Wen Qingshan smiled and said nothing more. He put the human skin map into the wooden box and turned to ask Dong Xiaodan: "Is Professor Dong at home today?"
"He went out early this morning. I'll call and ask where he is now." Dong Xiaodan said, taking out his mobile phone and dialing Professor Dong's number.
After making the call, Dong Xiaodan turned to us and said: "My dad is at the museum!"
The museum was not far from our store, just across the street and only a few minutes' walk away. So I asked Jianjian to stay and look after the store, while Dong Xiaodan and I accompanied Wen Qingshan to the museum.
Before the three of us reached the entrance of the museum, we saw Professor Dong from all the way. He was standing in front of the entrance of the museum, as if he was specially waiting for us.
Upon seeing us, Professor Dong immediately came forward to greet us. Wen Qingshan hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Professor Dong, I have to come to disturb you today."
"Brother Wen San is out for a visit, please come quickly!"
Professor Dong led us into an independent office in the museum building. After inviting us to sit down, he asked: "Xiao Dan said on the phone that you have something to ask me. I don't know why?"
Wen Qingshan smiled slightly and said, "I have something in my hand, and I would like your help to take a look at it!" As he spoke, he opened the wooden box in his arms.
Wen Qingshan took out the human skin map from the wooden box, handed it to Professor Dong, and said, "Professor Dong, take a look at this first."
Professor Dong was indeed a professional. He did not reach out to take it immediately. Instead, he first took out a pair of rubber gloves and put them on, and then took the human skin map from Wen Qingshan's hand.
He held the human skin map and looked at it for a while. Suddenly his face changed slightly. He quickly picked up the magnifying glass on the table and looked at it carefully. Then he raised his head and asked Wen Qingshan: "Is this...
A map of human skin!?”
Wen Qingshan nodded and said: "That's right! However, the material of this map is not the important point. The important point is the text on it. It looks like ancient Tibetan writing to me. What do you think?"
Professor Dong lowered his head again, stared at the words on the back of the map for a long time, and said: "This is the long-lost ancient Zhangzhong script. In the eighth century AD, the Zhangzhong Kingdom that dominated the snowy plateau was destroyed by the Tubo Dynasty.
, the ancient Zhangxiong writing disappeared. But in the interpretation
After liberation, when the government conducted rescue excavations at the Dunhuang Grottoes, they discovered this kind of writing on a bronze bell. This bronze bell is said to be a sacred object of the Bon religion. Therefore, the archaeological community believes that the ancient Zhangxiong writing is based on this.
It is very likely that it is still spread among some primitive Bon believers."
"What does this Bon religion say?" I asked curiously.
Professor Dong replied: "Bon religion originated from the ancient Zhangzhung civilization and is inextricably linked to the 'shamanism' spread in Central Asia, Northeast Asia, and American Indian tribes. The Bon teachings are the core of the ancient Zhangzhung culture.
It is also the source of the traditional culture of the Tibetan people in China. Due to historical reasons such as ancient Tibetan politics and religion, many Tibetans are now only familiar with the story of Songtsen Gampo who introduced Buddhism as recorded in the official history of Tibet.
After this period of official history, we have almost no understanding of the history and civilization before the eighth century AD. This also makes the original Bon religion almost unknown. Some historians classify modern Bon religion as a branch of Tibetan Buddhism.
It is even equated with Tibetan Tantra. In fact, although Bon religion interacts with Tibetan Buddhism to a certain extent, it is a religious sect with its own independent religious system."
After listening to what Professor Dong said, Wen Qingshan pondered for a moment and said thoughtfully: "From this point of view, this human skin map should be related to the ancient Zhangxiong Kingdom or Bon religion. Could it be that it is the ancient Zhangxiong Kingdom?"
The treasure left behind?”
"This possibility cannot be ruled out. If it is really related to the ancient Zhangxiong civilization, then this can be regarded as a major discovery in the field of history." Professor Dong seemed a little excited when he said this.
"Then can you understand the text on this map?" Wen Qingshan asked.
Professor Dong replied: "These ancient Zhang Xiong characters are not difficult to understand, but it is difficult to understand the meaning of the entire text."
Wen Qingshan was slightly startled: "How do you say this?"
Professor Dong explained: “Unlike Chinese characters, ancient Zhang Xiong characters often have completely different connotations in different character combinations. Therefore, unless one is very proficient in ancient Zhang Xiong characters, it may be difficult to truly understand the meaning of this text.
.”
"Then do you know any experts who are proficient in ancient Zhangzhong writing?"
Professor Dong shook his head and said: "The ancient Zhangzhug script has been lost for many years, and the historians have only begun to study the ancient Zhangzhug civilization in recent years. I really can't think of anyone who is proficient in the ancient Zhangzhug script.
.”
Hearing what Professor Dong said, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. I glanced at the human skin map and sighed: "Hey! I thought I could find some shocking treasure, but who knew that no one could understand this map!"
