Nexus - 0228 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Great China's Pyramids Controversy Despite speculation about the existence of great pyramids in China, archaeologists and bureaucrats have refused to consider even the rumours about such structures. But recent pictorial evidence proves that China's pyramids are indeed real, rivalling those of Egypt and Central America for their age, size and significance. n 1920, historian Henri Cordier wrote: "China's ancient past is denied both to us and its population. Its grand past is slowly unveiled, similar to how Egypt's was revealed. Later on, one learned of buildings, standing stones and other monuments that were not mentioned by the Chinese historians (as part of their history)." The largest country in the world was, and is, largely there to be discovered. Though accepted as a great civilisation, its ancient treasures were barely known. One rumour spoke about pyramids that could be found in desolate areas. One such pyramid was photographed in 1947 by Col. Maurice Sheehan from a DC3 air- plane. His story was printed in The New York Times in March of the same year. Sheehan stated it rose to about 300 metres, its sides 450 metres long. The next day, the Los Angeles Daily Express ran Sheehan's photograph. But a few days later, the Associated Press received a letter from the authorities of the province of Nankin, stating "the exis- tence of such pyramids is not backed up by evidence". That press release discredited Sheehan's story, as most authors and researchers believed Sheehan had exaggerated. French author Patrick Ferryn stated: "the photographs do not reveal any markings that would allow us to measure the true dimensions. Its height was probably an incorrect esti- mate. It is probably a burial vault; it definitely looks like one." The 1950s and '60s had shown the world the existence of many ‘ritual platforms’ and ‘artificial hills' in China, identical to pyramids in appearance except in terminology. ‘Pyramids’ have a magical appeal to many. Bruce Cathie also became interested in the Chinese pyramids and wrote on the subject in The Bridge to Infinity. Cathie reported that a member of the Chinese Embassy had officially informed him there were no such things as pyramids in the Shensi province: "There are a few tumuli (burial hills), but no pyra- mids." He knew nothing about the existence of pyramids in China. A letter from Chinese authorities, dated | November 1978, addressed to Cathie, stated the scientists had learned that the so-called "pyramids" were burial tombs of emperors of the Western Han dynasty. "Records give a different version of the emperors' lives. As the graves have not been scientifically analysed and no markings were seen on the ground, it is difficult to formulate conclusions." Still, there were historical records that spoke of pyramids. The head of the Ts'in-family, Che Houang-ti (the "Yellow Emperor", the first to hold that title), changed Chinese soci- ety dramatically. He built the Chinese Wall upon listening to an oracle that prophesied a "barbarian" would attack China. By 1974 the Emperor had again risen to popularity with the discovery of his subterranean mausoleum. It contained no less than 6,000 terracotta warriors that were stored in combat mode and believed to be intended as protection for the deceased Emperor in his new existence. Historian Sseuma Ts'ien (135-85 BC) wrote that this Emperor united China and destroyed all ancient writings as a sign of the new era that was born. Some old books were apparently saved, mainly in Taoist temples. Che Houang-ti ordered 700,000 people to build him a pyramid at Lin-t'ong, between Hnan and Si-ngan. The "Segalen mission", a tour of China that Segalen made in 1913, measured the pyramid's height at 48 metres, encompassing five terraces. One side mea- sured 350 metres, 120 metres longer than the side of Great Pyramid at Gizeh, Egypt. With 1,960,000 cubic metres, it is fourth largest pyramid in the world. The pyramid at Cholula, Mexico, and the two largest pyramids at the Gizeh plateau precede it. The Emperor possibly died in 210 BC. When his treasures were stored in the pyramids, it was decided the workers would be sealed inside the pyramid so no one could reveal where the pyramid was situated. Plants were planted on its sides so the pyramid would eventually take on the appearance of a natural hill. Sseuma Ts'ien wrote that subterranean © 1995 by Filip Coppens Chiei Editor, Frontier 2000 PO Box 372, 8250 A] Dronten The Netherlands Ph: +31 (3210) 80558 Fax: +31 (3210) 18892 E-mail: fsffilco@glo.be Chief Editor, Frontier 2000 PO Box 372, 8250 A] Dronten The Netherlands Ph: +31 (3210) 80558 Fax: +31 (3210) 18892 E-mail: fsffilco@glo.be NEXUS ¢ 33 © 1995 by Filip Coppens OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 1995