|
|
|
|
|
|
| Comprehensive Research on Five Minerals Excavated From the Tomb of the Eastern Han Dynasty in Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province |
| ZHANG Ya-xu1, 2, 3, ZHU Yu-ji1, DONG Qi1, QIN Yi-wei1, ZHAO Zhan-rui1* |
1. Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology, Xi'an 710109, China
2. Key Scientific Research Base of On-Site Conservation, State Administration for Cultural Heritage, Xi'an 710109, China
3. Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Archaeological Conservation, Xi'an 710109, China
|
|
|
|
|
Abstract Five Minerals are frequently found in Han Dynasty tombs. However, research on their chemical composition remains limited, with few studies providing detailed analyses of their specific components. This study presents a comprehensive chemical characterization of Five Minerals samples collected from a vase inscribed with cinnabar found in Tomb M3300. The analytical methods employed include optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy (RM). The results indicate that the blue-colored minerals are primarily composed of azurite. At the same time, the red-colored minerals consist predominantly of realgar, which can degrade into uzonite and arsenolite. The black minerals are high-purity magnetite; the white minerals are dolomite with trace amounts of quartz; and the gray minerals are mica. This is the first scientific identification of dolomite and mica as key components of the Five Minerals. Furthermore, the inscriptions and Taoist symbols on the vase indicate that the Five Minerals served as protective agents for the tomb rather than for medicinal use. Although literary sources from the Han Dynasty offer specific references to the Five Minerals, a mixture of Cengqing, Dansha, Baiyu, Xionghuang, and Cishi. Their application in tomb protection is more closely associated with their color, physical properties, and symbolic meanings than with their precise chemical composition. This results in a certain degree of variability in the chemical makeup of the Five Minerals. The findings of this study significantly contribute to our understanding of both the material properties and the ritualistic functions of the Five Minerals in Han Dynasty burial practices.
|
|
Received: 2025-06-20
Accepted: 2025-09-25
|
|
|
|
Corresponding Authors:
ZHAO Zhan-rui
E-mail: zzr1478521@163.com
|
|
[1] LIU Wei-peng（刘卫鹏）. Religious Studies（宗教学研究）, 2009, （3）：1.
[2] ZHANG Rui, FANG Xiao-ji, JU Jian-wei, et al（张 蕊, 方小济, 巨建伟, 等）. The Journal of Light Scattering（光散射学报）, 2020, 32（3）：280.
[3] Frost R L, Martens W N, Rintoul L, et al. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 2002, 33（4）：252.
[4] HUANG Jian-hua, YANG Lu, SHEN Mao-sheng, et al（黄建华, 杨 璐, 申茂盛, 等）. Journal of Northwest University(Natural Science Edition)[西北大学学报（自然科学版）], 2022, 52（4）：691.
[5] Sun D X, Li H Y, Zhang G D, et al. Heritage Science, 2024, 12：254.
[6] JI Jin-xin, ZHOU Wen-hua, YAO Na, et al（季金鑫, 周文华, 姚 娜, 等）. Spectroscopy and Spectral Analysis（光谱学与光谱分析）, 2016, 36（7）：2207.
[7] Bonazzi P, Menchetti S, Pratesi G, et al. American Mineralogist, 1996, 81（7-8）：874.
[8] Holomb R, Mitsa V, Johansson P, et al. Chalcogenide Letters, 2005, 2(7): 63.
[9] Kyono A, Kimata M, Hatta T. American Mineralogist, 2005, 90（10）：1563.
[10] YU Zong-ren, SUN Bai-nian, FAN Yu-quan, et al（于宗仁, 孙柏年, 范宇权, 等）. Dunhuang Research（敦煌研究）, 2008, （6）：46.
[11] PANG Jiang, ZHANG Ye-yu, HUANG Yi, et al（庞 江, 张烨毓, 黄 毅, 等）. Rock and Mineral Analysis（岩矿测试）, 2023, 42（4）：852.
[12] Bischoff W D，Mackenzie F T，Sharma S K. American Mineralogist, 1985, 70: 581.
[13] WENG Xiao-fang, GU Man（翁晓芳, 顾 漫）. JianBo YanJiu（简帛研究）, 2022, （2）：335.
[14] NING Pei-ying, ZHANG Tian-yang, MA Hong, et al（宁珮莹, 张天阳, 马 泓, 等）. Rock and Mineral Analysis（岩矿测试）, 2019, 38（6）：640.
[15] Wu M, Tang Z M, Bi N, et al. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2023, 15：117.
[16] LIU Yu-xin（刘玉新）. Huaxia Archaeology（华夏考古）, 1999, （1）：7.
[17] WANG Wei-yi（王维一）. World of Antiquity（文物世界）, 2018, （3）：13.
[18] WEI Xing-tao, ZHAO Hong, SUN Jian-guo, et al（魏兴涛, 赵 宏, 孙建国, 等）. Chinese Cultural Relics（文物）, 2009, （3）：4.
