The eternal flame of the tomb of the First Emperor Qin Shi Huang: Why has it burned for a thousand years without extinguishing? An American scholar reveals the secrets behind it, convincing both Chinese and foreign experts.
Here’s the English translation of your text:
The Eternal Light of the Mausoleum of the First Emperor: A Mysterious Light Through the Mist of History
The eternal light of the Mausoleum of the First Emperor, which has not extinguished for a millennium, seems like a mysterious light that transcends the fog of history, attracting countless explorers' attention. What is the secret behind this lamp? When American scholars unveiled its mysteries, a shocking truth emerged—one that is both astonishing and irrefutable, earning the respect of scholars from both China and abroad. What secret allows this lamp to remain bright after a thousand years? Let us reveal it together!
Qin Shi Huang: A Controversial Life of a Great Ruler
In 259 BC, a boy was born who would change the course of Chinese history—Ying Zheng, later known as Qin Shi Huang. When the young Ying Zheng ascended to the throne, he faced an era of warlords and constant conflict. However, this young monarch demonstrated extraordinary political talent and military strategy. Through a series of military actions and diplomatic maneuvers, Ying Zheng defeated the other six states, achieving the first unification in Chinese history.
From then on, Ying Zheng became a legend. As the founder of China's first feudal dynasty, Qin Shi Huang implemented a series of reforms: abolishing the feudal system, unifying scripts, currency, and measurements, constructing the Great Wall, and digging the Lingqu Canal. These measures laid the foundation for more than two thousand years of feudal society in China.
Qin Shi Huang's achievements have been accompanied by controversy. He suppressed various schools of thought and burned books while burying Confucian scholars alive. He conscripted a large number of laborers to build the Efang Palace and the tomb of Mount Li. He enforced harsh laws that caused widespread suffering among the people. The "Eternal Emperor" is also an embodiment of contradictions—power and desire, obsession and paranoia intertwined within this mighty ruler.
The Underground Kingdom: The Unique Structure of the Mausoleum of the First Emperor
In 210 BC, Qin Shi Huang passed away. According to historical records, the construction of this monarch's tomb took 38 years and employed as many as 720,000 laborers, with its enormous scale and complex structure astonishing future generations. Archaeological discoveries reveal that the Mausoleum of the First Emperor is not just a tomb but rather resembles an underground kingdom.
In this 56-square-kilometer mausoleum, there are various unique constructions: the Terracotta Army pits, bronze chariots, and burial pits. Among them, the most famous is the Terracotta Army. Over 7,000 lifelike clay figures form an "underground army." Dressed in armor and holding weapons, each one displays distinct personalities and expressions. These Terracotta Warriors are not only treasures of ancient art but also showcase the grandeur of the Qin Dynasty.
The greatest mystery of the Mausoleum of the First Emperor lies within the underground palace. According to "Records of the Grand Historian," the tomb contains rivers and seas made of mercury, along with rare traps and mechanisms. Archaeologists speculate that countless treasures, as well as Qin Shi Huang's most cherished collections, may be hidden here. To this day, the core area of the Mausoleum of the First Emperor has not been fully excavated. This "underground kingdom" still awaits discovery of its mysterious veil.
The Mystery of the Eternal Light: The Secret of the Millennia
Among the many mysteries of the Mausoleum of the First Emperor, the most puzzling is the legendary "eternal light." According to ancient texts, these oil lamps burned for over a thousand years without extinguishing in the sealed burial chamber after Qin Shi Huang's death. This seems paradoxical to science. Without oxygen, how could the lamps burn? Where does the fuel come from? This conundrum has troubled generations of scholars.
Initially, Chinese scholars found some clues in ancient texts. Sima Qian mentioned in "Records of the Grand Historian" that "fish oil is used as the wick" in the Mausoleum of the First Emperor, suggesting that the lamp oil came from the legendary "fish-men." However, since fish-men are fictional creatures, this explanation is clearly unconvincing.
With the advancement of modern technology, researchers began conducting chemical analyses of the eternal light. They were astonished to discover that the oil in the lamp actually came from whales! This finding added to the complexity of the mystery. It wasn't until American scholars intervened that a reasonable explanation for the eternal light emerged.
Unraveling the Mystery: The Astonishing Discovery by American Scholars
When the miraculous eternal light of the Mausoleum of the First Emperor drew international attention, a scholar from the United States began his research. Through chemical analysis, this scholar identified two key substances: yellow phosphorus and white phosphorus. Yellow phosphorus is a substance that can delay combustion. When mixed with whale oil, it can extend the burning time of the lamp oil by hundreds of times. This explains the ample fuel supply for the eternal light.
White phosphorus, on the other hand, is crucial for igniting the eternal light. White phosphorus reacts easily with oxygen in the air at room temperature. When archaeologists opened the sealed burial chamber that had been closed for over a thousand years, outside oxygen surged in, igniting the white phosphorus, and the eternal light "magically" lit up. This theory perfectly explains the "millennium mystery" of the eternal light. It not only gained recognition from Chinese scholars but also allowed the world to witness the wisdom of ancient ancestors.
Ancient Wisdom: Pioneers of Chemical Preservation
The discovery by American scholars not only unraveled the mystery of the eternal light but also led to a newfound respect for ancient technology. In an era when modern chemistry had yet to be born, the people of the Qin Dynasty already understood how to utilize chemical substances for preservation and theft prevention. The eternal light was likely just one application of this "ancient high technology."
At that time, yellow phosphorus and white phosphorus may have also been used to prevent the decomposition of corpses and inhibit bacterial growth within the tomb. This chemical preservation attempt predates the earliest preservation methods in Europe by more than two thousand years! From this perspective, the Mausoleum of the First Emperor is not just an archaeological site but a museum of ancient technology. It showcases the ingenuity of ancient people and a little-known aspect of that era.
Conclusion:
The eternal light of the Mausoleum of the First Emperor is by no means a simple illumination tool. It symbolizes the cultural height of an era, the power desires of an empire, and reflects humanity's eternal pursuit of the unknown. When we stand before the Mausoleum of the First Emperor, gazing at those stone warriors, we see not only the past but also ourselves.
As a thousand years roll by, humanity still gropes forward in the dark, continuously asking questions and seeking answers. The eternal light may have extinguished, but the flame of exploration will never fade. Let us move forward together, using wisdom and courage to illuminate the road ahead. After all, in the pursuit of truth, each of us is a beam of light in front of the Mausoleum of the First Emperor.