The Tomb of Crown Prince Zhang Huai |
The tomb of Crown Prince Zhang Huai, one of the 17 satellite tombs of Qianling Mausoleum, lies three kilometers southeast of Qianling Mausoleum.
Crown Prince Zhang Huai was called Li Xiann and was the second son of Emperor Gao Zong's children. He was comparatively talented among Gao Zong's children. He once summoned famous scholars from all over the country to annotate The Historical Records of the Later Han Dynasty. In 684AD, he died mysteriously in Bazhou at the age of 31. There are many sayings as to the cause of his death. But most people believed that Wu Zetian had made him murdered. After Emperor Zhong Zong retuned to the throne, he had Li Xiann's remains buried near Qianling in 711AD, Emperor Rui Zong posthumously awarded Li Xiann the title of Crown Prince Zhang Huai.
The ground and the interior structure of the tomb are basically the same as those of Princess Yong Tai, but only a bit smaller in scale. The tomb consists of a long, sloping tomb passage, four skylights, four passages, six niches, a brick corridor, an antechamber and a burial chamber. The tomb passage is 71 meters long, 3.3 meters wide.
There are more than 50 murals in the tomb, which occupy 400 square meters, and remain basically intact. Of these paintings, Courtiers and Foreign Envoys, Hunting Procession, Polo Game and Watching Birds and Catching Cicadas are all true to life and skillfully drawn. Among all the paintings, the painting entitled Polo Game depicts 20 figures on horseback. With mallets in hand, the five at the head are trying to chase the ball. One of them hit the ball dexterously behind his back. He looks strong and vigorous. This painting conjures up a thrilling spectacle of players trying to chase the ball at a polo match in the Tang Dynasty. Polo was very popular at the royal court. All the people of the court, from the emperor to civil and military officials and even women, liked playing polo.
Although the tomb was once robbed, over 600 articles were unearthed. They include various ceramic figurines, tri-colored ceramic figurines, articles for daily use and other burial objects. The figures of civil officials and warriors are vivid and life-like. They are over one meter tall. Together with guardians, they are worth special attention.
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