China has confirmed the authenticity of a Qin Dynasty stone inscription in Qinghai, revealing a previously unknown expedition ordered by Qin Shi Huang in search of the elixir of life, opening up new perspectives on the history of the first dynasty.
Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor to unify China, has long been associated with legendary stories about the desire for immortality. Ancient historical documents often mention that he sent many expeditions to search for a miracle cure. However, most of these records remain in the murky area of history, making it difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction. Recently, an archaeological discovery in Qinghai province has provided concrete evidence, contributing to clarifying part of the story that seemed to exist only in legend.
According to China Daily, the 37-character stone inscription was found by a lake in Ma Da County, at an altitude of more than 4,300 meters above sea level. The inscription, which is in the Qin Dynasty seal style, is spread over a small area but is still clear. After months of debate, the National Administration of Cultural Heritage of China announced the results of analysis, confirming that this is an artifact dating back to the Qin Dynasty, not a modern forgery.
What makes this discovery special is the inscription. The characters show that Qin Shi Huang once sent a high-ranking official named Yi to lead an alchemy team to collect herbs on Kunlun Mountain. This is rare evidence of the existence of a specific expedition, rather than just a historical account. Experts say this inscription is of great value in determining the location of Kunlun in the Qin Dynasty's perception, and at the same time adds data to the research on the search for the elixir of life.
Verifying the authenticity of the engraving was not straightforward. Some scholars were initially skeptical because of its excellent preservation, suggesting it could be a forgery. However, mineralogy and toolmark analysis ruled out this possibility. The engravings showed they were made with primitive tools, consistent with ancient techniques. The mineral composition of the grooves and the rock surface was also consistent, attesting to thousands of years of weathering.
In addition, the panel of experts also conducted detailed comparisons with authenticated Qin Dynasty inscriptions. Several script variations appeared, but they were consistent with the diverse styles of the period. In particular, the character "lun" in the word Kunlun matched a rare script found on a bamboo slip excavated in Hunan in 2002, further strengthening the dating evidence.
Another point of interest is the interpretation of the expedition's date. Initially, archaeologist Tong Tao believed that the inscription referred to the 26th year of the Qin Dynasty, or 221 BC, when Qin Shi Huang had just unified China. However, a panel of experts later determined that the characters referred to the 37th year, or 210 BC, which coincided with the year the emperor died. This opened up the hypothesis that the search for the elixir of life took place shortly before the end of his life, clearly reflecting the emperor's obsession with immortality.
This discovery is not only of archaeological value but also of profound cultural significance. It shows that the desire for immortality was not only an oral tradition but was also recorded in official documents. At the same time, it also reflects the development of alchemical and traditional medicine in Chinese society during the Qin Dynasty. Such expeditions may have contributed to the expansion of herbal knowledge, although the original goal was to find the elixir of immortality.
The Qinghai local government has now launched a comprehensive protection program for the discovery area. Monitoring, conservation and traffic route adjustment measures have been implemented to ensure the artifacts are not damaged. This is a necessary step to preserve a valuable evidence and facilitate further research.
In a broader view, this discovery contributes to enriching the historical picture of Qin Shi Huang. He was not only the person who unified the country and built the Great Wall, but also a character associated with aspirations beyond human limits. The stone carving in Qinghai is a testament to the intersection between political power and mystical beliefs, an element that makes the image of Qin Shi Huang both real and legendary in historical memory.