There are seventeen other tombs, the most important of which are those of Crown Prince Yide, Princess Yongtai and Crown Prince Zhanghuai. The underground chambers of these tombs are richly decorated with colorful murals and they are often referred to as the Underground Tang Art Gallery.
The Tomb of Crown Prince Zhanghuai
The second son of Emperor Gao Zong and Empress Wu Zetian, Zhanghuai was created crown prince in 675 AD but was removed him from that rank in 680 AD by his mother. Four years later, he was ordered to commit suicide when aged 31. He was reinstated posthumously in 711 and buried along with his wife in this tomb.
Three kilometers (1.86 miles) south east of the Qianling Mausoleum, the tomb is 71 meters (233 feet) long by 3.3 meters (11 feet) wide and 7 meters (23 feet) deep. It consists of a paved path, arches, a patio and two chambers sited one behind the other. Fifty murals in an excellent state of preservation decorate the walls. Covering some 400 square meters (478.5 square yards) these murals illustrate scenes from the life of the unfortunate prince. One of the most interesting of these is known as the 'Meeting of the Guests'. This mural shows three Tang officials accompanying ambassadors from abroad such as Rome and Korea as well as ethnic groups from north-east China and elsewhere. During the Tang Dynasty Chang'an was a cosmopolitan city with a population exceeding a million. The mural serves to remind us that much of the prosperity of the Tang was due to their international relationships with more than 300 different countries.
Other murals depict parades, dancing, games, female courtiers, ministers and a polo match, the game having been introduced from Persia and very popular among the Tang aristocracy. In addition to the paintings, in excess of 600 terra cotta items and tri-color vessels bear witness to the social systems and customs of the day.
| Admission Fee: | CNY 15 (Mar.-Nov.) CNY 5 (Dec.-Feb.) |
Qianling Mausoleum
Tomb of Crown Prince Zhanghuai
Tomb of Prince Yide
Tomb of Princess Yongtai
Travelers' Voices on Tomb of Crown Prince Zhanghuai
1.
Sep. 23,2009 06:17 Reply
Ms.yanping(singapore) said:
is nice!!!