Chinese Dig Unearths Secrets of General With Nine Tombs

The legend about a Chinese general who had nine tombs - so that no one would know which one he was buried in - has come alive at an archaeological site in central China.

The general's mausoleum was found last year at Zaoyang, in Hubei province, where a line of mounds had long been known by locals as the "ridge of nine".

Details have now been published about the opening a fortnight ago of the elaborate coffin in which he was buried at least 2,300 years ago, at the end of the southern Chu dynasty in China's "warring states" period (475-221BC).

The general's name remains a mystery, but it may be revealed when a large bundle of bamboo slips - used for writing - have been deciphered.

The general lay with his hands crossed on his chest and a bronze sword by his side. His coffin was suspended inside a larger enclosing coffin, and painted bright red.

Earlier, the remains of a battle chariot had been discovered to the west of the tomb.

According to the legend, the general died on the battlefield. Fearing that the body would be dug up by his enemies, his followers built a line of nine tombs and placed it in one of them.

Eight mounds had long been known at the site, but the ninth was discovered only last year when archaeologists moved in. The ridge lies in the way of a new motorway and must be excavated before work can begin.

A new burst of Chinese economic development, with huge investment in roads, rail ways and new towns, has led to a wave of archaeological discoveries.

The media has created an "archaeology fever" over the Zaoyang excavation, and the opening of the general's coffin was shown live on television.

When a second tomb was opened, there was a fierce argument over what should be done with the coffin.

"After heated debate," the China Daily said yesterday, "archaeologists jumped into the tomb and prised open the coffin with a crowbar."

The dig has unearthed nearly 700 items, including bronze tripods, cauldrons and lamps, as well as 33 sets of carriages and horses, but none was of outstanding quality.

Among the more important finds were more than 80 musical instruments, including a set of bronze chimes, drums, bells, reed pipes with the original reeds, and a 25-stringed zither - the first of its kind to be discovered complete.

Perhaps in an indication of the haste in which the general was buried, none of the bronzes bears any inscription which might reveal his identity.

The answer may lie in the bamboo slips unearthed in the ninth tomb. They are said to bear black writing upon them, but are "as soft as boiled noodles after being submerged in muddy water for a long time".

Wrapped in plastic film they have been taken to the provincial capital of Wuhan, where experts will try to stabilise them before deciphering their contents. Only then could the mystery of the general with nine tombs finally be solved.