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 Qian 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.