In recent excavations of ancient tombs from the Spring and Autumn period, in the tomb of Lady Gouyu, younger sister of Lord Jing (ruled 516-476 BC) of the state of Song, a bronze basin was discovered which contained nothing but a large quantity of Sichuan peppercorns. This is surely the most direct proof one could ask for of the esteem in which our ancestors held spices.
近代挖掘出的春秋時代古墓中，宋景公的妹妹勾敔夫人墓裡，就發現了一隻盛有大半盒花椒的青銅盆子，可說是老祖宗也愛香料的最直接證據。