Wen Qingshan didn't speak for a long time. He frowned and pondered for a while. Suddenly he seemed to think of something. He suddenly raised his head and said: "There is no way to solve the mystery in this picture!"
"What can I do?" I asked quickly.
Wen Qingshan said: "Since the ancient Zhang Xiang characters are still circulated among Bon believers, Bon monks should be able to understand what is written on them. We can go to Tibet and go to Bon temples to ask the monks there to help them read it.
look!"
"Go to Tibet!?" Professor Dong was stunned at first, and after thinking for a moment, he nodded: "This is not a bad idea. And if you really plan to go to Tibet, I may be able to help you! More than ten years ago,
I stayed in Tibet for more than two months, and I happened to get to know a Bon elder."
"Really?" Wen Qingshan was surprised and happy.
Professor Dong nodded and added: "The Bon temple is located in Nagqu County, Tibet. However, like most of the existing Bon temples, that Bon temple believes in Yongzhong Bon religion, so what I am talking about is
I’m not sure whether the Bon elder I know can understand ancient Zhang Xiong writing.”
I asked in confusion: "Why can't those who believe in Yongzhong Bon religion understand the ancient Zhang Xiong characters?"
Professor Dong explained: “Bon religion is divided into Yongzhong Bon religion and primitive Bon religion. Yongzhong Bon religion integrated the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism and has now been basically assimilated by Tibetan Buddhism. Whether in clothing or behavior, it is consistent with Tibetan Buddhism.
Buddhism is no different, which is why some historians classify Bon religion as a branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The original Bon religion completely inherited the ancient Zhangzhung Buddhism. I just said that the ancient Zhangzhung writings are still circulated among Bon believers.
It refers to the original Bon religion."
After listening to what Professor Dong said, I said doubtfully: "In that case, why don't we go directly to the temple that believes in primitive Bon religion?"
Professor Dong said with a smile: "Haha, even temples that believe in Yongzhong Bon religion are rare now, let alone temples that believe in primitive Bon religion. Primitive Bon religion has long become a secret religion unknown to outsiders.
No temples were built, no teachings were preached, and to this day, there is still controversy in the historians about the existence of primitive Bon religion.”
"Then if the Bon elder you know can't understand these words, where can we find this primitive Bon believer?"
Professor Dong shook his head: "I don't know this either."
I turned around and asked Wen Qingshan: "Boss Wen, are we still going to Tibet?"
Wen Qingshan didn't think too much and replied: "Of course I want to go! Since Wen got this treasure map, he must figure it out!"
Professor Dong seemed to be waiting for Wen Qingshan's words, and immediately said: "Brother Wen, when do you plan to leave?"
Wen Qingshan pondered for a moment and said: "The best time to enter Tibet is from late May to mid-October every year. It is already mid-September. If it is later, the climate in the plateau area will become complicated and changeable.
So I plan to leave in the next few days."
As soon as Wen Qingshan finished speaking, Professor Dong slammed the table and said excitedly: "Okay! I'm also going to prepare and go with you when the time comes..." Unexpectedly, he had just finished speaking, and he was sitting quietly aside.
Dong Xiaodan, who was looking at the newspaper, interrupted him: "Dad, you are so old now, and you still want to run to Tibet! Neither my mother nor I agree!"
Professor Dong seemed to realize that his daughter was here, and he smiled and said: "Haha, I am old at heart! Don't underestimate me, even in Tibet, young people may not be better than me."
"Stop bragging. When you went to Tibet more than ten years ago, you forgot how many days of IV drip you had after you came back!" Dong Xiaodan continued to pour cold water on Professor Dong.
Professor Dong didn't know how to persuade Dong Xiaodan for a moment, and his face turned red from holding back. It was obvious that he wanted to go with him. As he said, this might be a major discovery in the history of archeology. As an expert in this field, how could he agree to go with him?
Easily missed.
Professor Dong cast his gaze at me and motioned for me to help persuade Dong Xiaodan. I coughed lightly and said, "Xiaodan, let Professor Dong go with us. After all, he is familiar with the place. With him here, we can do it."
Don't worry. You don't have to worry. The conditions in Tibet are much better now than they were more than ten years ago, not to mention I'm here with you along the way!"
Dong Xiaodan turned to look at me, opened her mouth, but hesitated.
Seeing that Dong Xiaodan did not object again, Professor Dong quickly took the opportunity to say: "Brother Shi Yu is right, many people are traveling to Tibet now, so I should just take it as a trip! You don't know, the scenery of the plateau area,
It's as beautiful as heaven, with blue sky and clear lake water..."
Before he finished speaking, Dong Xiaodan suddenly interrupted him and said, "Okay! I'll let you go! And, I can also help you convince your mother!"
"Are you serious! I...did I hear it correctly?" Professor Dong looked at me, as if he couldn't believe his ears. I was also a little surprised, but I didn't expect that after just a few words of advice, it turned out that
This caused Dong Xiaodan's attitude to undergo a 180-degree turn.