"An inscription carved on a rock face high on the Tibetan Plateau records a previously unknown expedition sent by Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259210 B.C.), the first emperor of unified China and owner of the iconic Terracotta Army that guards his tomb, seeking the elixir of life. Ancient records state that the emperor sent an expedition east to Japan searching for the elixir of immortality, but do not mention a similar expedition to the west."
"The inscription was found near Gyaring Lake, Qinghai province, at an altitude of more than 2.6 miles. It says that the emperor commanded level five grand master Yi (a high government official) to lead a group of alchemists to Kunlun Mountain in search of yao, which could refer to healing herbs or minerals, but also means the elixir of life."
"The inscription states the wagon expedition reached the lake in the 37th year of the reign of Qin Shi Huang, and had another 40 miles to go to reach Kunlun Mountain. In pre-Qin texts, Kunlun Mountain was the sacred birthplace of the Yellow River. Today Kunlun Mountain is the name of a range in western China, but the one referenced in classic texts is different."
An almost-complete Qin-era inscription carved on a rock face high on the Tibetan Plateau records a previously unknown western expedition commissioned by Emperor Qin Shi Huang to seek yao, a term that can mean healing substances or the elixir of life. The carving was discovered near Gyaring Lake in Qinghai province at over 2.6 miles altitude and is the only Qin-era inscription still in situ and nearly complete. The text names level five grand master Yi leading alchemists, records arrival at the lake in the 37th year of the reign, and states another 40 miles remained to reach Kunlun. Researchers identify the ancient Kunlun with the Bayan Har Mountains south of the lake and view the inscription as supporting that identification. The carving was found in July 2020, publicized in June, and has prompted debate over authenticity; its xiaozhuan script style and certain character strokes align with Qin-period features.
Read at www.thehistoryblog.com
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