using modern tools, even a small part of Tang Hau At Ton Ban takes up to a month to create.
Obviously creating the version of Tanghou At Ton Ban was very difficult.
The process of casting Ton Ban is very skillful, requiring highly skilled workers.
Archaeologists believe that Tanghou At Ton Ban is definitely the most complex and beautiful bronze of the Spring and Autumn – Warring States period.
Zenghou Atton Pan is currently on display at the Hubei Provincial Museum (China), and is recognized as a national treasure, prohibited from being taken abroad for exhibition.
Article reference sources: CCTV, Sohu, Baidu
