The warriors were ruthless, invincible, though their numbers were few, yet they proved consummate diplomats. They carried bloodthirsty ge (dagger-axes), yet wore tiny pieces of jade carved into frog shapes.
They were once nomads, but they took on the culture and customs of China, far from their own lands in the north, an ethnic minority surviving among bigger, bullying neighbours for 360 years. Their rulers had palaces, but behind those grand castellated walls, they still lived in their tents.
With few records, the people of Zhongshan state have always been a mysterious race. The Warring States Treasures exhibition, which opens today at the Museum of Art, may help change that, but is unlikely to make them any less intriguing.
What is on display is just a little of what was uncovered in the tombs of their king and nobles at Sanjicun, Pingshanxian, in Hebei province, relics that told of the fate of Zhongshan. 'Of particular importance are the two exquisite bronze vases with long inscriptions, which provide information on the lineage of Zhongshan rulers and fill gaps in the historical record,' said Gerard Tsang, chief curator of the museum.
More than 100 relics dating from 475-221 BC have been lent by Hebei Provincial Museum, and the Hong Kong museum is hoping for other similar loans.
This was a fascinating find that all began with a few vegetables. Villagers asked permission to fill in a gully and turn it into farmland in 1973. It had been passed down through the generations that the place was a burial ground and their request mentioned the 'mausoleum platform'. The authorities moved in and started excavations. Bronzes and an agate cup came up first. The archaeologists learned that there were other royal tombs around. Shards of Warring States pottery turned up, evidence of kilns.
