The
Yong Mausoleum on Fuqin Dong Road in Chengdu houses emperor
Wang Jian's burial. When living (847-918) Wang Jian made
the Former Shu dynasty, capital at Chengdu, the most governable
and powerful among the Five Dynasties and Ten States.
The
Mausoleum departs from similar structures by its being
built right in the city, and accessible from ground level.
The
mausoleum has a circular base that measures 80 meters
(262 feet) diameter, and it stands 15 meters (49.2feet)
tall with 14 archways of gray bricks. The largest brick
measures 69x44x18 cent meters (27x17x7 inches) and holds
the size record for above ground buildings. It is an important
Chinese architecture.
Wooden
doors partition the burial chamber into three parts. The
coffin rests in the middle chamber on a coffin bed. Murals
of 24 musicians with regional instruments are carved into
stone on three sides of the bed. These are the only known
court musical band images unearthed from the Tang Dynasty
period.
A
stone Wang Jian statue stands on the bed in the back chamber
with all his royal splendor. The bed itself is embossed
with two dragons playing with a ball on the facet, and
with lions on each side. It is considered the most exquisite
and valuable of its kind.
Grave
thieves have raided the Mausoleum over the years. But
later archeological excavators found enough to tell the
story of the times.
The
Mausoleum Museum tea park is well renowned in Chengdu
City. You will also able to enjoy the Shu Palace musical
performance.
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