[19] Wang X Q, Liu W P, Xie G W, et al. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 2016, 18：349. |
| [1] |
WU Qiang1, ZHAO Peng2, WANG Meng2, ZHAO Cai-quan2, BAI Li-ge2, GUO Jia-hua2, GAO Xue-feng2, HOU Ding-yi3, GENG Zhi-gang4, LU Ling2*, LIU Jie2*. Quality Grading of A. mongholicus Based on Effective Component
Content and Hyperspectral[J]. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2025, 45(11): 3066-3071. |
| [2] |
GU Tian-yang1, 2, SHI Dong-hui3, YANG Shu-gang3, SONG Guo-ding4*, ZHANG Yu-xiu5*. Research on the Rammed Earth Construction Materials of Shang Dynasty Capital Sites in Zhengzhou[J]. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2025, 45(07): 2078-2086. |
| [3] |
LI Ruo-tong1, HU Hui-qiang2, CAO Shi-yu1, LU Meng-yao1, LIU Meng-ran1, FU Jia-yue1, MAO Xiao-bo2, WANG Hai-bo3*, FU Ling1, 3*. Identification of Pinelliae Rhizoma Decoction Pieces by Hyperspectral
Imaging Combined With Machine Learning[J]. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2025, 45(05): 1236-1242. |
| [4] |
HUANG Jue-wei1, 2, DONG Jun-qing1, 2, LIU Song1, YUAN Yi-meng1, LI Qing-hui1, 2*. Scientific Research on the Chemical Composition and Making Process of a Batch of Ancient Glass Jue[J]. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2025, 45(05): 1403-1415. |
| [5] |
LIU Chang-qing, LING Zong-cheng*. LIBS Quantitative Analysis of Martian Analogues Library (MAL)[J]. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2025, 45(03): 717-725. |
| [6] |
ZHANG Guo-hao1, WANG Cai-ling1*, WANG Hong-wei2*, YU Tao3. Improved Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm Combined With BP Neural Network Model for Prediction of Total Phosphorus Concentration in Water Body Using Transmittance Spectral Data[J]. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2025, 45(02): 394-402. |
| [7] |
LI Ling-qiao1, WANG Zhuo-jian1, CHEN Jiang-hai1, LU Feng1, HUANG Dian-gui2, YANG Hui-hua3, LI Quan2*. A Model Transfer Method Based on Transfer Component Analysis and
Direct Correction[J]. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2024, 44(12): 3399-3405. |
| [8] |
WANG Fang-yuan1, 2, ZHANG Jing-yi1, 2, YE Song1, 2, LI Shu1, 2, WANG Xin-qiang1, 2*. Raman Signal Extraction Method Based on Full Spectrum Principal
Component Analysis[J]. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2024, 44(12): 3327-3332. |
| [9] |
WANG Xin-qiang1, 3, WANG Zhen1, 3, QIN Shan1, 3, XIONG Wei2, 4, WANG Fang-yuan1, 3, YE Song1, 3, NIE Kun1, 3*. Research on the Correction of Spatial Heterodyne Interference Data Based on Principal Component Analysis[J]. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2024, 44(12): 3333-3338. |
| [10] |
WANG Xue1, 2, 4, WANG Zi-wen1, ZHANG Guang-yue1, MA Tie-min1, CHEN Zheng-guang1, YI Shu-juan3, 4, WANG Chang-yuan2. A Universal Model for Quantitative Analysis of Near-Infrared
Spectroscopy Based on Transfer Component Analysis[J]. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2024, 44(11): 3213-3221. |
| [11] |
ZHANG Ke-xuan1, 2, YU Hai-yan1, 2*, BAI He1, 2, ZHANG Yu-ye1, 2. Study on Material Composition and Origin of Luodian Nephrite With “Pocking Mark” and “Grass Flower” in Guizhou Province[J]. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2024, 44(11): 3236-3243. |
| [12] |
MAO Li-yu1, 2, BIN Bin1*, ZHANG Hong-ming2*, LÜ Bo2, 3*, GONG Xue-yu1, YIN Xiang-hui1, SHEN Yong-cai4, FU Jia2, WANG Fu-di2, HU Kui5, SUN Bo2, FAN Yu2, ZENG Chao2, JI Hua-jian2, 3, LIN Zi-chao2, 3. Development of Wheat Component Detector Based on Near Infrared
Spectrum[J]. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2024, 44(10): 2768-2777. |
| [13] |
LIU Yu-juan1, 2, 3, LIU Yan-da1, 2, 3, YAN Zhen1, 4, ZHANG Zhi-yong1, 2, 3, CAO Yi-ming1, 2, 3, SONG Ying1, 2, 3*. Classification of Hybrid Convolution Hyperspectral Images Based on
Attention Mechanism[J]. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2024, 44(10): 2916-2922. |
| [14] |
YE Xu1, 2, YANG Jiong2, 3*, QIU Zhi-li1, 2, YUE Zi-long1. An Exploration of Geographic Determination of Serpentine Jade by
Raman Spectroscopy Combined With Principal Component
Analysis and Linear Discriminant Analysis[J]. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2024, 44(09): 2551-2558. |
| [15] |
HUANG Ji-chong1, SONG Shao-zhong2*, LIU Chun-yu1, XU Li-Jun1, CHEN An-liang1, LU Ming1, GUO Wen-jing1, MIAO Zhuang1, LI Chang-ming1, TAN Yong1, LIU Zhe3. Research on Identification of Corn Storage Years Based on Raman
Spectroscopy[J]. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2024, 44(08): 2166-2173. |
|
|
|
|
