Situated
to the south east of the Qian Mausoleum, this tomb is the resting
place of Li Chongrun, the eldest son of Zhong Zong and grandson
of Gao Zong and Wu Zetian. Yet another victim of his formidable
and self-seeking grandmother, he was sentenced to death at the tender
age of just 19 for opposing her autocracy. Officially known as Prince
Yide, Li Chongrun was laid to rest in a grand mausoleum decorated
with stone lions and other figures and although the columns are
no longer whole, the edifice was a tribute to his importance. The
tomb comprises a paved way, three arches and seven courtyards together
with eight niches that probably would have accommodated statues.
There are two chambers, one behind the other; the whole being interlinked
by corridors. The complex extends 256.6 meters (841.9 feet) in a
north-south direction and is 214.5 meters (703.7 feet) in width
and was richly endowed with a large number of fine artefacts. Over
a thousand items of ceramic figures, tri-color figurines and pottery
as well as items of gold, copper and iron have been found here.
The structure has a remarkable array of murals throughout, forty
pieces in all that illustrate the day to day life at the Tang court.
Symbols of the Prince, the Black Dragon and White Tiger are featured
and the mural of the "parade of the Crown Prince" is of
great historical interest as this 2.8 meter (9.10 feet) high picture
shows the towers, city walls and other important buildings of the
ancient capital city. You can see the guard of honor riding in chariots,
on horseback as well as on foot as they prepare to march out from
Chang'an in a colorful royal procession.
Other murals illustrate hunts. Members of the Tang court were keen
hunters and used specially trained cheetahs to bring down their
prey. The cheetahs were presented to the royal family as tribute
from client states. This again gives an insight into the strategic
influence and importance of the regime.
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Situated
to the south east of the Qian Mausoleum, this tomb is the resting
place of Li Chongrun, the eldest son of Zhong Zong and grandson
of Gao Zong and Wu Zetian. Yet another victim of his formidable
and self-seeking grandmother, he was sentenced to death at the tender
age of just 19 for opposing her autocracy. Officially known as Prince
Yide, Li Chongrun was laid to rest in a grand mausoleum decorated
with stone lions and other figures and although the columns are
no longer whole, the edifice was a tribute to his importance. The
tomb comprises a paved way, three arches and seven courtyards together
with eight niches that probably would have accommodated statues.
There are two chambers, one behind the other; the whole being interlinked
by corridors. The complex extends 256.6 meters (841.9 feet) in a
north-south direction and is 214.5 meters (703.7 feet) in width
and was richly endowed with a large number of fine artefacts. Over
a thousand items of ceramic figures, tri-color figurines and pottery
as well as items of gold, copper and iron have been found here.
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