Hejia Village, as the name suggests, is a village inhabited by a family with the surname He, a common surname in China. In ancient times, this area in Chang’an was a prime residential area for royal families, nobles, and high-ranking officials. The village became globally known after an accidental discovery at a construction site, which shocked the archaeological community both in China and abroad. Among the items unearthed were over a thousand relics, including gold and silver objects, precious jade and jewelry, valuable medicinal materials, and both Chinese and foreign coins. The large number, high quality, variety, and well-preserved condition of these artifacts made this find one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the Tang Dynasty in the 20th century. Now, let’s take a journey with Silk Divas into this luxurious and mysterious era.

Ⅰ. Silver Incense Pouch with Grape Flower and Bird Motif

This incense pouch is made of silver and has a spherical shape, with the body featuring intricate openwork. The pouch is split into two equal hemispheres, and the two halves are connected by a silver ball chain and a movable axle. Inside the lower hemisphere, there are two concentric silver rings connected by double axles. These inner and outer rings, along with the incense container (used to hold incense or Buddhist scriptures), are riveted together with silver nails, allowing them to rotate freely. Due to the design, the incense container always stays upright under gravity, ensuring that the incense or ash inside doesn’t spill out.

The principle behind this design is similar to the constant level device, a mechanism that was later used in European maritime compasses during the 16th century, and which also forms the basis for modern gyroscopes.

Originally, this type of object was named a “smoking ball” or “incense ball.” The “Clothing Accounts Stele” at Famen Temple mentions a “scent pouch” offered by Emperor Xizong of the Tang Dynasty. After comparing the historical records with the unearthed artifacts, it was determined that this type of object should be called a “scent pouch” in the Tang Dynasty.

The Old Book of Tang: Yang Guifei’s Biography records an event during the An Lushan Rebellion. When Emperor Xuanzong fled Chang’an, he passed by Mawei Slope where he ordered the death of his consort, Yang Guifei, and her burial at that location. After the rebellion was quelled and he returned to Chang’an, he secretly ordered her remains to be reburied. Upon exhuming her tomb, it was found that her body had decomposed, but the incense pouch had been preserved. This suggests that the type of incense pouch Yang Guifei carried with her may have been a silver one like this, rather than the fabric pouches we commonly associate with the term today.

Ⅱ. Gold Basket with Precious Gems and Floral Patterned Gold Cup

The gold cup is polished to a smooth surface, decorated with four large floral medallions made from gold threads, and surrounded by fine golden beads. The upper and lower parts of the cup are adorned with cloud patterns, creating a highly dimensional decorative effect.

When it was unearthed, these gold threads were also inlaid with beautiful gemstones in various colors! The technique of welding gold threads into a frame and inlaying them with delicate beads, along with the embedded gemstones, is called “Gold Basket with Precious Gems.” From this, we can easily imagine the magnificent and dazzling appearance this cup must have once had, radiating the noble aura of royalty.

 

Ⅲ. Gold Kaiyuan Coins

A total of 466 coins were unearthed from the Hejia Village cache, many of which were gold and silver Kaiyuan Tongbao (开元通宝) coins. The obverse of these coins features the inscription “Kaiyuan Tongbao” in regular script, written by the famous calligrapher Ouyang Xun (欧阳询) from the early Tang dynasty.

During the Tang Dynasty, gold and silver Kaiyuan Tongbao coins were not used for purchasing goods but were mainly used by the royal family and aristocracy for games, to settle bets, or as rewards from the emperor to his officials.

Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang dynasty often hosted lavish banquets at the Chengtian Gate, inviting his officials and foreign ambassadors. During these feasts, he would throw gold and silver coins from the balcony as rewards, a practice that became known as the “Golden Coin Gathering.” At the time, the imperial harem, with its thousands of ladies-in-waiting, also enjoyed throwing these coins to pass the time and alleviate boredom. This game eventually spread beyond the palace and became popular among the nobility.

Ⅳ. Gold-Inlaid Animal-Head Agate Cup

One of the 18 national treasures housed in the Shaanxi History Museum.

This cup is meticulously carved from twisted agate. The design mimics the shape of animal horns, with the front sculpted to resemble the head of a bull, its eyes wide open. The mouth of the animal is inlaid with gold, which can be removed to allow wine to flow naturally. The pair of antelope horns curve upward and connect seamlessly with the body of the cup. The artisan skillfully worked with the natural texture and shape of the material, creating a piece that seems to have been born as a work of art. Whether in terms of the material, design, or craftsmanship, this agate cup is undoubtedly a fine example of Tang dynasty artistry.

The shape of this agate cup bears a resemblance to a Western drinking vessel called a “rhyton.” The term “rhyton” is derived from Greek and means “to pour out.” These vessels are typically shaped like animal horns and have a hole at the bottom, allowing liquid to flow through, functioning like a funnel. It was believed that using a “rhyton” to pour wine could prevent poisoning. Drinking from the vessel in one go was a gesture of offering respect to the gods. This style of drinking vessel was common in Central Asia, the Middle East, and especially in the Sassanid Persian Empire (modern-day Iran), where it was often used in ceremonial and religious rites.

Ⅴ. White Jade Lonicera Long Cup with Eight Curves

This cup is carved from beautiful Hetian jade, which is white and warm. The outer wall is decorated with Lonicera, which is also known as the scrolling grass pattern, a decorative pattern popular since the North and South Dynasties. Lonicera is a kind of twining plant, it does not wither in winter. In the Bencao Gangmu, it is written that Lonicera is“light to the body when taken for a long time, and it is good for longevity”, so it is used to symbolize longevity.

Ⅵ. Crystal Octagonal Long Cup

Crystal, the main chemical composition is silicon dioxide. Crystal was called “water essence” in ancient times, because of its crystal clarity, it was often compared to ice, water, dewdrops and even moonlight in Tang Dynasty poems. From the literature, the crystal is mostly produced from the western countries, in the Tang Dynasty when the tribute to China. This eight curved long cup in the shape of a clear Iranian Sassanian style, the production method is basically the same, but the Sassanian but rarely with crystal and jade and other materials to make long cup.

Ⅶ. Gold and Jade Armlet

Gold and jade armlet is made from three pieces of Hetian jade. The jade is warm, white and spotless, and is regarded as the finest. The original angles as well as irregularities of the jade have been polished smooth and flat to form perfect curves. The artisan used gold beast heads to connect the three curved sections of white jade together. The jade edges are wrapped in gold and secured by two gold rivets that connect the three curved sections of white jade into a ring. One of the three hinges is held in place by a gold nail that can be freely inserted and withdrawn up and down to allow the arm ring to open and close.

Summary

The Legacy of Hejia Village is rich in content, including eating and drinking utensils used in daily life, the texture of which is mainly gold and silver, as well as jade, onyx, glass, etc.; in addition, there are also a large number of medicinal herbs and medicinal utensils used in alchemy, currency used for collection, and a large amount of tax silver. Its cultural connotation is very rich, involving a lot of academic issues, we need to continue to explore in depth. What’s your favorite treasure in this blog?