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Tomb of Crown Prince YiDe
Another important
satellite tomb of the Qianling Mausoleum is the Tomb of Crown Prince YiDe,
which locates on the southeast. Officially, the tomb was excavated by
the government in 1971. Following with more than 190 pieces cultural relics,
over 450 square meters mural paintings of Tang Dynasty are presented to
public. All of which have supplied dependable data to research on the
Tang Dynasty.
Crown Prince YiDe
Prince YiDe, named Li Chongrun, was the eldest son of Tang ZhongZong Li
Xian and grandson of Gao Zong and Wu Zetian. Just as the same fortune
as the Crown Prince Zhang Huai, he was another victim of his awe-stricken
and selfish grandmother that had sentenced to death at his early age of
19 for arguing against her despotism. When ZhongZong returned to the throne
in 705, Prince YiDe was awarded posthumously the title of Crown Prince
YiDe and in 706 his relique was moved to the Qianling Mausoleum.
Architecture
The whole tomb was in a rectangle-shape that surrounded by a mound and
walls. A pair of stone lions and obelisks, some stone figures stand to
the south part of the walls. Some of them are in a degree have been destroyed
largely. As regards its compositions, we could say that a tomb tunnel,
three doors, seven airshafts, eight niches and tomb chambers.
The coffin of the Crown Prince YiDe is of typical Tang-style; it carved
smooth, vivid and mighty. And more than 40 well-preserved frescos with
paintings closely related to daily life of Tang Dynasty are becoming fantastic
enjoyment to people both home and abroad. For instance, as symbols of
the Prince, the Black Dragon and White Tiger were painted on, and special
cheetahs presented to the imperial family as tribute from client states.
Besides, more than 1,000 pieces of historical relics have been unearthed
from the Tomb of Crown Prince YiDe, including pottery figure, tri-color
glazed figures, other earthenwares, as well as gold, bronze and iron wares.
All of which are all contribute to the great strategic influence and importance
of Tang Dynasty. |
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