During the Kaiyuan period, Pujin Ferry was once an important hub connecting Chang 'an with the east of the Yellow River, which was vital to Chang 'an's economic development. Therefore, Li Longji, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, ordered the construction of a large pontoon bridge to speed up Chang 'an's contact with the outside world. At that time, a lot of manpower and material resources were invested, and the core difficulty of this pontoon bridge was the pier. At that time, these eight piers consumed 80% of the steel in the Tang Dynasty. Even so, the ancients considered their own aesthetics on the basis of practicality.
Instead of pouring eight iron pillars, they spent countless efforts to cast the pier into the image of an iron cow, thus showing the glory of the Tang Dynasty in the form of an iron cow.
It's a little strange. Cultural relics are usually protected after they are unearthed. However, the "Kaiyuan Iron Bull" was an accident. Because it was salvaged under the Yellow River, after simple treatment, the rust on the yellow sand indicated by Tie Niu was removed, and no additional protective measures were taken. So what kind of story is hidden in it?
In fact, it's not that cultural relics experts don't protect the "Kaiyuan Iron Bull", but that they are afraid. We have learned from the past. Although science is quite developed now, we still need to think twice about how to protect giant iron cultural relics. If it is not handled properly, there may be a phenomenon of "gilding the lily", which will not only fail to protect cultural relics, but also indirectly destroy them.
As a warning, Cangzhou's roaring experience is heartbreaking. Cangzhou is called "Lion City" because there is a huge lion outside its city. Founded in 953 AD, it was built by Chai Rong in the late Zhou Dynasty. The whole lion is much younger than the "Kaiyuan Iron Bull". The lion was built outside Kaiyuan Temple, with a huge basin on its body, which was beautifully shaped and lifelike. Because Kaiyuan Temple is a temple dedicated to Manjusri Bodhisattva, relevant records say that "Roaring Heaven" is the mount of Manjusri Bodhisattva.
There is also a legend that "whistling in the sky" is to scare the dragons in the sea. The sea breeze blew and the lion roared. When the dragon in the sea hears the lion's roar, it can only return to the bottom of the sea. In order to ensure the safety of one party, "whistling in the sky" has stopped for thousands of years. After wind and rain, sun and rain, it is still vivid.
Nothing can resist the erosion of time. Since the late Qing Dynasty, China has experienced ups and downs. Under the action of natural and man-made disasters, "rumble" fell in a season of lightning and thunder, which lasted for hundreds of years.
1956, more and more attention was paid to cultural relics, and the big lion was lifted. At the suggestion of Soviet experts, people built a pavilion for it in order to reduce the erosion of the sun and rain.
This measure seems to have opened the door to sin, and the erosion of the big lion has become more serious since then. The reason is that after the pavilion is built, the water on the body can't evaporate quickly, but it accelerates corrosion. The four legs of "Tian Chen Hou" were corroded and crumbling. In order to make it stand, people removed the pavilion and poured concrete on its four legs. It is such a simple and rude measure that the iron body has also entered the water.
Many years have passed, and Chen Tianqiao's body has been badly corroded. In order to keep Chen Tianqiao standing, people had to support his body and repair his limbs. The grandeur of the big lion is gone.
As a warning, the protection of "Kaiyuan Iron Bull" is obviously more rational. After cleaning up the sediment and rust on its body, the surface of "Kaiyuan Iron Bull" has been arranged in the open air after preliminary treatment. Open to tourists and welcome people from all over the world to feel the grandeur and magnificence of the Tang Dynasty. In addition, visitors can touch all parts of the iron cow at will, which is undoubtedly the best protection for the iron cow.
The touch of many people's hands seems to cast a layer of flesh on the iron cow. This kind of protection makes the iron cow almost not eroded. After so many years, the iron cow is still very well preserved and heroic.
The existence of postscript is reasonable. After the tragedy of "crying for heaven and grabbing land", "Kaiyuan Iron Bull" showed us the wise side of the relevant personnel, and never fell down twice in a pit again.
Many times, we are dominated by that kind of thinking for granted, ignoring the inevitable law of the development of things. Relevant experts combined with the experience of "Xiao Tian" and chose to store "Kaiyuan Iron Bull" in the open air, which may be the best way for these steel behemoths.