A set of bronze chariot and horses unearthed from the Qinshihuang's mausoleum Photo: VCG

A newly discovered rectangular chariot and horse pit in Baoji,MKsports Northwest China's Shaanxi Province has provided key evidence that the Qin state had already established a tradition of chariot and horse sacrifices during the Spring and Autumn Period (770BC-476BC).   

The pit at the Xiazhan ruins site contains exquisitely crafted chariot fittings made of gold, jade and bronze, which are comparable in grade to those found in the burial pits of the Tomb of Duke Jing of the Qin state. 

This further confirms that the site was a location for the highest-ranking ceremonies of the Qin state, according to a report by the China News Service.

"The ongoing research at this site will reveal the evolution of China's ancient ritual system of heaven worship," said You Fuxiang, director of the Xiazhan ruins site archaeological project.

"It will shed light on the ideological and ceremonial foundations behind the establishment and development of a unified multi-ethnic country," he noted.

At the Xiazhan ruins site, the sacrificial pit reveals a unique burial practice in which one chariot and four horses were placed together inside a large wooden box, making it different from the burial pits for chariot and horses found during the same period. 

Similar cases of chariots enclosed in large wooden boxes have also been found at two other sites in Baoji. 

This difference suggests that from the Spring and Autumn Period to the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-AD25), the tradition of chariot and horse sacrifices maintained both continuity and innovation.

"The new findings at the Xiazhan site not only deepen our understanding of the ritual culture of the Qin state during the Spring and Autumn ­Period but also highlight its unique value in revealing the evolution of Chinese civilization," Zhang Yin, a specialist in Qin and Han ­archaeology and member of the East Asian Archaeological Association, told the Global Times on Sunday.

"The discovery suggests that Qin culture had reached new heights in ritual practices, institutional development and religious beliefs, providing crucial material evidence for studying the evolution of ancient Chinese ceremonial traditions," he noted.

The sacrificial practices at the Xiazhan ruins site were established in the fourth year of Duke Xuan of Qin's reign and continued until their abolition in the late Western Han Dynasty, spanning more than 600 years, according to CCTV News.

The Xiazhan ruins site is located on a ridge south of the Weihe River at the northern foot of the Qinling Mountains. The surrounding terrain is characterized by typical loess landforms, with deep and steep ravines on both its eastern and western sides. 

According to You, the discoveries at the ­Xiazhan ruins site reveal the continuity and development of pre-Qin sacrificial culture over several centuries. 

It demonstrates how this sacrificial practice evolved from a feudal tradition into a formal state ritual. This continuity not only reflects the stability of cultural traditions but also underscores the enduring influence of social values and religious beliefs.