More than four thousand years ago, while the Egyptian pharaohs were obsessed with building pyramids, Yu the Great was conducting “geographical surveys” in China. Both official histories and unofficial records say that Yu the Great had the results of his surveys inscribed on the Nine Tripod Cauldrons. Strangely, these vessels, which recorded great secrets, mysteriously disappeared while in the hands of Qin Shi Huang... More than two thousand years ago, Laozi hid many ancient books, ritual vessels, and sacrificial vessels from the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. What was he afraid of? Western explorers repeatedly ventured into China on “expeditions.” What were their real motives?
