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Warring States Crystal Cup

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Warring States Crystal Cup
MaterialCrystal
Height15.4 cm
Discovered1990
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Present locationChina

The Warring states crystal glass (戰國水晶杯 / 水晶杯) is a cup of a tumbler shape but carved from clear quartz (rock crystal) found in a Warring States period mausoleum tomb, dated to just before 221 BCE in the Qin dynasty.

Dimensions

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The cup measures 15.4 cm tall. It has a round opening and is transparent.[1] The 'glass' is not glass, but is made from a natural high-quality crystal. The artifact is on the list of Chinese cultural relics forbidden to be exhibited abroad, a list of objects that can never leave Chinese soil.[1]

Discovery

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In 1990, the cup was unearthed in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province during an archaeological dig. Specifically, it was found in Banshan town (半山鎮), Shitang village (石塘村) in a Warring states period mausoleum.[1] It was found underground about one metre deep.[2] Du Zhengxian (杜正賢) insisted on the archaeological digging even when other archaeologists had already labeled that area of the village a worthless wasteland.[3] After two months of digging, he found the cup, along with other treasures. It became the biggest find of the Warring states tombs.[3][4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Chinese cultural heritage protection official web list (水晶杯 — crystal glass)". Wenbao.net (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
  2. ^ "战国水晶杯" [Warring States Crystal Cup] (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  3. ^ a b "戰國水晶杯 引出千古謎" [Warring States Crystal Cup Leads to Eternal Mysteries]. Wen Wei Po. September 26, 2005. Retrieved May 1, 2010. The unearthing of the Warring States Crystal Cup, a priceless rare treasure, took a lot of effort from Du Zhengxian. … Presented at 2004 National Top Ten New Archaeological Discovery Selection Conference
  4. ^ "让城市文脉不断延伸——记市政协委员、市文物保护管理所所长杜正贤" [Let the urban context continue to extend - Du Zhengxian, member of the CPPCC and director of the Municipal Cultural Relics Protection and Management Office]. Hangzhou.gov. (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 29 April 2009. Retrieved 2010-05-01.