Ancient voices immortalized
Two volumes of manuscripts stolen during the 1940s now have a permanent home in Hunan and help shed light on the Warring States Period, Li Muyun and He Chun report in Changsha.
This volume discusses taboos and auspicious times for travel throughout the year, while Gongshou Zhan (Volume III) guides military actions by predicting the most advantageous times to launch attacks or defend cities, Yu explains.
Despite the promising discoveries, significant challenges remain in the conservation and research of the manuscripts.
Volumes II and III are in poorer condition compared to Volume I, being significantly more fragmented, with some pieces tightly folded and stuck together, says Liu Zhao, a professor of ancient texts and the director of the Center for Research on Chinese Excavated Classics and Paleography at Fudan University in Shanghai.
"The most critical task now is the scientific detachment of these fragments, ensuring no damage occurs, so that the hidden texts can be fully revealed," Liu says.
